The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson has been a polarising figure since he entered the world of professional mixed martial arts, and with his recent return to the sport, prospective opponents continue to jostle for an opportunity to face him in the cage.

Since Slice defeated Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138 in June, relative newcomer Lorenzo Hood is the latest to take shots at the Bahamian-born former street fighter.

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Hood said he will immediately turn his attention to taking down Slice, following his proposed fight at Bellator 141 against Rahael Butler.

Hood suffered an injury warming up prior to the the bout and was unable to face Butler, but still intends to take on Slice.

“After this fight I’m begging for ‘Kimbo,’ and hopefully he won’t go running anywhere. If I want to go beat up on bums and 55-year-olds, then okay, but I hope he wants some of me.”

Hood (13-2) will have to wait to make his Bellator debut and may have to wait longer for an opportunity to take on Slice.

He claims that Slice avoided the first meeting between the two as negotiations fell apart.

“I was in discussions to fight him in North Carolina last year. I was waiting for that and his management team. I’m guessing they were in talks with Bellator already, said they didn’t like the fight. They said if he lost the fight, he wouldn’t get signed. He kind of backed out of it, and I’ve been looking to beat him up for a while. I didn’t like the way he dodged the fight. Then he goes and he’s talking about how he’s great at this and great at that,” Hood said.

“When I wanted to fight him, I wanted to prove what I wanted to prove, and he had none of that. But now we’re in the same division, the same company, so he can’t run. They can’t hide him from me. ‘Kimbo’ is going to have to get it, and I think he knows that. I hope he’s ready because I definitely will be.”

The 26-year-old offered a bold prediction if he faces Slice.

“Kimbo is what it is. I can have you guys follow me around and videotape me beating up bums on the street as well and make a name for myself,” he said.

“I’m pretty confident I can get the fight. The fight sells. We’re both scary-looking dudes, we both have tattoos, both bearded up, and both knocking people out. I think it’s a fight that sells. His name is big, and my name is on the way up there. I’m going to put him to sleep in the first minute of the fight. I’m knocking him out. That’s one fight I’ll call that he will be asleep in 45 seconds of the first round, and that’s something I will yell and tell everyone.”

Slice has been drawing attention from other heavyweights since his win over Shamrock.

According to the Daily Sport, English UFC pioneer Ian Freeman has said that he is eager to face Slice after he recently defeated Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138.

At the “Unfinished Business” card on Spike TV, 2.1 million viewers tuned in to watch Slice escape an early rear-naked choke hold to defeat Shamrock by knockout at the 2:22 mark in the first round.

One of those viewers was Freeman, who was once a rival seeking a bout with Shamrock, but has now turned his attention to Slice since he emerged with the win.

Bellator’s previous high-water came in November, when 1.8 million viewers tuned in to see Tito Ortiz defeat Stephan Bonnar at Bellator 131.

With the victory, Slice improved to 5-2, while the loss dropped Shamrock to 28-16-2.

Slice, 41, became an Internet sensation when his series of street fights became popular on Youtube.com. He converted a career as a backyard street fighter into becoming one of the most sought after fighters in MMA history.

His career as an MMA fighter in the UFC was short lived however, limited to just two fights.

After the brief but much-hyped stint in the world of MMA, Slice looked to capitalise once again on his notoriety, with an attempt at professional wrestling.

He then ventured in pro boxing in 2010 and he posted a 7-0 record up to 2013 before it was announced on January 16, 2015 that he signed to Bellator MMA.