Kimbo Slice (credit: Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Kimbo Slice is the odds-on favourite to beat MMA legend Ken Shamrock when the two men finally meet tonight.
This fight was supposed to take place back October 2008 as part of the CBS Saturday Night Fights series presented by EliteXC, but controversy arose just hours before the bout when Shamrock withdrew after suffering a cut about his left eye during warm-ups. Seth Petruzelli stepped in at short notice and knocked out Slice – real name Kevin Ferguson – in just 14 seconds, and within weeks the promotion filed for bankruptcy and closed down.
Former street fighter Slice had a brief – and failed – stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship before embarking on a career as a professional boxer, and having racked up a perfect 7-0 record between 2011 and 2013, the 41-year-old’s return to mixed martial arts was confirmed when he inked a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA. One month later it was announced that he would finally take on Shamrock at Bellator 138 on June 20 – with the two men combining for a total age of 92!
“I just hope they pad his hands up so he doesn’t cut himself, and that they keep all sharp objects away from him this time,” Slice told reporters earlier this week. “What is he going to do next time, shoot himself in the foot? I don’t know what Ken’s going to do, I just hope he fights. You do stuff like that when you’re scared, when you’re afraid.”
Shamrock, now 51 years of age, is a pioneer of the sport and a UFC Hall of Famer, but to say he is past his best would be an absolute understatement. The former UFC superfight champion has won just three of his last 12 fights and has suffered a few embarrassing defeats in that time. In all honesty, he should not be stepping foot inside the cage tonight, but Bellator have signed the ex-pro wrestler in a desperate quest for ratings and notoriety. Shamrock, for his part, insists there is still gas in his tank.
“I feel really good,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance to do what I love doing. I thought I had lost my opportunity to go out of this sport the way I wanted to go out—and that’s to go out fighting and go out fighting at a relatively high level.”So Slice and Shamrock will finally go toe-to-toe tonight and the bookmakers are pretty convinced about what will happen. Slice is the clear 2/5 favourite at bet365, with Shamrock a 2/1 underdog, and I fully expect the ‘younger’ man to have his hand raised at the end of the fight.
What he lacks in skill, Slice makes up for in raw power and that will be the key here. Seven of Shamrock’s last eight fights have been ended via strikes and at some point Slice will land a punch that brings the bout to a definitive close. So if you can find a bookie offering method of victory, take Slice to win via KO, TKO or DQ.
Recommended Bets:
Back Kimbo Slice to win @ 2/5 bet365
Back Kimbo Slice to win via KO, TKO or DQ at the best odds available.
