Slice shows power in MMA pro debut
Though he didn't have to showcase any true mixed martial arts skills, Kimbo Slice gave his fans exactly what they wanted.
The 33-year-old Internet sensation, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, knocked out journeyman Bo Cantrell in just 19 seconds in his professional MMA debut on the EliteXC card in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Saturday night.
The street brawler had beaten former heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer in an exhibition MMA bout in June, but Saturday marked the official debut of the man who has become widely popular by posting videos of his underground fights on YouTube and other Web sites.
Also on the card, former UFC star Nick Diaz lost EliteXC's first-ever 160-pound title match to K.J. Noons in the first round by technical knockout stoppage due to cuts, and Las Vegan Mike Pyle lost to Jake Shields.
• WEC CARD ANNOUNCED -- The World Extreme Cagefighting card at the Hard Rock Hotel on Dec. 12 will feature three title bouts and the WEC debut of former UFC star Jens Pulver.
The main event will be Urijah Faber's featherweight title defense against Jeff Curran.
Doug Marshall will defend his light heavyweight title against Ariel Gandulla and undefeated Paulo Filho will defend the middleweight title for the first time against an opponent to be determined.
That opponent had long been rumored to be Frank Trigg, but that will not happen because the former UFC star has signed with Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights, for which he will meet Edwin Dewees in Dallas on Dec. 15.
Pulver will meet Cub Swanson in a fight that was supposed to take place in September, but Pulver was forced to pull out with a knee injury.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or (702) 224-5509.
