The Ultimate Fighter 10: Kimbo Slice & Heavyweights

[Chips]

(Is a TV show, yes, but is more about sport discussion and this show IS about sports, so general worthy)


Y! Sports exclusive: Kimbo gets TUF

LAS VEGAS – Kimbo Slice, the controversial heavyweight who in 2008 headlined the most-viewed mixed martial arts card in history, will be one of 16 contestants on the forthcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s reality TV series.

Dana White, the UFC’s outspoken president, has repeatedly mocked Slice for his lack of fighting ability. Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, became a cult figure by competing in street fights that were posted on YouTube. Slice’s “bouts” drew tens of millions of views and led him to turn professional.

He fought for the now defunct Elite XC, garnering massive media attention but getting mocked by White and others affiliated with the UFC for a lack of ability.

White has called him a “joke,” a “bum” and “not a real fighter,” among other less than kind descriptions. He said that Slice would “get murdered if he fought in the UFC” and suggested that his lightweight champion, 155-pound B.J. Penn, would “annihilate” the 230-pound Slice.

The UFC president has repeatedly insisted he would not allow Slice to compete in the UFC unless he won his way onto the show by competing on “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Slice has called White’s bluff and will appear on Season 10 of the highly rated Spike TV series, White has confirmed. Fighters live in the same house and train together, and then fight during the show in a bid to earn a UFC contract.

His appearance, along with that of former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans as coaches, should guarantee massive ratings.

“It should be interesting, given some of the things I’ve said about him,” White said.

Slice, who has a 3-1 professional record, appeared in the main event of the first MMA card shown on network television in the U.S. when he fought James Thompson on May 31, 2008, on CBS.

Slice won by third-round stoppage in a bout that attracted a record 6.5 million viewers and remains the most-viewed MMA bout in history.

But Slice hasn’t fought since Oct. 4, when he was knocked out by a jab from late replacement Seth Petruzelli, a light heavyweight, just 14 seconds into another fight broadcast on CBS. The plug was pulled on Elite XC, which reportedly lost millions of dollars, in the aftermath of the fight.

White promised “some major surprises” as he announced on a Thursday conference call that Jackson and Evans, each of whom is a former light heavyweight champion, would serve as coaches on Season 10.

He declined to say anything further but urged reporters on the call not to miss media day, which is Tuesday at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas.

White worked hard to keep Slice’s appearance on the show a secret, hoping to have unveiled him Tuesday. Season 10, which is being called “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights,” was originally slated to feature a cast of eight heavyweights and eight middleweights, but the UFC quietly informed the middleweights who tried out that it was going with an all-heavyweight show.

And unlike in recent seasons, where the competitors had to win a fight to earn their way into the house, there will be no such arrangement this time. All 16 fighters – Spike and the UFC are keeping names of the others a closely guarded secret – will automatically move into the house.

Though White goes to great lengths to insist that nothing on the show is scripted, it’s virtually guaranteed that Slice won’t fight early in the competition. Having him around and alive in the competition is going to keep ratings elevated.

If Slice is able to advance to the live Dec. 5 finale, with a chance to earn a UFC contract with a win, ratings would likely be the largest in Spike history.


With Rampage and Rashad as coaches, this should be pretty awesome.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

[Dimmauk]

This will be awesome!

[Blarg]

I wonder how much his being on the show has influenced them to not have the 'fight to get in' thing they have used the past few seasons. Either way with both rashad and rampage coaching and now kimbo being on the show it should get good ratings. One problem I see is that Kimbo never seemed to give an entertaining interview and was rather boring when he wasn't fighting someone in a backyard or cage somewhere. You would think they will focus a lot on him in the house so I'm unsure just how he is going to act.

If he does get a ufc contract I doubt he would have signed up for tuf if he knew he was going to get TUF winner money, there must be extra money in it for him if he actually gets fights.

[archibaldcrane]

I guess I suppose that Kimbo is still a draw...but I mean...

The bravado of the dumb fans that thought he was the next big thing has to be, ya know, a bit dampened considering he was KTFO by an off-balance falling away jab from a last-second replacement light heavyweight that noone has ever heard of.

...right?

[Chips]

I'm sure that was negotiated in his UFC contract... If he appears on TUF, he gets more money than the standard fighters (probably under the table) and that he doesn't have to fight his way onto the show.

Too bad this season doesn't have Satoshi Ishii since he just signed with Sengoku (Beijing judo gold medal winner) and Robert Drysdale, one of the best BJJ guys in the world.

[Headspace]

He's got a bitchin' beard.

[noblemountain]

I'm sure that was negotiated in his UFC contract... If he appears on TUF, he gets more money than the standard fighters (probably under the table) and that he doesn't have to fight his way onto the show.

Too bad this season doesn't have Satashi Ishii since he just signed with Sengoku (Beijing judo gold medal winner) and Robert Drysdale, one of the best BJJ guys in the world.

I was hoping Ishii would be on this season, it's too bad he signed w/ WVR, but understandable. I'm curious to see who else is on the show besides Kimbo. Dana's never worked so hard to keep the names under wraps before.

[Dimmauk]

I better not see Jose Canseco.

[Mizango]

I better not see Jose Canseco.

Oh lord, I hope not lol. He's been embarrassed in the ring twice now.

[wyrmtung]

Man, I can't wait for this and I hope he makes it into the house.

As for this season of TUF, nobody is really lighting my ass on fire. They all seem pretty mediocre this season.

[tyven]

yea, this season is pretty awful.

[Firedemon]

Interesting...

[Blarg]

Man, I can't wait for this and I hope he makes it into the house.

As for this season of TUF, nobody is really lighting my ass on fire. They all seem pretty mediocre this season.

No one has to fight to get in so he is in the house for sure.

[baralai80]

That little article has everything but the date the show starts

[Konohamaru]

Oh lord, I hope not lol. He's been embarrassed in the ring twice now.

oh man i thought this was a joke at first till i saw man choi beat him down, i never laughed so hard

i was pretty surprised about kimbos fight getting so many views, i really kinda just blocked him out of my mind. I don't see why he's got such a huge fanbase, but i guess its not surprising considering the goons on youtube.

With that said the only reason i'd like to see slice in the ufc is to see how he fairs vs the heavyweight division, and see his ass get beat down and shutup fanboys

[Tekki]

This will be the first time I actually watch this series. I'm interested in seeing more then Slice out of this season.

[Gryffes]

I've love to see Seth Petruzelli and Sean Gannon be among the unnamed members going into the house. The look on Kimbos' face would be priceless.

Bobby Lashley has been keeping quiet as well, he had mentioned going down the TUF road.

[Blarg]

Nearly 100% sure lashley isn't on it. He has fights already signed and I think Dana said he wasn't on it. It would be pretty funny if Seth was on it though. Besides, lashley is winning fights and working to get a UFC contract the regular way and it will get him much more money assuming he does make it to the ufc since he won't be on a tuf contract.

[noblemountain]

Nearly 100% sure lashley isn't on it. He has fights already signed and I think Dana said he wasn't on it. It would be pretty funny if Seth was on it though. Besides, he is winning fights and working to get a UFC contract the regular way and it will get him much more money assuming he does make it to the ufc since he won't be on a tuf contract.

Not saying that he wouldn't do it...but he is a light heavyweight, he just took that kimbo fight because of the opportunity. He isn't really a big light heavy either...could prolly fight middle if he wanted.

edit...I'm an idiot, I forgot he was on TUF 2 as a heavy and lost to Brad Imes...I seriously doubt they'd bring him back on the show again though.

[Epical]

Hah, I'm definitely tuning in. The only other TUF seasons I've watched were the first, and 7. On one hand, it's going to be very entertaining to see how Jackson/Evans/Slice's egos all clash, since they ALL think they're the shit. On the other hand, you just KNOW White has done something so Slice stays in it past the first week... kinda ruins the competitiveness of TUF. Oh well, the quicker he gets into the UFC the quicker he gets his ass kicked again.