Post by lsa on Nov 3, 2009 8:38:54 GMT -5
Report: Houston Alexander vs. "Kimbo Slice" set for catchweight bout at TUF 10 Finale
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Oct 31, 2009 at 6:00 pm ET
The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.
A long-rumored contest between UFC sluggers Houston Alexander (9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (3-1 MMA, 0-0 WEC) will take place at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.
That explains why Alexander is applying for a license to fight with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but what about the weight difference between "The Assassin" at 205 pounds and Slice as a heavyweight? The Times of Northwest Indiana has the answer.
Citing sources close to Alexander's camp, Matt Erickson is reporting not only confirmation that the bout will take place in Las Vegas rather than the previously rumored UFC 107 event in Memphis, Tenn., but also that the pair will meet at a catchweight of 215 pounds.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) has since verified the location of the bout but has been unable to get official word of the catchweight agreement.
Slice fought at 230 pounds when he met Roy Nelson on the third episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights." Following the loss, Slice told AOL FanHouse he'd be willing to try his hand at a light heavyweight contest, though he apparently hasn't made it all the way down to 205 pounds just yet.
Alexander seeks his first UFC win since September 2007. After earning devastating knockout victories over Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine in his first two trips to the octagon, the Nebraska native has suffered three-straight UFC defeats. Alexander was allowed to take a fight outside of the UFC in September, earning a TKO win over Sherman Pendergarst under the Adrenaline MMA banner.
Slice, who recently joined American Top Team, seeks victory in his first UFC appearance. Despite being eliminated on "TUF 10" in a TKO loss to Nelson, the former streetfighting legend has shown the ability to garner huge ratings during his stint on the show and previous fights under the EliteXC banner.
The bout seems a lock for the evening's Spike TV-broadcast main card.
Featuring two heavy handed punchers who have shown little interest in ground attacks, the Alexander vs. Slice bout is the odds-on favorite for "Knockout of the Night," though either fighter could conceivably claim the prize.
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale currently includes:
MAIN CARD
* Matt Hamill vs. Jon Jones
* Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Veach*
* Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2
* Houston Alexander vs. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson*
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard
* Brian Stann vs. Rodney Wallace
* Mark Bocek vs. TBA*
* - Not officially announced
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Oct 31, 2009 at 6:00 pm ET
The pieces of the puzzle are finally coming together.
A long-rumored contest between UFC sluggers Houston Alexander (9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (3-1 MMA, 0-0 WEC) will take place at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.
That explains why Alexander is applying for a license to fight with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, but what about the weight difference between "The Assassin" at 205 pounds and Slice as a heavyweight? The Times of Northwest Indiana has the answer.
Citing sources close to Alexander's camp, Matt Erickson is reporting not only confirmation that the bout will take place in Las Vegas rather than the previously rumored UFC 107 event in Memphis, Tenn., but also that the pair will meet at a catchweight of 215 pounds.
MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) has since verified the location of the bout but has been unable to get official word of the catchweight agreement.
Slice fought at 230 pounds when he met Roy Nelson on the third episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights." Following the loss, Slice told AOL FanHouse he'd be willing to try his hand at a light heavyweight contest, though he apparently hasn't made it all the way down to 205 pounds just yet.
Alexander seeks his first UFC win since September 2007. After earning devastating knockout victories over Alessio Sakara and Keith Jardine in his first two trips to the octagon, the Nebraska native has suffered three-straight UFC defeats. Alexander was allowed to take a fight outside of the UFC in September, earning a TKO win over Sherman Pendergarst under the Adrenaline MMA banner.
Slice, who recently joined American Top Team, seeks victory in his first UFC appearance. Despite being eliminated on "TUF 10" in a TKO loss to Nelson, the former streetfighting legend has shown the ability to garner huge ratings during his stint on the show and previous fights under the EliteXC banner.
The bout seems a lock for the evening's Spike TV-broadcast main card.
Featuring two heavy handed punchers who have shown little interest in ground attacks, the Alexander vs. Slice bout is the odds-on favorite for "Knockout of the Night," though either fighter could conceivably claim the prize.
The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale currently includes:
MAIN CARD
* Matt Hamill vs. Jon Jones
* Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Veach*
* Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2
* Houston Alexander vs. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson*
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard
* Brian Stann vs. Rodney Wallace
* Mark Bocek vs. TBA*
* - Not officially announced