Kimbo Slice gets another shot at MMA on The Ultimate Fighter

[Dr. Jack]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/c...,7070059.story

Kimbo Slice is getting another shot at mixed martial arts.

The Coral Springs father of six is crawling back into the cage after accepting UFC President Dana White's offer of a spot on the company's reality TV show.

The Bahamian-born Slice, 35, will be among 16 heavyweight participants when taping begins today in Las Vegas for the 10th season of The Ultimate Fighter, better known as TUF 10.

"You know, I think it shows Kimbo is humble enough to start at the beginning," said Richie Guerriero, general manager of American Top Team Coconut Creek, a popular training site for world-class fighters.

"I think this will be a win-win for Kimbo and the UFC," Guerriero said. "UFC will garner big ratings off of this and Kimbo has a chance to work his way up the ranks like everyone else that will be in the house."

The YouTube bare-knuckle streetfighting legend was on the fast track in the sport for the now-defunct EliteXC.

His 15 minutes of fame seemed to end when he had an unexpected 14-second loss to last-minute substitute and TUF veteran Seth Petruzelli of Orlando in October at Bank Atlantic Center and parted ways with well-respected coach Bas Rutten.

When Slice (3-1) was released from his Pro Elite contract on May 13, talk started about him pursuing boxing, his first love, and local promoters were looking to put him on the July 11 Don King/Showtime card at BankAtlantic Center that Slice's former promoter, Gary Shaw, is co-promoting.

Slice, who has been training in a private Fort Lauderdale gym, turned down a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce that had offered him less than his Pro Elite contract. Sliced was paid $175,000 and $500,000 for two of his last three fights.

The Ultimate Fighters sign undisclosed contracts and make about $5,000 per fight. It's believed Slice and local agent Mike (Icey Mike) Imber worked out a different deal since he is the highest profile athlete to appear on the show.

Light heavyweights and rivals Quinton Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans will be the coaches for the upcoming TUF 10 season that is scheduled to start airing in September. The winner will earn a contract with the UFC which Slice said has always been his goal when he got into the sport.

Ferguson made his mixed martial arts debut in 2007.

After more than 10 million hits in YouTube for his streetfighting at Miami flea markets, South Beach alleys, friends' backyards and parking lots, he signed with EliteXC. The promotion matched him against questionable, aging opponents who he defeated--Ray Mercer (exhibition), Bo Cantrell, David Tank Abbott and James Thompson.

On Tuesday, many in the MMA online community were calling White, who had disparaged Slice several times, a shrewd, savvy businessman who will bring a huge rating boost to the show. Slice attracted 6.5 million viewers on CBS with his ear-splitting victory over Thompson.

"Other than get 10 million hits on YouTube, what has he done to deserve to be in the UFC, nothing," White said at an October press conference. "I don't consider him a real athlete. He won't win The Ultimate Fighter. The offer's out there if he wants to take it."

Despite Slice's loss, he is still a larger-than-life prime-time television attraction that helped to bring mixed martial arts into the mainstream and in front of national television audiences.

"At the end of the day, I think it's a good thing," Guerriero said. "This will bring more exposure to our sport, more eyeballs. For whatever reason they tune in, hopefully we will gain some new fans."

Sharon Robb can be reached at srobb@SunSentinel.com