In a recent article by ESPN writer Michael Woods focusing on what lies ahead for recent Kimbo Slice victim, David “Tank” Abbott, there are a couple of quotes from UFC president Dana White on the recent EliteXC event.

White gives respect to Abbott but not to the recent Showtime production. EliteXC: Street Certified has now been lumped into the same category as Fedor Emelianenko with Dana White labelling the recent event a ‘farce’.

UFC president Dana White watched the Slice-Abbott fight Saturday after taking in the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor fight.

He prefers that Abbott call it a day.

“I think the whole thing was a farce,” White said of the EliteXC promotion. “I love Tank. I have nothing but respect for him; he’s always been good to me. But I don’t want to see that again.”

White would like Abbott to concentrate on the book and his next logical out-of-the-cage career move.

The article finished with Dana White making somewhat of a surprising statement.

“Tank Abbott,” White said, “absolutely will be in our Hall of Fame.”

I know half of you probably choked on your cereal when you read that but you have to admit that Tank Abbott was an integral part in the development of MMA. Tank Abbott is a constant reminder of how far the sport has come and in the earlier years he was the yardstick as to whether or not your ’style’ worked.  That being said, I find it very hard to picture a ceremony in which the guest of honor is Tank Abbott.

***

The ESPN article also featured some post-fight comments from Tank. In defeat Abbott seemed impressed with Kimbo’s progression as a fighter.

Kimbo definitely came out differently than I thought he would. He’s improved his punches; they are straighter. He didn’t come out like he did in his videos. But I was whacking him, and he wasn’t moving, like a telephone pole. Usually when I hit someone, they move.

Get more MMA news and Opinion on FiveOuncesOfPain.com

Here’s the fight that every MMA site, for better or worse, was talking about over the weekend. Big thanks to SHOWTIME for putting this up on their site for general usage. Didn’t see Kimbo demolish Tank? Here’s your chance.

Photos posted with permission from www.combatlifestyle.com, for more pics click HERE.

Lots more EliteXC: Street Certified content here.

EliteXC Street Certified photos provided by TOM CASINO/EliteXC

Victorious Kimbo Slice

Tank Abbott is laid out!

Left uppercut to the jaw of Tank

Berto eats a flying knee by Yves Edwards

Thompson in a fog after 3 big shots from Rogers

Lots more EliteXC: Street Certified content here.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com is covering the Kimbo vs. Tank event on Showtime TONIGHT. Below, click “Read the rest…” for Results!

We are running our LIVE CHAT during the show, right now! The Pro Elite undercard starts at 7:30 p.m. ET and the main card starts at 10 p.m. on SHOWTIME! Join us!

WHEN: Saturday, February 16th 7:30 p.m. ET

WHERE: Five Ounces of Pain Live Results and Chat!

Main Card
• Kimbo Slice def. Tank Abbott via Knockout Rd 1.
• Antonio Silva def. Ricco Rodriguez via Decision
• Scott Smith def. Kyle Noke via Knockout Rd 2.
• Yves Edwards def. Edson Berto via Knockout (Knee) Rd 1.
• Brett Rogers def. James Thompson via TKO (Strikes) Rd 1.

Undercard

• Rafael Feijao def. John Doyle via TKO Rd 1.
• Yosmany Cabezas def. Jon Kirk via Submission (RNC) Rd 2.
• Dave Herman def. Mario Rinaldi via TKO (Strikes) Rd 3.
• Eric Bradley def. Mikey Gomez via Unanimous Decision.
• Lorenzo Borgameo def. Mike Bernhard via Submission (Triangle Choke) Rd 2.

Lots more EliteXC: Street Certified content here.

The fighters for the EliteXC: “Street Certified” card successfully made weight last night at a Coral Gables, FL Holiday Inn.  The event itself will take place at Miami’s BankUnited Center with a main event featuring internet-star Kimbo Slice squaring off against MMA vet “Tank” Abbott. ProElite.com will be airing the preliminary card starting at 7:30pm ET, the main card will be aired on Showtime at 10:00pm ET/PT.

Weigh-ins for the 11-fight card went as follows:

MAIN CARD

Kimbo Slice (234) vs. Tank Abbott (263)
Antonio Silva (259.75) vs. Ricco Rodriguez (262.75)
Scott Smith (184) vs. Kyle Noke (184.75)
James Thompson (253) vs. Brett Rogers (264)
Edson Berto (158.25) vs. Yves Edwards (160)

PRELIMINARY CARD

Rafael Feijao (204.5) vs. John Doyle (203.25)
Jon Kirk (183) vs. Yosmany Cabezas (184.25)
Mario Rinaldi (260.5) vs. Dave Herman (242.5)
Eric Bradley (169.75) vs. Mikey Gomez (170)
Lorenzo Borgameo (170) vs. Mike Bernhard (169.5)
Moyses Gabin (203.75) vs. Jirka Hlavaty (210)

***Mikey Gomez and Kyle Noke both made their final weights on a second attempt.

Click here for fight results for EliteXC: Street Certified

Hot off the presses… pics from the EliteXC: Street Certified Weigh-Ins!!

Photos posted with permission from www.combatlifestyle.com, for more pics click HERE.

Click here for fight results for EliteXC: Street Certified.

Faceoff pictures from the final presser before this Saturday’s EliteXC: Street Certified. Taken at Bernie Kosar’s Steakhouse, in Miami, Fla.
KIMBO SLICE & TANK ABBOTT

“BIG FOOT’ SILVA & RICCO RODRIGUEZ

SCOTT SMITH & KYLE NOKE

JAMES “COLOSSUS” THOMPSON & BRETT ROGERS

EDSON BERTO & YVES EDWARDS

Click here for fight results for EliteXC: Street Certified.

Here are the current lines for Saturday’s EliteXC event from bookmaker.com:

TANK ABBOTT +350
KIMBO SLICE -450

RICCO RODRIGUEZ +265
ANTONIO SILVA -325

SCOTT SMITH +105
KYLE NOKE -135

BRETT ROGERS +185
JAMES THOMPSON -225

EDSON BERTO +215
YVES EDWARDS -275

Read more Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott content on FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

WHAT: ELITEXC: Street Certified
WHEN: Saturday, February 16th 7:30 p.m. ET

MAIN CARD
• Kimbo Slice def. Tank Abbott via Knockout R1.
• Antonio Silva def. Ricco Rodriguez via Decision
• Scott Smith def. Kyle Noke via Knockout R2.
• Yves Edwards def. Edson Berto via Knockout (Knee) R1.
• Brett Rogers def. JamesThompson via TKO (Strikes) R1.

Undercard

• Rafael Feijao def. John Doyle via TKO R1.
• Yosmany Cabezas def. Jon Kirk via Submission (RNC) R2.
• Dave Herman def. Mario Rinaldi via TKO (Strikes) R3.
• Eric Bradley def. Mikey Gomez via Unanimous Decision.
• Lorenzo Borgameo def. Mike Bernhard via Submission (Triangle Choke) R2.

Lots more EliteXC: Street Certified content here.

Are you pumped yet?

Check out more Kimbo Slice content on FiveOuncesOfPain.com!

Here’s a new video of Kimbo Slice getting ready for Tank Abbott and Bill Goldberg decides to join him for a day of training.

From a Pro Elite press release:

(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)

This just in: The incredibly popular YouTube fighting legend and Mixed Martial Arts superstar, Kimbo Slice, will be a special guest on the nationally televised Jimmy Kimmel Live show TONIGHT/Thursday at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT on ABC.

The always entertaining Kimbo (kimboslice.proelite.com), who scored a 19-second, first-round knockout in his EliteXC and MMA debut in November, will discuss, among other things, his eagerly anticipated, long-awaited grudge fight with David “Tank” Abbott (tankabbott.proelite.com) set for Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami on SHOWTIME.

Besides Kimbo, who is on the cover of the current edition of “Fighters Only,” a top British magazine, Jimmy’s guests Thursday/tonight will include TV personality “Dr. Phil” McGraw.

Just yesterday I heard an interview with Alex Marvez of Fox Sports on Steve Cofield’s show and he said that the Tank Abbott vs. Kimbo Slice fight should be “moved to a backyard.”

What is it about Kimbo that drives some people away? If you take a minute to listen to the guy talk you’ll realize that not only is he well spoken but that he’s also taking the sport very seriously. Do you think Bas Rutten and Shawn Tompkins would waste their time with some bum off the street who isn’t going to take the sport seriously? Of course not. Bas Rutten has ten million things going on in his life and he happens to also take time out of his schedule to train Kimbo Slice.

If that doesn’t tell you the guy is serious about the sport then what will? Is he seriously going to have to fight someone like Randy “Handy” Couture or Fedor Emelianenko before people will take him seriously? I’m not asking you to praise him as a worldbeater because he isn’t. We don’t know too much about the guy as an MMA fighter. All I ask is that you give the cat some credit for trying the sport the right way and cleaning up his act. What’s not to like about a rags to riches story? Or are you all just haters?

Check out more Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott content on FiveOuncesOfPain.com

Since getting my Dish HD hooked up recently, one of my favorite shows is Inside MMA. If you hit the blogs everyday, there won’t be too much info that surprises you… however this high quality, weekly TV show dedicated to MMA is a must-watch for the rabid fan. Bas Rutten alone makes it entertaining.

On this weeks episode, there will be two EliteXC fighters Tank Abbott and Jake Shields. Tank, who was recently a guest on Jimmy Kimmel show, usually gives a good interview.

From the official press release:

EliteXC standouts Tank Abbott (tankabbott.proelite.com) and Jake Shields (jakeshields.proelite.com) will appear on the premiere episode of Inside MMA on HD.net, this Friday, Feb. 1, at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT.

Tank, a true MMA icon and Hall of Fame talker, will discuss his upcoming, long-awaited showdown with Kimbo Slice (kimboslice.proelite.com) on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Miami on SHOWTIME, while the talented, personable Shields, a streaking, world-ranked welterweight, will talk about his future plans.

The show, which is devoted to strictly Mixed Martial Arts news and events, will air several times. Please go to HD.net (schedules/programs) for replay times.

From a ProElite.com press release this afternoon:

The always colorful, entertaining and unpredictable David “Tank” Abbott will be a special guest on the nationally televised Jimmy Kimmel Live show tonight/Thursday at 12:05 a.m. ET/PT on ABC.

Tank (tankabbott.proelite.com), one of the original Mixed Martial Arts bad boys and most ferocious knockout artists in history, will discuss, among other things, his eagerly anticipated, long-awaited grudge fight with Kimbo Slice (kimboslice.proelite.com) set for Saturday, Feb. 16, at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami on SHOWTIME.

The only question I care to hear answered is how hard Tank has been training for Kimbo Slice. I have a feeling that he might be taking this fight more seriously than he has his past few fights. Should be interesting to see what kind of shape he’s in and how focused he seems on the fight.

Tank Abbott talks about Kimbo Slice, his preparation for this fight, and his career past this fight with Kimbo. Apparently he’s down from 296 lbs. to 258 lbs. Nice work, Tank!

EliteXC held a media conference call on Wednesday afternoon to promote their next major card on Saturday, February 16 in Miami, Fla. at the BankUnited Arena on the University of Miami Campus. The card is scheduled to air on Showtime starting at 10 p.m. ET.

Featured on the call were EliteXC live events president Gary Shaw along with Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott, who will be competing against each other in the main event.

The two provided a lot of quote-worthy material in the early going. They threw it to Kimbo for his opening statement, which merely was “What’s up?” Abbott responded by saying that “The fight will last as long as Kimbo’s opening statement.” Not to be outdone, Kimbo responded by saying, “Did you have a six pack or twelve pack before you said that?” Tank said that he doesn’t drink beer because he can afford vodka.

At another point the two exchanged words and Kimbo informed Tank that “You better wear a pad with your cup because you’re going to be pissing blood.”

Kimbo later said he’s “Not looking at Tank, because I see through him.”

At times Tank credited Kimbo for having “heart” and “balls” and for being a “street warrior” but at other times tried to downplay his street fighting rep. Said he barely watched Kimbo’s YouTube clips and hadn’t heard much about him before they met face-to-face in the cage after the Ray Mercer fight and that he wasn’t impressed with Kimbo’s performance in the Mercer fight. When asked to comment on his street fighting background vs. Kimbo’s, Tank stated that when he fought on the streets that there were no refs, rules, or anyone walking around and that you had to accept the possibility of death.

One reporter asked Kimbo is Tank’s vast MMA experience was a concerned and Kimbo said that “Just because a chick in porn has done 100 movies doesn’t mean I’m not going to f— her. I’m still going to get that p—-!”

Other highlights from the call:

- Shaw thanked Kimbo, Tank, and Showtime because he claimed the Feb. 16 card was originally scheduled to be a pay-per-view.

- Tank mentioned he is finishing up a book that is currently 600 pages. He also mentioned discussed the origins of his nickname “Tank.” When he got out of jail in the mid-90s he campaigned to get into the UFC but said they initially turned him down because he didn’t have martial arts credentials. He trumpeted his street fighting credentials but said they really didn’t care. He said that he later got a call from the UFC claiming they had an idea for him and that they would call him “Tank” Abbott based on a street fighter named “Tank” that was portrayed by Clint Eastwood in a movie. Abbott didn’t object and the name has stuck ever since.

- Antonio Silva’s opponent will be Gary Turner from Cage Rage. Interestingly enough, Silva is recognized as the Cage Rage heavyweight champion. A reporter asked if it would for the Cage Rage heavyweight title and Shaw answered yes.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE ON SAM CAPLAN’S PROELITE.COM BLOG

When: Sat. Feb 16 ‘08
Where: Miami, FL
Watch: Showtime

Here’s the latest on the Kimbo vs. Tank event:

• Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott
• Antonio Silva vs. Ricco Rodriguez
• Edson Berto vs. Yves Edwards
• James Thompson vs. Brett Rogers
• Kyle Noke vs. Scott Smith

Fight card subject to change.

Check out more EliteXC content on 5 Oz. of Pain.

Here’s a brand spanking new video from the guys at Triumph United, Kimbo Slice’s main sponsor, with Kimbo’s boxing trainer, Randy Khatami talking about the gameplan for Kimbo and Kimbo’s training regimen. Then we’ve got Kimbo talking about his “shitty” fight with Bo Cantrell and what he thinks about the upcoming fight against Tank Abbott.