Kimbo's next opponent...

[jmt225]

Ken Shamrock

Ken Shamrock (Pictures) will be the fourth man to face Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (Pictures) when the two icons clash at EliteXC’s third installment of “Saturday Night Fights” Oct. 4 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla. The headlining bout will anchor a live broadcast on CBS.

Sherdog.com confirmed the bout’s signing with multiple parties aware of the fight, while a press release is expected to circulate later today with the news.

The 44-year-old Shamrock (26-13-2) beat out fellow candidates Sean Gannon and Brett Rogers (Pictures), who called out Slice in May, for the coveted slot.

Shamrock, a 15-year veteran of the game who made his storied Octagon debut at UFC 1 in November 1993, has dropped his last five bouts in a row since 2005, including a lackluster showing against brawler Robert Berry (Pictures) at Cage Rage 25 last March.

However, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” exudes substantial selling power for a match now only five and a half weeks away. A strong personality in and out of the cage, Shamrock’s 15 appearances in the UFC earned him international recognition alongside his original nemesis Royce Gracie (Pictures).

Slice (3-0) earned a third-round victory against Brit James Thompson (Pictures) in his last foray for EliteXC in May. The bout was much criticized for its questionable officiating, placing Ferguson’s skill set in doubt after Thompson held the advantage for sizable stretches of the 11-minute contest. Ferguson holds previous wins over David "Tank" Abbott (Pictures) and Bo Cantrell (Pictures).

Look, Ken Shamrock is a HUGE reason why I became a fan of MMA and deep down, I'll always be a fan of his, but he has been such a joke these past few years. I didn't mind his losses against Franklin and Tito, but his last match on Strikeforce against some no-name was so embarrassing to witness. I mean, Shamrock was barely touched when he got hit, and he went out like a light. What do you think Kimbo will do to this motherfucker? The only way Shamrock stands a chance is taking it to the ground and catching him in a leg lock like he caught Kimbo's trainer, Bas Rutten, all those years ago. However, I just know Shamrock will be a dumb fuck and stand-up with the guy.

Kimbo takes this by first round knockout, easily. I hope I'm wrong, but it's not easy to be optimistic about this. But if Shamrock were to get knocked, hopefully, he carries his ass back to pro wrestling where he belongs.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Shamrock is the reason I got into MMA. Without him I'd probably only just be getting into it because of the current UFC boom.

Kimbo hits hard and nothing else. And currently Shamrock gets hit hard and nothing else. So It'll be a nothing fight. But the names alone might possibly be enough to make it a moderate success. Kimbo needs an easy victory to get back what he lost during the Thompson fight.

 

[The_Phoenix]

If Tank Abbott is any measure of how much a chance Ken stand of winning this, we're in for another predictable fight from Kimbo. This guy has skill and talent but he's in danger of becoming the Bill Goldberg of MMA. Does anyone else feel he's just being fed wins to boost ratings? Least of all against some people who pioneered the sport and are WAY past their prime. It saddens me to see Ken reduced to no less than "jobber" status in a sport his family basically created.

 

[hoganvsaustin]

Just based off name value, I'm looking forward to this fight. But if Kimbo loses, he has no future in MMA. Shamrock is over the hill and I mean this with all due respect, he has no business being in MMA.

I hope Kimbo proves Dana White wrong and becomes a force to be reckoned with.

 

[imdamiz]

Does anyone know if this will be fought at heavyweight or a catch-weight?

Anyways like it was said above me earlier this is nothing more then Kimbo gettin a chance to get a win over a big name...now even though shamrock is older and his skills have dropped this should draw even more people to watch this show you'll have the guys who love kimbo, the guys who hate kimbo, and casual wrestling fans from the attitude era probaly watching. Kimbo should be able to knockout Ken but there is the possibility that ken takes him down and goes for countless submissions and eventually tires him out and makes him submit so hopefully if elitexc wants to survive they better hope and pray kimbo slice wins cause if he doesn't how bad does that look for the company that a 44 year old man came in and whooped up on the star fighter of the company??? Either way I'm sure they will get the ratings they want because Kimbo Slice is the Howard Stern of MMA right now, love him or hate him your gonna watch him. But, in all likely hood kimbo with the 1st round knockout

 

[hoganvsaustin]

yeah, i just hope it's a good solid fight either way. but if shamrock loses, no big surprise. if kimbo loses, it's a disappointment and it's clear that dana white was right about him.

 

[AngryGrandpa]

Phoenix is DEAD ON....This is VERY sad to see... Ken Shamrock is being fed to the dogs because he thinks he can get back on the horse... The guy has been embarrassed his last few fights and I am saddened to say this one won't be any different.

Like most of you, Ken got me into the UFC as well...So to see the breakdown of such a pioneer to the sport I love is sad...

I can only hope Ken takes this loss as a learning experience to just leave.. Hang up the gloves and say "Hey..I made a difference"

and if he wins....Very cool - but I don't look for it.

 

[theneil450]

I think Ryan shamrock has about as much of a chance as beating Kimbo as Ken does. Kimbo is learning mma as he goes and has some decent not street fighting skills but his strength is well his strength. That alone should be enough to stop Shamrock. His punches know no mercy and if he does go down it wouldn't surprise me to see him just muscle his way back to his feet.

 

[DJ]

Meh.This won't be good.Infact It will be like a bloody WWE Squash match.Kimbo will win wether by Ref Stoppage,KO or judging.Shamrock has to face facts- He is out of his prime and needs to retire.I mean in his last fight he lost to a guy named Robert Buzz in Cage Rage.Who and What you ask?Excatly.Shamrock may have stared the MMA Boom.But the thing MMA needs to realise that this isn't a flipping MMA Boom-This is a UFC Boom.Shamrock = No Buys or Viewers.

Shamrock please retire and save your leagacy.Please?

 

[Mighty NorCal]

I do think im going to make my MMA debut for this. I have never veiwed an MMA event in my life. true story. But I am wildly intrigued by Kimbo, and his story, which I saw on "outside the lines" a documentery style program on ESPN. And im well aware of Shamrocks legacy, becuase when I was small, my dad treid to force me to watch UFC during like 3 of the 6 times he ever hung out with me in my life, and that was when the great Shamrock Vs Graycie feud was ongoing. Add that to the ABC special calling him the most dangerous man in the world, and his WWE success, im fairly familure with him. From what you guys say, he is pretty much a shell of his former self, but he is still a big name, and is probably the closest to legit as anyone Kimbo has fought. So I think i will be tuning into this, and giving MMA a shot.

 

[jmt225]

^^ I hope you enjoy the show, man. The undercard is kind of weak since Noons’ camp keeps ducking Nick Diaz, but yeah... this could still turn you into a fan. Kimbo vs. Shamrock shouldn't be that great of fight to those who follow MMA regularly, but to a new fan? Perhaps. I know the live crowd is going to make the fight exciting no matter what goes down, so that’s a good thing.

Also, thought this was interesting. From Tito Ortiz:

"I am very excited to watch the fight because I think he (Ken Shamrock) has a chance to beat Kimbo. If Kimbo ends up playing Ken Shamrock's game than there is definitely a chance that he could get caught and lose the fight. I don't think that Kimbo has the best groundwork in the business. I will be there in attendance and I think it will be an exciting fight, so we'll see what happens."

I would agree with Tito, but I think Ken is too stubborn to take the fucker down. However, if he is smart enough to go in for a takedown and work for a submission or just decides to ground and pound the dude, I do believe Kenny is quick and perhaps even strong enough to do so.

I still stick with my original prediction though and say that Kimbo will win this fight via 1st Round Knockout.