News of the bout was reported by MMAFighting, who also mentioned Ricco Rodriguez would see action at the event against Mike Perez.

Ivey is 29-42 and registers in at a rotund 250 pounds while only standing a little over 5’8”. Twenty-three of his wins are by way of submission and should offer the MMA icon an interesting test if things hit the mat.

Shamrock will be looking to get back on the winning track after losing via first round TKO to Pedro Rizzo this past July. Despite his recent struggles he is still 27-14-2 as a professional with twenty three tap-outs to his credit.

There has been much speculation as to how Bobby Lashley would fare in the very real fighting world of mixed martial arts when the former NAIA wrestling champion made the announcement that he would be joining the sport in early 2008 but the former WWE superstar turned professional fighter showed the world that he is taking this MMA thing seriously when he made his professional debut a succesful one. In December of 2008 Lashley made the jump into mixed martial arts official when it took him all of :41 seconds to dispatch of Joshua Franklin at the MFA: There Will Be Blood event.

As impressive as the 260 pound powerhouse was in stopping his first opponent in less than one minute, the quick ending to the fight left many unanswered questions for Lashley from his sceptics and self admittedly, himself. In an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, the rising heavyweight star assured that there are some questions about his fighting potential that even he would like to know the answers to. The thirty two year old Colorado native may very well get his chance to have some of those questions answered in his next bout.

Lashley will face a serious test at this early stage of his career when he takes on UFC Hall of Famer and legend of the game, Ken Shamrock. The two ares scheduled to meet at the Roy Jones promoted boxing/MMA show entitled “March Badness” that will be taking place in Pensacola, Florida on March 21st. The challenge against the seasoned and battle tested Shamrock is one that the up and coming heavyweight welcomes with open arms.

As a matter of fact, Lashley confirmed that he will be welcoming any fight against tough opposition with open arms from this point forth. He has put in the time training with one of the very best camps in the business and feels like it’s sink or swim in this game, he wants to see what he can do. Simply put, Lashley is ready for anyone.

Cory Brady for FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Were you happy or disappointed at how quickly your MMA debut with Joshua Franklin ended?

Bobby Lashley: A little bit of both. I was happy because I was able to get in there and come away unscathed. I also wanted to get in there and see how it would feel. Everything went really good and I think it was a good thing.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: You were only able to test yourself for seconds on the feet in your professional debut, so you’ve had a lot more time to gauge your stand up ability while sparring down at the American Top Team. How do you normally do in your sparring sessions down at ATT?

Bobby Lashley: We’ve got a bunch of really good strikers down at ATT. I feel like I do really well with most of them. You can tell that they believe in my striking ability because when they get together for their striking sessions, most of the time they’ll give me a call, like ‘Hey Bobby, come spar with us’. If they didn’t feel confident about me being up there and sparring with them, they wouldn’t call me, so I feel really comfortable with them.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Do you feel like you’re experience in wrestling has made you more comfortable while standing to some degree?

Bobby Lashley: What I came up with, is if someone attacks me, and they get under my legs, I can defend after the takedown attempt. Before, in wrestling, I was always worried about reacting right when the guy came in. I would be looking to defend before he got there. Now, in MMA, I have about nineteen years of wrestling experience. If someone attacks my legs, I can defend it after they come in. So now I can be completely comfortable standing up and just straight boxing without fear.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How do you feel about facing someone as experienced and battle tested as Shamrock?

Bobby Lashley: It’s going to be an honor to fight him. He’s a tremendously experienced opponent. He’s had a lot of experience during the time he’s been fighting. I just have to know that he’s going to be coming with everything. He has a game plan.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How do you feel you match up with Shamrock?

Bobby Lashley: I think that it’s going to be a really good fight. I don’t know what his game plan is going to be, but my game plan is, I’m going to attack. I’m bigger than him and I’m stronger than him, but he’s got a ton of experience. I’m not going to go out there and just expect to finish him really fast because he’s a master of the game. He’s “The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” I’m going to go out there and just brawl, and I’m going to see if he’s ready to brawl.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What are some of the problems that you feel Ken could present for you?

Bobby Lashley:I know that he’s really good with the leg locks so I’ll be looking for those. Basically I’m just going to be training to not fall into any of his traps. As far as me being able to take him down, I feel really good with my takedowns so I don’t see that being any kind of problem. As far as the stand up goes, I love standing up so I’m ready for that.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Do you have any kind of preference as to where the fight ends up?

Bobby Lashley: If he wants to stand up and brawl, we can stand up and brawl. If he want to go to the mat, I’m going to be comfortable down there as well. It’s his choosing.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What would be the absolute perfect ending for you in this bout with Shamrock?

Bobby Lashley: Well, I’d really like to stand up with him. If I could stand up with him and knock him down and knock him out, that would my my ideal way to win. Then again, I’d really like to go through the first round with him, maybe trade some blows, feel what he has and let him feel what I have, and then I want to take him down. I’d really like to work with him for a bit on the ground so people can see what I have and they won’t be wondering how well I will do if a fight goes to the mat. I want to show some people, the critics and the fans, that I can handle myself on the ground as well as on the feet. I’m not going to fall for any old submission he throws on me. Then I’d like to get the fight back on the feet and knock him out.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Has your contract with the American Fight League expired? Are you a free agent at this point?

Bobby Lashley: I’m not really a free agent. The guys at the AFL have treated me really well. They give me an opportunity to fight whenever there is a fight. I still have a couple of more months with the AFL and I really hope something pans out with them so I can end up fighting on an AFL card. A lot of different fighters like to bad mouth different organizations that pop up, but if you look at the fight scene, there’s hundreds and hundreds of guys that want to fight. Just at our gym alone, we have about sixty to seventy fighters that are always looking for a fight. Whenever a new organization pops up, I’m praying that it works out for them because there is no shortage of guys that want to fight.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What are your thoughts on Strikeforce? Would you consider fighting for them at some point down the line?

Bobby Lashley:Definitely. I would fight for Strikeforce, XFC, PFC, any of those organizations I would fight for. I’m open right now. I’m ready to fight. Anything that comes my way, I’m ready for it.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: How interested are you in fighting for the UFC at some point in your career?

Bobby Lashley: I would definitely fight for the UFC. Everyone wants to make it to the UFC. That’s just the procedure in this business. It’s getting to the point now where you tell people that you’re going to fight MMA and they don’t equate MMA with fighting, the UFC is how they understand the sport. I would definitely like to make it to the UFC someday, but you have to earn your stripes. I don’t want to go over to the UFC just because of my name, I want to prove myself first. So if I get a few fights under my belt and I prove that I have what it takes to hang with the big boys, then open up the door and let me in.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: What are your thoughts on the UFC’s two current heavyweight champions, first of all, Frank Mir?

Bobby Lashley:Frank is really tough. I like his personality. I don’t really know him personally but I kind of like his personality. He’s very, very dangerous. You saw that in his first fight with Brock Lesnar. I also think that a lot of people under estimate him. People were under estimating him until his last fight when he knocked out Nogueira and people were saying ‘Oh wait, this guy has stand up too?’. I think that Frank is a very dangerous person.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: And what about another former WWE wrestler, Brock Lesnar?

Bobby Lashley: I think Brock is great. I really do. A lot of people give Brock a hard time but Brock is making people believers. Brock is proving himself, and he’s going to continue to prove himself. It kind of sucks that it has to be that way. He’s a former professional wrestler like myself and he was blessed with a lot of opportunities and that’s probably the reason that he’s in the position that he’s in now. He’s going to keep showing people that he’s the real deal. They can keep throwing people at him as tests, but he’s going to keep taking them out.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: So do you see Brock getting a little revenge in his upcoming unification bout against Frank Mir?

Bobby Lashley: I hate having to pick that fight. If I had to make a pick I would have to say that it could possibly be Brock. I mean Mir’s a big guy too, but Brock is just so big and strong. Mir is going to have a lot to work with.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank?

Bobby Lashley: I always want to thank American Top Team. They are such a great organization and there are some absolutely fabulous people there to work with. I want to thank Champion Nutrition. They supply all of the supplements that I need to keep me going.

Luke Thomas of BloodyElbow.com was the first to break the news earlier today and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the news with the matchmaker for Jones Jr.’s Square Ring Promotions, Eric Bottjer.

“We have signed today Bob Lashley to fight Ken Shamrock on our March 21 pay-per-view card and are thrilled to have MMA’s newest sensation fighting one of the sport’s true legends,” Bottjer stated in an e-mail response to Five Ounces of Pain.

The event, which is titled “March Badness,” will headlined by Jones taking on Omar Sheika and will emanate from the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida.

Shamrock will look to win his second straight fight after having just recently defeated 300-plus pound super heavyweight Ross Clifton during a Feb. 13 co-promotion between Shamrock’s promotional company and the Wargods fight promotion.

Meanwhile, Lashley, a former standout wrestler on the NAIA collegiate level, will look to improve to 2-0 as a professional mixed martial artist after recording a first round TKO over Joshua Franklin during a Mixed Fight Alliance event this past December.

In addition to Lashley vs. Shamrock, additional MMA matchups will consist of former IFL heavyweight champion Roy Nelson taking on one-time UFC heavyweight title challenger Jeff Monson while former WEC light heavyweight champion Doug “The Rhino” Marshall is set to face off with former UFC and EliteXC veteran Seth Petruzelli.

Just take a look at the resume. Shamrock was the first ever Pancrase world heavyweight champion. He was the first UFC Superfight heavyweight champion, a four time UFC champion and was one of the very first men to be inducted into the coveted UFC hall of fame.

In an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, Shamrock was extremely spirited in letting us know that he will quit fighting when he’s good and ready. He’s not trying to prove that he’s the best fighter in the world right now. Shamrock makes no bones about it, he just wants to have some fun at this point in his career, and to the forty five year old founder of the Lion’s Den, having a little fun involves a good scrap.

Even Shamrock knows that he can’t punch people in the face for a living forever and his most recent business endeavor with Wargods promotions may very well be the future of Ken Shamrock. On February, Friday the 13th, Ken Shamrock Productions will be teaming up with Wargods to present their very first event together at the Valentine’s Eve Massacre.

According to Shamrock, the relationship between the two production companies was a match made in MMA heaven.

“Well, we were looking for someone to help us out because there’s a lot of work to do with promotions,” explained Shamrock. “We were looking around for who would be the best fit and Wargods was near us. I had a couple guys that have fought on their show and I really liked how they did things.”

“I sat down and talked with them and I really liked their idea to start small and build their program up because that’s the way that we want to do it. I thought we both basically thought the same way and I thought that it would be a good marriage.”

Shamrock knows that it’s not wise to bite off more than you can chew in the early goings of building your own promotion so he’s starting things out slowly, but if he has it his way the promotion will become increasingly more busy, as far as putting on shows, as time goes on.

“Well right now we’re looking at putting on four events in 2009 but we would like to be doing about eight or ten,” said Shamrock. “We want to get some great fights going. We want to put together some good fights that people wouldn’t normally get to see. We want to be different and we want to put together fights that the fans want to see. That’s what we want to do in 2009 and hopefully we do a good job and get it done and we can keep doing it.”

Make no mistake about it, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” has no plans of putting the UFC out of business anytime soon, or even competing with the super organization. He just wants to put on some good fights that leave the crowd entertained, that’s all.

“All I’m doing is, I’m trying to run a promotion and I’m trying to get the fans to come and watch some good fights,” said Shamrock. “I’m trying to put together some fights that I would enjoy and that the fans will probably enjoy too. I’m not tying to run the MMA world, I’m just trying to have some fun.”

When Shamrock says he wants to put on fights that the fans will enjoy, he doesn’t mean that he intends to have a WAMMA unification bout under his label anytime soon. There are plenty of fighters that people still want to see fight that may not fall under the UFC, Strikeforce or Affliction labels but fighters that many want to see compete never the less.

“It goes back to the early days of the UFC when they didn’t have weight classes,” explained Shamrock. “I was in a tournament one time called David vs. Goliath. In every fight there was a David and there was a Goliath and all of the David’s won. So this is just a throwback. I thought it would be interesting.”

Oh yeah, there will be another former octagon superstar that requires no introduction making an appearance on the card along with Shamrock, Tank Abbott. The unforgettable brawler’s early highlight reels from the UFC are an absolute succession of unconscious, crumpled bodies. The Tank has come a long way since his glory days in the UFC, dropping eight of his last nine contests, but the one knockout win sandwiched between those losses over Wesley “Cabbage” Correira proved that Tank will always be one big swing away from victory.

A fight between the two former UFC superstars would be highly entertaining, if nothing else, and seems like it’s more possible than not for the very near future.

“The next time we have a show we would like to set up a fight between me and Tank in the main event,” said Shamrock. “It’s a fight that should have happened a long time ago and it never happened, for whatever reason, so we’re going to make it happen.”

Shamrock will worry about Tank when he has to but he has bigger things on his plate right now, much bigger. On Friday night, the former UFC champion will square off with the most gigantic opponent that he has ever faced when he takes on Ross Clifton.

Clifton may not hold the most impressive record at 6-8, but seriously, the guy weighs in at right around the 400 pound mark and stands at a humongous 6′ 8″ tall. Shamrock could care less how big his opponent is. He is brimming with confidence and he is eager to show the world that he is far from done in this business.

“I’m feeling like a monster,” said Shamrock. “I’m ready. When I get in there, I’ll get it done. I’m going to go after him. I’m faster than he is, I’m in better shape than he is and I’m stronger than he is. The only thing that he has on his side is his height and his weight and I can kill that. I just have to get off first, I have to get in his face and I have to hurt him.”

When asked what he would view as the absolute perfect ending to this bout, Shamrock was blunt and to the point.

“He’s unconscious,” said Shamrock.

It’s no secret that Ken and his younger adoptive brother Frank Shamrock have had a long standing feud that was supposed to be settled numerous times the old fashioned way but the fight has yet to come together and according to Ken, he doubts that it ever will at this point.

“I’ve been through this with Frank about four times now,” said Shamrock. “He’ll get all of the publicity by saying that he wants to fight me, we’ll start in with the publicity, and then at the end when it’s about to happen he finds a reason not to fight. Every single time he has done that

“Now, he’s trying to throw it on me, saying that I have personal problems and that’s why we’re not fighting. That is an absolute lie. That is a blatant lie. Frank’s not fighting me because he has a promoter, Scott Coker, that’s telling him that he can’t fight me because that fight was set up and ready to go before they pulled it.”

To put it mildly, Shamrock is not impressed with his younger brother’s most recent choice of opponent in Nick Diaz. A fight that, according to Ken, should have been with him.

“The fight he’s having with Nick Diaz is the one that he was supposed to be having with me but they’re taking the high road,” said Shamrock “Frank is taking a lighter fighter, a guy that is not as strong as him, the skills are the same but Frank is just bigger and stronger. He’s taking a fight that he knows that he can win.

“They’re the ones that backed out of the fight, not me. He has backed out five times now. Five times we have tried to set this up now. That’s why I don’t like getting involved with him. He wants all of the press and the publicity that he gets from me and trying to fight me because he gets all of these interviews and people talking about it and then he backs way from it.

“He did it with Royce Gracie, Rickson Gracie, and even Wanderlei Silva in Japan. He’s done this with several fighters early in his career where he was supposed to fight them and he would build it up through all of the publicity and then there was a reason why he couldn’t fight them.”

There’s only one way for the brothers to truly bury the hatchet and according to Ken, he has been ready to go since day one. Ken claims that Frank knows the score between the two, and it’s up to him if he wants to do something about it.

“He’s not ever going to fight me because he knows that I will beat his ass. He knows that. He’s always going to be under my thumb, all of the time. He’s never going to get away from that. He’s the younger brother, I brought him into this business and I created him. He’s where he’s at in this business because of me and he will never be able to get out from underneath that no matter how much he tries, unless he fights me. If he walks in front of me, I’m going to punch him right in his mouth because I’m tired of him talking.”

There have been plenty of people that have called for Shamrock’s retirement in recent years, and it is to those specific people that he would like to deliver this very special message.

“I would say ‘Okay, when you turn forty or forty five years old, I want you to go and sit on your couch and eat popcorn and drink beer and die’, I’m not ready to do that,” said Shamrock. “I love competing. I want to stay in it.

“How many people out there don’t want to work? How many people want to live on welfare or collect a social security check? I don’t want that, I want to work. Kill me. People think that wanting to keep working is such a bad thing. Where is peoples minds at today? People say ‘Oh, go ahead and retire and take life easy’, dude, that’s not how I’m built. I love competing, I love what I do and I want to compete. I’m not a bum and I don’t want to be a bum.”

Shamrock feels that at this point in his career, after all that he has accomplished in and for the sport, that he should be able to be the ultimate judge on when he decides that it is time to walk away from the sport that he has grown to love, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with him.

“When people are saying that you should retire, then basically what they’re saying to you is that you’re too old to be doing what you love doing and that you should sit aside and just die,” said Shamrock. “I don’t want to do that. I want to compete and I’m going to as long as I’m able to get in the ring and throw down.

“I have been in more main events than anyone in this business. Ever since I stepped into the ring I have been a main event fighter. Every single time that I have stepped into the ring. I have thrilled millions of fans around the world over the years. It is my turn now to thrill myself. Please, don’t force me out, this is what I love to do. I have thrilled the fans for so long and for so many years that, now let me have some fun. The thing is, this is not about me trying to prove that I’m the best fighter in the world, I’m not, I’m just trying to have some fun.”

“I just want to thank Wargods and KSP and all of the people that are behind this production. I want to thank all of the fighters that have stepped up to do this fight because a lot of them aren’t making a lot of money on this, we’re just trying to get this promotion up and running, so for that, I really appreciate it. I also want to thank all of the fans that are going to support this.”

Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock

Adam Morgan: These days Ken Shamrock is much better at hyping a fight than he is at competing in them. It’s likely that, much like the UFC, EliteXC will be using Shamrock to put Kimbo over with the crowd against a name that people know. Whether it be from the early days of the UFC or from Shamrock’s time in the WWE, people know who Ken Shamrock is. He hasn’t won a fight in over four years and he hasn’t been able to take a fight to the ground in what seems like ages. Shamrock is a shell of his former self and will be forced to stand and trade with Kimbo Slice. And that, friends, is Kimbo’s domain. This will be a replay of Tank Abbott vs. Kimbo Slice without the flab. Kimbo Slice via TKO, round one.

Gary Herman: Kimbo Slice is better off fighting guys on the Internet. Fortunately, Shamrock shouldn’t even be fighting there. Nothing against Slice, but EliteXC shouldn’t bill him as a main event fighter if he’s not fighting main event talent. Shamrock’s got little chance in the fight. His takedowns are slow and his chin belongs in a China shop. Kimbo Slice via KO, round one.

David Andrest: This fight is going to be incredibly entertaining for all the wrong reasons. Shamrock’s name may still carry some cache with the novice viewer. In fairness Shamrock is on this card to draw that viewer. Ken’s best days are far behind him, however if he can manage to pull Kimbo into the deep end of the pool, this could be an upset. Kimbo Slice via KO, Rich Franklin style.

Andrei Arlovski vs. Roy Nelson

Adam Morgan: This matchup is just competitive enough to be interesting but not competitive enough to be deemed as a must-see fight. Arlovski should dominate Nelson on the feet without a doubt. His overall speed should be too much for Nelson, specifically his hand speed and quickness on his feet. Nelson’s only chance is to take this fight to the ground and work for a submission or catch Arlovski with a big punch. I don’t see either of those things happening and while Nelson should prove to be a tough fight, Arlovski should overwhelm him the same way he overwhelmed Ben Rothwell: constant pressure. Andrei Arlovski via TKO, round two.

Gary Herman: What a great fight as a late add-in. The established star taking on an up-and-comer. Both guys are going to stand and throw bombs for the entire fight. This one could be very similar to Arlovski vs. Rothwell. If Arlovski wins, Fedor is probably next. I just hope Arlovski remembers to take his fangs out. Andrei Arlovski via TKO, round 3.

David Andrest: This matchup is a recipe for disaster for Arlovski. Other than an obvious payday, he has very little to gain by fighting Nelson. Roy Nelson is a dangerous guy, he is a pretty good heavyweight but the number of ways Nelson could win this fight are few and very unlikley. But this is the type of fight that makes me uneasy, at this point Arlovski should not be fighting anyone outside the top 3. Arlovski via KO round 2

Jake Shields vs. Paul Daley (EliteXC 170 lbs. Title Fight)

Adam Morgan: This is a classic striker vs. grappler matchup with Shields playing the role of grappler and Daley playing the role of striker. Daley’s muay thai is absolutely devastating and he executes with textbook precision. However, his takedown defense is not where it needs to be. In general, the fighters from England lack the technical wrestling that’s needed in the American MMA game and Daley is a prime example of this. While he may be a beast on his feet, once Shields gets him to the ground, and he will, it’s only a matter of time before Shields comes up with a submission. Shields’ wrestling and ground game are very complete and his boxing is serviceable. He should be able to take Daley down easily and work him over on the ground, softening him up with ground and pound before locking in a submission. Jake Shields via submission, round two.

Gary Herman: We’ll finally get a chance to see Shields matched up against quality opposition. Nothing against Nick Thompson or Mike Pyle, but I don’t see them on the same level as Daley. Hopefully, the announcers are able to get Daley’s skills over to the public. This fight could be a classic. Shields will be looking to use his awesome Jiu-jitsu while Daley’s going to look to keep the fight on the feet. More importantly, both guys are in their prime. The fight could go the distance, and that will bode well for Shields’ ground game. Jake Shields via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: I will freely admit, I believe in Jake Shields. I believe the hype and he is a top 5 fighter in his weightclass. Paul Daley is a decent striker, but with that said this is the one way he has to win this fight. Jake Shields. via arm triangle , round 1

Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold-Gavin

Adam Morgan: Kobold is a very solid opponent and one that will bring the fight to Gina for the full three rounds but I don’t see her giving Gina any problems that she hasn’t seen before. Kobold is possibly the most complete MMA fighter that Carano has faced yet but Carano should be able to keep it standing and pepper Kobold with the more powerful and potent standup. It seems like each time out we keep saying that Gina’s opponent is “the toughest yet” but I think that definitely applies to Kobold. She has a ton of experience and a well rounded game but I think Carano is just the better athlete. Gina Carano via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: Kobold is a very experienced fighter who will not be overwhelmed by the scene or this fight. The question remains does she have the tools to FINISH Gina Carano. Carano has shown improvement on a consistent basis, and runs the danger of looking past Kobold to a match with Cyborg. Carano via unanimous decision.

Michael Huckaby: It wouldn’t surprise me if Carano were able to finish this fight but I’m afraid I have to agree with Morgan and Andrest here.  Kobold has too much experience to just give in to Carano’s limited ground game so I think we’ll have to wait out a fairly exciting fight.  Carano via decision.

Gary Herman: This is a showcase fight for Carano. It is also one that should not take place. Kobold is a serviceable enough fighter that Carano is not going to blow her out. Not to sound like a broken record but the fight should Carano vs. Cyborg. A part of me hopes Carano loses so that Elite learns its lesson. Unfortunately, that won’t happen. Carano’s stand-up will be too much for Kobold. Carano via 2nd round TKO.

Murilo Rua vs. Benji Radach

Adam Morgan: Rua seems to be back in real “Ninja” form recently and it’s good to see him devastating the Tony Bonellos of the world. However, Radach is another animal altogether. Radach is an extremely powerful wrestler with good hands and knockout power. One of the Chute Boxe weaknesses has always been wrestling and Rua is no exception. He has good muay thai and good BJJ but his reckless style and lack of wrestling will be trouble against Radach. I think Radach takes this to the ground and grinds out a decision victory over Rua. Benji Radach via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: Rua has looked very good in recent outings. Radach is a very good wrestler. This could prove to be an incredibly boring and slow fight depending on who takes control. Rua is no stranger to the big stage and has a much better resume. I look for Rua to land enough knees to end this fight. Ninja via TKO round 2

Michael Huckaby: I really can’t argue with all of Morgan’s logic but at the same time I just can’t take Radach over Ninja.  It is possible Radach could hold it down and get enough shots in to take a decision or even get a flash KO over a fatigued Rua but I think more than likely Radach will quickly realize he doesn’t have the tools than Ninja can bring.  Nina via TKO round 2.

Gary Herman: Rua vs. Radach is an exceptional fight to be the opening fight for any promotion. All around – Rua’s got the better skills, but Radach has the chance to do some damage striking. If Rua avoids the big shots, he will do well. Rua via unanimous decision.

The evolution from street brawler to MMA professional continues on Saturday night October 4th when Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson takes on another slightly past his prime legend in Ken Shamrock. Although Shamrock has only won twice since the millennium, he will attempt to halt the hype train that is Kimbo Slice. Kimbo can take one small step closer to legitimacy with a win over Shamrock, although it is apparent from the Shamrock matchup that he is in no rush to get there.

Kimbo Slice is a modern rags-to-riches story as he embarks on another chapter of his professional MMA career. As you most likely already know, Kimbo got his start fighting for money on the streets. The highest bidder would get a shot at his unofficial “Street Certified” title. Where Kimbo separated himself from the other wannabe tough guys is in self promotion. Not only did Kimbo beat you up, but then he posted his results on Youtube. It was a minor stroke of genius and the start of something big. Word spread of the Miami internet phenom, and with it his popularity grew. Even after suffering his first loss to Boston Police officer Sean Gannon, his popularity only continued to soar higher. He had to make the next logical step to the professional cage. The fan base was there and in stepped a willing promoter in the form of EliteXC.

After opening with a 19 second demolition of professional door mat Bo Cantrell, he progressed to his first MMA legend in Tank Abbott. Even after a 43 second beat down of the former king of Huntington Beach, he still received no modicum of respect. Tank was old and over the hill, no way Kimbo was that good. With fans clamoring for a legitimate opponent, Kimbo’s trainer Bas Rutten reminded everyone that it was only his third professional fight and he would not give into pressure to place his protégé in a bad situation. With that proclamation entered journeyman fighter James Thompson. Thompson was not the most talented fighter in the world, but he presented an experienced fighter very capable of beating Kimbo. The MMA media didn’t see it that way, and assumed Kimbo would roll over Thompson. When Kimbo looked less than impressive in a third round TKO win over Thompson, again it wasn’t that Kimbo was improving but rather that Thompson was washed up and not worthy of the stature of the fight. In his everlasting quest for respect, the next hurdle propped in front of him by EliteXC and Rutten is 44 year old Ken Shamrock.

For only his forth professional fight Kimbo shows excellent potential in a few areas. The most obvious are his standup skills. He is a natural gifted athlete who shows rare agility and very good footwork for someone with limited formal boxing training. Kimbo’s sheer knockout power is undeniable, and also seems to be in proportion with his cement chin. Granted he has not faced a top flight striker at this level, but shaking off a strong right hand from Tank is no mean feat no matter what his age. Kimbo’s heart and determination can not and should not be questioned as he has stood up to the pressure of his position with undeniable dignity. Many questions still remain with Kimbo’s game, mainly his grappling and his conditioning. Fortunately for him Shamrock will most likely not be able to test the latter. One thing is for certain, if Kimbo allows himself to be taken to the floor his grappling will be tested by one of the best in the world. Will Kimbo be able to react fast enough to defend against Shamrock’s submissions on the ground? That is the million dollar question.

Ken Shamrock is a Hall of famer for a reason, he was the first King of Pancrase and the first UFC Superfight Champion. A catch wrestling disciple of Masakatsu Funaki and Karl Gotch, Shamrock combined his fantastic size and strength with dazzling speed to become a world class submission grappler. After being invited and taking part in UFC 1 in 1993, he made it to the finals of the tournament where he was choked out by Royce Gracie. This was the beginning of a long standing rivalry between the two that would stretch for years. The combination of Shamrock’s intimidating appearance, grappling prowess, and penchant for trash talk would turn him into an instant star and the first for the sport. Shamrock would continue to fight in both Pancrase and the UFC for the next few years with good success. But as the sport began to wain in the United States, the money began to fade away as well.

Driven to provide for his family and the fight camp he founded, the Lion’s Den, he made the next logical step in his career to professional wrestling. Shamrock was a natural fit for the WWF(now the WWE) and with his legitimate fighting background became an instant fan favorite. Riding out the lean years in pro wrestling, Shamrock saw the sport make a financial comeback in the land of the rising sun and decided to make another go of it in Pride. This venture was not the instant success that Shamrock assumed it would be, as he won his first fight but lost his next two bouts and found himself shown the door to the promotion. The following year saw the development of events that would prove to be the turning point of the fighters career. He started a rivalry with a young champion of the UFC, Tito Ortiz. They scheduled a fight and the ensuing Pay Per view became the highest selling MMA pay per view in North American History. It undeniably proved that both the sport and Ken Shamrock could sell. The following grudge match outsold the original and the third match aired live on Spike TV basic cable and pulled the largest TV ratings ever for the sport to date. Shamrock was made a household name and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. After being released from the UFC while riding a four fight losing streak, Shamrock attempted a comeback in an effort to promote a bout with step-brother Frank Shamrock. A first round knockout loss to since-retired Robert “Buzz” Berry has given Shamrock a fifth loss in a row going into his matchup with Kimbo Slice.

Shamrock is 44 and although in decent physical shape, has shown in recent years that his conditioning is no where near where it used to be, or where it needs to be now. If this fight goes further that one round, Shamrock will gas out. One thing Shamrock does have going for him is the ability to end this fight very quickly with a submission. Say what you will about his aging skills, Ken Shamrock is still one of the most dangerous people in the world on the ground. If he can get this fight on the floor at any point in this fight, he can break a leg or an ankle and end it with lightening quickness. Ken has the heart and the determination to take the punishment needed to get inside on Kimbo, take him down and submit him. The biggest x factor in this fight is if his chin will withstand Kimbo’s punishment. Shamrock has shown over the last few years that he has a chin like a light switch. If you hit it hard and fast enough he will go out. This game plan for Shamrock is rather simple, stay conscious long enough to hit the ground with Kimbo. Shamrock will take punishment in this fight, his defense both standing and on the mat is downright atrocious. As long as he keeps his chin tucked until he can take Kimbo down, he has a chance.

I see this fight ending quickly and horribly for Ken Shamrock. I think Kimbo will land his power shots before Shamrock has a chance to get his hands on him for the takedown. Say what you will about Kimbo’s all around skill set, but he has more than enough power to put Shamrock to sleep quickly here and that is why he was choosen. The kid in me wants to see Shamrock pull off the upset and get the submission win just like he would have 15 years ago. But the adult in me who knows the realities of today all too well realizes that he will see the end of a legend’s career Saturday night. I just hope we all stop and remember all that Ken Shamrock has accomplished for the sport and not what his last impression will be.

Be sure to check out the HDNet Fights Video Vault for more MMA action!

I am a writer but I am also a fan and I can remember watching UFC 40 in 2002 when Tito Ortiz pummeled Shamrock in their first-ever meeting. I hated Ortiz for doing that to my hero. Was it irrational anger? Absolutely. But I was a Shamrock fan and Ortiz had just beaten my guy. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the the last time he’d take a beating at the hands of Ortiz.

The losses to Ortiz made it easy to forget that Shamrock was both the first-ever King of Pancrase and the UFC’s first-ever Superfight champion. But the simple truth of the matter is he’s far removed from the time in which he known as the “World’s Most Dangerous Man.”

While nostalgia is fun, the reality is that the 44-year old Shamrock is 0-5 in his last fight bouts and hasn’t won since 2004. His career looked to have hit rock bottom following a first round knockout against heavyweight journeyman Robert “Buzz” Berry this past March during a Cage Rage event. It was a fight set up for Shamrock to win and in losing, it appeared he was all but done.

Flash forward to the present and Shamrock has been handed a golden opportunity to set to things right. Scheduled to face Kimbo Slice in the main event of EliteXC and CBS’ third installment of “Saturday Night Fights” on Oct. 4, Shamrock finds himself with one last shot at redemption.

With just six weeks until the fight, Shamrock took time to speak with FiveOuncesOfPain.com in an exclusive interview where he discussed the loss to Berry; his thoughts on Slice; his response to comments made by the camp of Brett Rogers; how long he plans to continue fighting; the status of his long-standing feud with adoptive brother Frank Shamrock; and more.

Sam Caplan: A lot of people were disappointed in the nature in which you lost to Robert “Buzz” Berry in March. Is there anything you can point to that caused that performance?

Ken Shamrock: Well I don’t think anyone was more disappointed than myself. A lot of things would have happened for me after that fight and I wanted that fight badly but unfortunately things didn’t work out for me. I had some real bad sickness, an illness. I came back to the States and I was sick for three weeks after but prior to that fight I had lost almost 20 pounds. From the time between leaving the States to when I was over in England, I was in bed trying to recover. Prior to weighing in I had put in two bags of fluid in me and I still only weighed 212.

So I was in pretty bad shape but because of the committment that I have to my sport, I just couldn’t step back and say “no,” which I probably should have looking back on it. But I didn’t, because I had the drive and I have this thing that I can overcome anything. And that’s been my downfall throughout my years and my career is that I don’t know when to say when.

Sam Caplan: You mentioned a lot of things could have happened for you had you won that bout. What were those things?

Ken Shamrock: It was a lot of financial opportunities that I had and I don’t want to go into that because those were my business opportunities. There’s a lot of different fights I could have had off of that with a win over Buzz Berry. It was just basically a fight I was supposed to step in and win. It was a setup fight for me and I didn’t go in and get the job done and a lot of things went by the wayside.

So I am very fortunate to get this opportunity to step in a fight Kimbo and I won’t make that mistake twice. I am going in and going in to win the fight — just like I did vs. Buzz Berry, but unfortunately things didn’t work out for me. But you know what? That’s just the way things work, you know? You go in and in this business you don’t always win. Anything can happen. It happened to me and I’ve just got to go out there and suck it up and this time get the job done.

Sam Caplan: After the fight you were released by ProElite. What did they tell you were the reasons why they were cutting your contract after one fight?

Ken Shamrock: I didn’t pay too much attention to what was said or what was done. Hell, it was a bad show for me. Even though I was sick and things didn’t work out for me, I still didn’t go out there and perform. It wasn’t the Ken Shamrock that got into this business. I’ve had a broken leg and I still competed. I went out there and tried to compete to the best of my ability — part of that though I didn’t think was my fault. Even though I did get clipped with a punch and I went down, I was nowhere even close to being out of that fight.

I went down and I was clipped and I wasn’t in the best of shape; I was sick and had lost weight and wasn’t in the best of shape; and had just basically tried to make sure I positioned myself in a place to win. But when I was clipped and had went down, I was waiting for him to get on top of me to where I could actually try and do some submissions, which is where I know he was weak at. But they stopped the fight before he ever came and touched me. I’m not saying it’s a bad stop but this is MMA and you’ve got to allow someone to finish a fight. This is not boxing where you get a 10 count or a knockdown rule. If I was laying flat on my back with my arms down on my side and I was unconscious, then I could see him stopping it but when you’ve got a guy that’s still alive and still squirming then you’ve got to allow the fight to continue; this is MMA.

So a lot of things happened in that fight. I wasn’t necessarily in the best of shape and in the best of health but at the same time I still want to go out and compete and I don’t believe I got that opportunity.

Sam Caplan: Your son, Ryan Shamrock, also appeared on the same show. He fought well but lost and hasn’t fought for ProElite since. Is he still under contract?

Ken Shamrock: Well, he broke his hand about 30 seconds into the first round. He then continued on and finished the round and a lot of us thought he won that round. But the cornerman saw his hand and took a look at it and it was a boxer fracture. He came back to the States and they put a cast on it for about eight weeks and then he took the cast off and went back to training and then he re-broke it again. That’s the reason he hasn’t been back fighting; the hand hasn’t healed up 100 percent yet.

Sam Caplan: Any chance we’ll get to see him on the undercard on Oct. 4?

Ken Shamrock: I don’t know. Right now we’re still trying to get his hand where he can punch with it full go. He’s grappling — he’s okay to grapple with it right now, but we’re still working with his punching. I want to make sure we don’t push him too fast. He’s still young and has got a bright future ahead of him. I don’t want to put him out there and have him re-break the thing again and continue to have a broken hand everytime he gets into a fight.

Sam Caplan: At what point did EliteXC contact you about fighting Kimbo on Oct. 4 and were you surprised they came back to you after cutting your contract?

Ken Shamrock: Like I said, I don’t recall what the contract things were. I kind of just cut myself off from all that. I let my agents handle all of that and so I don’t know what was done. I know there was talk about them not wanting to obligate the contract. So when they did come back to me and they did say that this fight (was available), I jumped at it. It’s a great opportunity for me to step in there and get right back in the mix of things and Kimbo Slice is basically gift wrapped for me. And I ain’t going to let this one get by me.

Sam Caplan: How long ago did they present this opportunity to you?

Ken Shamrock: It was short notice. I found out about this about a week ago. So it hasn’t been a lot for me to prepare for this but I’ll be ready. When this fight comes around, as much as I want this and the determination I have because of some of the things that have happened to me in the past, I want this bad and it’s going to show in the cage.

Sam Caplan: You’ve been quoted in the past as saying that Kimbo simply isn’t ready to be in the spot he’s in right now. What areas do you feel specifically that he’s lacking in?

Ken Shamrock: I just think that Kimbo in the future could be a great fighter. He’s got the look and obviously he’s got the marketability but skill-wise he really hasn’t gotten an opportunity to settle in and develop on his skills. He throws a big right hand and he’s got big punches but his cardio isn’t there and his positioning and his ground skills aren’t there. So there’s a lot of things he needs to improve in. He’s been pushed into the spotlight way too fast.

Sam Caplan: You’re one of the pioneers of this sport and a big reason why it is where it is today. I’m not alone in saying this, but you were the first fighter I became a true fan of and there are a lot of people that will read this that can say the same thing too. Do you feel that Kimbo Slice is good or bad for this sport?

Ken Shamrock: No, he’s good. I think that as far as being a face and what people look at as an MMA fighter, he’s not there yet. But as far as marketability and being mainstream and people look at him and go “wow!” He’s great marketing for our sport. But he’s not the image of an MMA fighter — not yet. Soon I think he will be but right at this point in time he’s not there. But like I said, I think he’s good for the sport because he crosses over from the mainstream — just as I did — into the MMA world. I think that he’s going to bring those people that haven’t watched MMA and they’re gonna watch it just because of the way he looks.

Sam Caplan: You have a history with Kimbo’s trainer, Bas Rutten. Prior to the Tank Abbott vs. Kimbo fight, in the week leading up to the fight Tank made a remark to the media that Kimbo’s biggest weakness was on the ground and that Bas wasn’t the guy you wanted to learn the ground game from. You’re a guy that has not only submitted Bas Rutten but you’re someone who is a trainer in addition to being a fighter. Do you think Kimbo and Bas are a good fit for each other?

Ken Shamrock: Absolutely, because Bas made his bones in kickboxing in Holland. He was a very big kickboxer and at one time he was ranked before he came into the Pancrase organization, which was a mixed martial arts organization in Japan. So Bas’ roots are from striking so he’s going to be able to help Kimbo control his punches, keep his spacing, don’t get too crowded and be able to try and stay on his feet. But at the same time, Bas already knows all of the escapes. He knows how to escape a leg lock. He knows all of the defenses to them and he knows how to keep people out of trouble.

So I think it’s a good match, him and Bas because Bas knows me inside and out. He knows what I’m going to do. So if anybody could be in his corner that would do him any good at all, it would be Bas Rutten. But you just can’t teach someone to fly in that short of a time. If you give him some time, maybe he’ll be able to get in there and do all of this stuff but not in this short of time.

Sam Caplan: I recent saw a poll on the website for the Wrestling Observer where about 54% of the respondents are picking Kimbo to win while 46% are picking you. After watching you in the Berry fight, some people feel you don’t have a shot to make it past the first two minutes. What’s going to change from you for this fight in comparison to the Berry fight?

Ken Shamrock: Well again, I don’t want to beat a dead horse, man. I’ve already explained what happened in the Buzz Berry fight. It just doesn’t do any good to keep going over it. The bottom line is that it’s still an excuse. No matter how many ways you flip it, it’s still an excuse. I want to go into this fight and after the fight is over I’ll be able to say “Hey, it’s not an excuse anymore. It was a reality.”

Sam Caplan: But are you planning anything different from a training perspective and working on new techniques or will you approach things differently from a tactical situation?

Ken Shamrock: I felt I had a good plan for when I fought Buzz Berry. Anytime you go in there having some problems you kind of lose focus on what you need to go in and do and that’s what happened with me; I lost focus on what I needed to do. So I expect to keep my mind focus and my strength where it needs to be and stick to my gameplan. I know what I’m going to do.

Sam Caplan: A win over Kimbo on CBS would open up a lot of other opportunities for you. At age 44, how much longer do you intend to compete though?

Ken Shamrock: As long as my body and my mind will allow me to. As long as the fans still want to see it. I think that every time I step into the ring, just like now, there’s always a buzz and it always seems to jack people off of their seats. So hey, I guess I’ve been blessed. I don’t know what it is but I love to fight and I love to get in the ring and I want to be healthy for once. That’s obviously not going to happen completely but at least enough to where I can go in and just let it go. I’ve been fortunate and right now with all the buzz and all the pop in MMA over this fight. You know, there’s still an interest and I’m still interested in fighting. The fans are still interested in seeing me fight so I am just going to keep bringing it.

Sam Caplan: You’ve had such a historic career; literally a Hall of Fame career. A fighter never wants to consider the idea of losing, but if you aren’t able to get past Kimbo on Oct. 4, could Oct. 4 be the last time Ken Shamrock fans get to you see compete?

Ken Shamrock: I will never, ever make that statement prior to a fight.

Sam Caplan: The manager for Brett Rogers, Mike Reilly, released a statement to Five Ounces of Pain earlier in which he said you in jest that were 103-years old and your ego usurped Rogers’ shot at Kimbo. At one point he said you butted in line. How do you respond to that accusation and if you win, do you have any interest in a fight with Rogers?

Ken Shamrock: First of all, you’re talking about a guy standing outside of the ring and is training somebody and creating this problem. He has no idea what went on behind the scenes. And he does know the time I’ve put into MMA and the other people that have paved the way for people like Brett Rogers to get in the ring and fight and have opportunities to fight people like Kimbo. I didn’t set this fight up! I didn’t go to them and ask for this fight! They came to me because they thought that this would be the best fight that would suit them in order to make a big bang in MMA. If he thinks that Brett Rogers can do the same sort of thing that I’m doing right now, they would have used him. I’m sorry if he feels that way. I’m sorry if he feels like I jumped in front of him. I didn’t plan it. I didn’t set it up. I just stepped in and took what they offered so if he’s pissed off at me, hey, stand in line.

Sam Caplan: If you beat Kimbo, is Rogers someone you’d be open to fighting?

Ken Shamrock: You know what? That’s just like asking me if I’m going to retire if I don’t win the fight. Those are questions I won’t even answer until after my fight.

Sam Caplan: Is talking about a potential fight vs. your adoptive brother Frank Shamrock something you’re willing to talk about in this interview?

Ken Shamrock: Well, obviously that’s one that’s already been set out there so it’s not like it hasn’t been talked about. That one has already been put into place so I believe it’s up to the organization and Frank to say yes. I’m already standing there waiting and saying “Yeah, you guys have talked about and you set it up and I said yes.”

Sam Caplan: Sometimes with Frank it’s hard to tell what’s for real and what’s for show. He’s gotten personal and has gone so far as to accuse you of using steroids. I’ve been at events where the two of you were at and it’s like you didn’t even exist to each other. First, can you respond to the steroid accusations, and second, what’s the relationship between the two of you behind-the-scenes?

Ken Shamrock: First of all, I’ve already made a statement about that and it’s the same thing as trying to kick a dead horse. You don’t need to keep talking about it. You make a statement and you put your thing out there and that’s that. As far as me and Frank go, when we end up in each other’s presence the best thing to do is probably not to say anything because me, personally, with the things that he’s done to my father, which was supposed to be his adoptive dad, if he was to say anything or get out of line, I’d probably punch him in the nose.

Sam Caplan: I realize the two of you are adopted but you were raised by the same father and you brought him into MMA. With Frank and his family not in your life, do you ever feel a void? I mean, you have kids and he has kids. Do they ever express an interest in interacting with each other? Is a reconciliation something you strive for in the future or is it something that doesn’t matter?

Ken Shamrock: Of course it’s something that… because my father is the one that was hurt the most out of this. He was the one who took Frank and he was the one who visited Frank all the time and took care of him and raised him and helped him out of trouble. He did all of those things for him and I was basically a peer counselor for a time and then I went away to college for a time so I wasn’t really there a whole bunch when he was around.

The only time that I was there was when he got out of prison and my dad asked me if I would take him in and let him stay at my house and that he was thinking of adopting him. And I said “Hey pop, if this is what you want then I’m all for it. But once you do it you can’t go back on it, this is it.” And so he got out and I took him and started him out and protected him and got him where he needed to be. And then he said, she said, or whatever, from what Frank said and from what my mom said and my father are saying are two different things.

The bottom line is that as long as he makes it up and gets it straight — my dad and him get it straight, between them two — I’m good.

Sam Caplan: Do you think he’s saying some of the things he’s said just to foster a feud that could lead to a big money match or do you think this is how he really feels?

Ken Shamrock: It’s hard to say with Frank because a lot of times when Frank says things it’s like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. One minute you’re getting the guy that’s shaking your hand (while he’s) smiling and talking to you and then you turn around and three days later you hear something on a website that he said about you. So it’s hard to know what he’s really thinking.

Sam Caplan: Do you feel like you guys were ever close at one point when things were going well?

Ken Shamrock: No. I think that I basically had brought Frank in and I put him through a tryout and I got him fights over in Japan and I basically protected him with certain kind of fighters that he was going to fight. And basically was just bringing him along to a point where I knew he was ready and I’d get him that big fight. He kept thinking I was just holding him back but in all honesty I was just making sure that whenever he made that jump to that next level that he was ready. And I did that with all of my fighters. Every single one of them, I always wanted to make sure they were ready and he just felt that he was being held back and this and that and I just said being a Shamrock and coming from of what I’ve accomplished and him coming out with the Shamrock name, people are gunning for him so he’s got to be ready so I just wanted to make sure he was really ready to get in and get it done.

Sam Caplan: But at one point did you ever feel a true closeness? Did he ever feel like a true brother to you?

Ken Shamrock: I’m not sure that we ever felt that. I think it was more through my dad. My dad really cared for him and loved him and because my dad had those feelings for him, I had those feelings for him. I just said “Whatever you need pop, I’ll do it.”

That being said, EliteXC is getting as close to scripting fights as possible in MMA without actually determining the outcomes. Say what you will about the UFC, at least they give us legitimate fights where the best fighters on their roster fight one another and they let the chips fall where they may. It may be better off for one of their fighters to win over another but they let the fighters decide what the outcome is and not the matchmaking.

With EliteXC it’s the complete opposite. Going into the fight we already know who’s going to win. And it shouldn’t be that way. Part of the allure to MMA is that the sport is so unpredictable. But nine times out of ten, Slice dominates Shamrock. There’s no fun in that. Are we supposed to legitimately think that Shamrock has a chance in hell to win this fight? That it’s a competitive fight? Anyone with half a brain knows that Shamrock will get knocked out within the first couple of minutes. The guy hasn’t won a fight since he beat a washed up Kimo back in 2004 and his chin has turned into absolute glass over the past few years. Sure, the guy knows his submission game and there’s a small chance he might catch Slice in something but Shamrock is following the path of Tank Abbott as just another guy to throw in the cage against Slice so Kimbo can knock his block off. If “Buzz” Berry can do it then Kimbo certainly can. EliteXC looks second rate as it is. This matchup only helps solidify that fact.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I have nothing but love for Kimbo Slice. I’ve been a Kimbo Slice supporter since the beginning. I think his aura, his charisma, and his fighting style are good for the sport. His story is one that appeals to a lot of different types of people and he seems to be taking the sport very seriously. That being said, you don’t know if his next fight is going to be against a legitimate opponent like Brett Rogers or if it’s going to be against Doink The Clown. I mean honestly, the circus surrounding Kimbo’s future opponents has become ridiculous. Who’s next? Tommy Morrison?

Sooner or later Slice is going to have to be tested. But because EliteXC has zero stars past Slice and to a lesser extent Gina Carano, it forces them to continue to protect Kimbo because should he lose then they have no drawing power. Carano can’t carry a show by herself and the reason people will tune in on October 4 is almost solely because of Slice. It’s a sad state of affairs because Slice deserves better. He was being built up the proper way. First it was the debacle agaisnt Bo Cantrell, then Tank Abbott, a relative can. Then it was James Thompson, a more legitimate fighter who really tested Kimbo. And now I’m thinking: “Hey, maybe they’ll actually put him in against Rogers and let the chips fall.” But no, they disappoint me with Shamrock. And after he beats Shamrock I’m sure they’ll pull Don Frye or Dan Severn out of the woodworks. Or would Dan Severn be too risky?

My hope is that EliteXC runs into a situation where the undercard fights are great and the sport itself is elevated because people tune in to see Kimbo and also happen to see some great MMA fights along the way. Paul Daley vs. Jake Shields is one of those fights that could steal the show and it would be great if a ton of people saw it because that is a true MMA fight with two elite fighters vying for a title shot. Maybe that’s EliteXC’s plan. But I have a feeling that it isn’t.

When asked to comment on the reports, Shaw stated that the reports were accurate and that the bout is indeed official.

Sherdog.com was the first to break the news citing unnamed sources as revealing that the UFC Hall of Famer, Shamrock, had been chosen as the latest opponent for the former Internet street fighting sensation, Slice, during CBS and EliteXC’s next installment of its “Saturday Night Fights” franchise to emanate from BankAmerica Arena in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Upon learning of reports over the weekend that EliteXC could announce Slice’s opponent as early as today, we contacted Rodney Donohoo, the agent and attorney for Shamrock. Donohoo respectfully indicated that he could neither confirm or deny the report.

Before reports began to surface, we had also contacted Mike Reilly, the trainer and manager for Brett Rogers, who was believed to have been under consideration to fight Slice as well. Reilly stated a the time that while they believed they were in the mix, they were still awaiting word and that they had yet to receive a formal contract offer.

In response to an MMARated.com report that indicates that the Shamrock vs. Slice winner will face Rogers, Reilly later responded to a text message we sent by saying, “It’s all rumor and wishful thinking until it ain’t.”

The completed televised card for “Saturday Night Fights” on October 4 is now expected to consist of Jake Shields defending his EliteXC welterweight title vs. Paul Daley; Slice vs. Shamrock in a heavyweight bout; Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobald-Gavin; and a middleweight fight between Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Benji Radach.

Shaw also confirmed that a match between Cris Cyborg and Yoko Takahashi is scheduled for Oct. 4 as well. The match could be televised, time permitting. If there is not enough time, EliteXC and CBS will try and show highlights of the fight during the telecast.

As of now, there are no plans to do a one-hour pre-show on SHOWTIME similar to what took place before the July 26 CBS show.

The card is subject to change but right now it’s looking like the main event that was leaked on the Underground forum between Javier Vazquez vs. J.C. Pennington will indeed be happening.

Undercard matches on Showtime are expected to include the return of Aaron Rosa, who made a strong impression during the first ShoXC when he took out the more heralded Jefferson Silva. Rosa, with a perfect 9-0 record, will be taking on another undefeated fighter, 8-0 Jared Hamman.

Showing even more of a commitment to women’s MMA, Showtime will be televising a female match not involving Gina Carano. Shayna Baszler, who defeated Jan Finney during the non-televised portion of the first ShoXC, will be taking on Jennifer Tate. A win by Baszler could put her a step closer to a match with Carano.

Muhsin Corbbrey, who won his ShoXC debut via decision over the rugged Lee Gibson at the first ShoXC, will also be back on the card in a match against Bobby McMasters.

Kaleo Kwan is also slated to fight Malaipet.