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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Following numerous ratings record setting appearances in the mixed martial arts world, Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson will make his pay-per-view debut this May in Montreal. According to UFC President Dana White in a report from MMAJunkie.com, Slice will face off against fellow Ultimate Fighter season ten castmate Matt "Meathead" Mitrione at UFC 113 on May 8th.
Slice was defeated in the opening round of TUF 10's heavyweight tournament by eventual season winner Roy Nelson in what was the highest rated fight of the highest rated season of the show. The former street brawler was the high profile star of EliteXC before its eventual demise in 2008, and continued his ratings draw with his official UFC debut at the season finale for TUF 10, defeating Houston Alexander via decision.
Mitrione defeated Scott Junk in the opening round of the TUF 10 tournament before being submitted by James McSweeney. In his official professional debut at the finale event, he knocked out Marcus "Big Baby" Jones in the second round.
UFC 113 is set to air live on pay-per-view from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The event will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between Lyoto Machida and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
Penick's Analysis: This is a solid matchup between TUF competitors, and the intrigue for this addition to UFC 113 will be what affect it has on the buyrate for the event. Slice has been ratings gold on every card he's fought on, but the question will be if that will translate to viewers paying to watch him fight. The bout with Mitrione is not an easy one, despite Mitrione's very limited experience. He proved against Marcus Jones and Scott Junk that he's got a hell of a knockout punch, and if Slice tries to turn their bout into a brawl like his fighting style normally dictates, one of them is going down. Mitrione has shown a decent chin in the limited time we've seen his fights, but he's very, very green. Slice actually showed a little bit of a grappling game against Alexander, and if he employs a real gameplan for the first time in his career that may be a way for him to win this one. It may not answer many questions about either fighter when all is said and done, but it should definitely be an interesting heavyweight fight.
[Kimbo Slice art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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