Despite defeat, Kimbo Slice still in UFC’s plans

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer 9:20 PM Sunday, October 4, 2009

Despite his loss to Roy Nelson on Wednesday’s (Sept. 30) new episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 10,” don’t expect Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson to be finished with the UFC anytime soon.

Ferguson, the former underground bare-knuckle brawler and YouTube sensation, suffered a second-round TKO defeat in the first round of the competition-reality series.

Producers, though, can paint any picture they want with the Spike TV reality series. And in Ferguson’s case, he was portrayed as the sympathetic character who fell victim to his flabby opponent’s stifling ground game.

Despite the loss, Ferguson delivered for the UFC. Prior to the airing of the episode (which was actually taped in July), Ferguson appeared on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” hosted a crowded media conference call, and garnered headlines in mainstream publications around the world.

All the work produced a single-episode ratings record for the show, which drew 5.3 million viewers (and peaked with 6.1 million), most of whom who tuned in to see the larger-than-life Ferguson.

Teasers for future episodes of the show have mentioned the possibility of Ferguson returning to the competition as an injury replacement.

Regardless, a source close to the organization said Ferguson will compete at the show’s live finale on Dec, 5 either as a finalist or a competitor on the night’s undercard.

As one source with Spike TV said, “We’d be crazy not to put Kimbo back on free TV.”

Awards finalists announced today

Finalists for the 2009 World MMA Awards – the preeminent awards program in the MMA industry – will be announced today by organizers from Fighters Only magazine.

The month-long nomination stage will now be followed by a voting stage that runs through Dec. 5, and winners will be announced at a Dec. 30 ceremony in Las Vegas that streams live on Versus.com.

West Chester Township’s Dustin Hazelett could earn a Submission of the Year nomination for his November 2008 victory over fellow UFC fighter Tamdan McCrory. Additionally, Xenia native Matt Brown is worthy of consideration in the “Breakout Fighter of the Year” category, especially if he beats James Wilks at UFC 107 in November. Finally, West Chester Township’s Jorge Gurgel could also make the short list for “Fight of the Year” for his rousing Strikeforce victory over Conor Heun in June.

The full list of finalists will be posted on the DaytonDailyNews.com MMA blog today.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of

mma

junkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to www.mmajunkie.com.

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Why can't people mind ther own business and stop complaining! Fighting has been around for centuries and maybe if you want to make posts slamming fighting get off the site! Something must compell you to open this site maybe you reaaly do like it!!!

Dustin
2:35 PM, 10/5/2009

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The fact that we, as a society,have become so enamored with this so called sport shows our obvious regression back to barbarism.Anyone who enjoys watching a person straddle the shoulders of an opponent who is gushing blood and continue to pummel him or her cannot,an any way justify this as a sport.

grandoug
12:49 PM, 10/5/2009

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