Kimbo Goes To Canada?

Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (4-1) has been strongly linked to a potential fight against fellow The Ultimate Fighter 10 heavyweight competitor Matt Mitrione (1-0) at UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun II on May, 1st in Montreal, Quebec. Though nothing has been signed at this time, FiveOuncesofPain.com is reporting that individuals close to the situation have confirmed the likelihood of the match-up.

It should be noted that, according to Sherdog.com, Mitrione himself is skeptical of the rumoured match-up given the fact that "Kimbo" fought last at a catch weight of 215lbs. Still, the majority of "Slice's" fights have been held at HW so this rumoured match is not out of the question.

Those who followed Matt Mitrione's antics on TUF 10, saw one of the best "heel" performances in the show's history-- Mitrione went from being labeled "The Snitch" to being accused of playing-up a head injury all in six weeks. Outside of that drama, Matt Mitrione also found time to defeat Scott Junk (6-2-1) in the opening round, before being choked out by James McSweeney (4-4) in the quarterfinals. On the show's live finale, Mitrione, a former NFL player himself, defeated former Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 1st round draft pick Marcus "The Darkness" Jones (4-2). Many picked the physically larger Jones, who is a BJJ specialist, to submit Mitrione that night, but Matt proved his mettle by knocking "The Darkness" out cold just ten-seconds into the second round.

After a brief stop-off in small-time MMA, "Kimbo" became the unlikely star of the now-defunct EliteXC. Even as he more-or-less blazed through his carefully-picked opponents, many had already began questioning the EliteXC's characterization of "Slice" as a world-beater when Seth Petruzelli (11-4), a light heavyweight and a last-minute call-up, knocked "Kimbo" out in the first round at EliteXC Heat in October, 2008. Petruzelli also put the final nail in the entire EliteXC promotion that night. When the dust cleared, Kimbo bravely accepted a spot on TUF 10, where he was eliminated in the first round by the show's eventual winner, Roy "Big Country" Nelson (14-4). At the live finale, "Slice" impressed many critics by winning a decision over Houston Alexander (9-6). That said, Alexander is fairly small compared to "Slice" and is just 1-5 in his last six fights, including a TKO loss this past weekend at 5150 Combat Leagues's New Year's Revolutions event.

If it occurs at UFC 113 as is rumoured, "Kimbo Slice" vs. Matt Mitrione represents a fairly solid match-up between a pair of consummate brawlers. Of course, any fight involving "Slice" would undoubtedly gain the attention of "Kimbo's" legions of passionate fans and help sell a card as a result...not that the stacked UFC 113 appears to need any help in that department.

The Entire Rumoured Card At UFC 113: Machida Vs. SHogun II (May1st, Monteal. QB):

Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua II (Light Heavyweight Title Bout)
Paul Daley vs. Josh Koscheck***
Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet
Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. Matt Mitrione
Alan Belcher vs. Patrick Cote
Jeremy Stephens vs. Sam Stout
TJ Grant vs. Johny Hendricks

***Though all these fights remain unofficial, Koscheck vs. Daley is particularly likely not to materialize due to a known injury to Josh Koscheck that may not heal in time for a full training camp.