If only one man is standing when the bout ends between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Ken Shamrock, it's a good bet it will be Slice.
While critics have been quick to discount Slice's development as an all-around mixed martial artist, there's no denying that, on his feet, Slice has the ability and the power to knock out whomever is in front of him. And when all the pre-fight picks are in ahead of the Slice versus Shamrock main event match-up on EliteXC CBS Saturday Night Fights on Oct. 4, the consensus will undoubtedly be Slice by KO.
Conventional fight wisdom suggests that the only avenue for victory for Shamrock goes through a submission. The 44-year-old UFC Hall-of-Fame fighter hasn't stopped an opponent with strikes in more than eight years and has looked less and less at home in stand-up mode with each passing round. For Shamrock, the equalizer in the fight will be getting Slice horizontal, a position in which James Thompson was very effective against Slice back in May.
The Bas Rutten-trained fighter was out of his element while pinned on his back, up against the cage against Thompson. It showed a vulnerability that hadn't been exposed in his first two fights, but Slice prefers to look at the upside of overcoming that poor second round.
"Against Thompson I learned that no matter what happens, nothing will hurt me," Slice said. "It's mind over matter. Mentally, I knew I was alright. It may have looked like I was in trouble, but I was fine. It's mind over matter."
Since posting his third MMA win in as many tries, Slice has been a more dedicated fighter in preparing for Shamrock. He spent six weeks training with Rutten in California, says his camp has pushed him harder than ever, and believes he has upgraded his cardio since the Thompson fight. Slice also downplays the notion that Shamrock will have an edge if the fight goes to the ground.
"I question Ken’s ground game," Slice said. "He's going to try and find a way to make me uneasy, but that's not going to happen. I'm never uptight. I've worked on punches, takedowns, takedown defense, chokes, armbars, you name it. Anything that Shamrock tries on me, I am prepared for."
Steve Sievert is the lead staff writer and business columnist for MMAjunkie.com. He is also the former MMA beat writer and blogger for the Houston Chronicle.
