Kimbo Slice's Next Opponent: NOT Sean Gannon

by Kid Nate on Aug 22, 2008 2:23 PM EDT in MMA News

Kudos to Five Ounces for this scoop:

While it is uncertain whether Gannon was ever truly under consideration as an opponent for Slice on Oct. 4, EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw ruled out any possibility of the bout taking place while speaking exclusively with FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

“No, Sean Gannon will not be the opponent on Oct. 4,” Shaw stated succintly.

Looks like Gannon's money demands have locked him out of the running for this matchup. I'm not sure if Gannon realizes that the Kimbo/EliteXC gold rush is quickly coming to an end or not.

This leaves Ken Shamrock and Brett Rogers as the most likely opponents for Kimbo on October 4th.

Shamrock is obviously washed-up but does theoretically present a threat to Kimbo on the ground. He's still got the name ID with casual fans to draw some interest. Personally I think he should've been Kimbo's opponent at the May EliteXC event.

Rogers is an entirely different kettle of fish -- he's highly likely to beat Kimbo badly and bring the hype train to a crashing halt. If EliteXC signs this fight, its a sign that they're willing to throw away any future moneys Kimbo could generate if he's brought along carefully.

Honestly I think the James Thompson matchup was a huge mistake, as Thompson wasn't well regarded enough for beating him to mean anything and the near loss to Thompson opened even the eyes of the most casual onlooker to the fact that Kimbo has limited MMA skills at best.

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Make it Ken Shamrock

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Aug 22, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe they’re still trying to pull off a deal with Ortiz.

by Michael Rome on Aug 22, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

Do you think they’d put Kimbo up against Tito Ortiz?

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Aug 22, 2008 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

For as much as you may think I don't like Tito

..he would eat Kimbo’s lunch.

by Blackout612 on Aug 22, 2008 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions

To be honest, I would tune in for that fight.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Aug 22, 2008 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions

It would be the most watched fight in MMA history by FAR. Even with UFC counter-programming, with a good ad campaign behind it a Tito-Kimbo main event on CBS could have 10 million viewers for that portion of the show.

by Day Man on Aug 22, 2008 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

For sure. I don’t like EXC much – but I would definitely watch that fight.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Aug 22, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

the problem is

would that get him out of their financial hole? No it wouldn’t.
They make almost nothing to be on CBS no matter how good the ratings are.
It might persuade CBS to keep pumping money into them, but how do they follow up Tito vs Kimbo? Tito vs Dave Herman? ~~Tito vs Antonio Sila~~?

by Kid Nate on Aug 22, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re right, if they did bring in Tito to have him fight Kimbo it would have to be on PPV. The problem is that while almost every MMA fan and a ton of casual viewers would watch that fight if it were free on CBS, I’m not sure how many of the Kimbo hating fans would shell out $49.95 for a Kimbo-Tito main coupled with a Jake Shields title defense and a Gina fight.

That being said, I definitely would.

by Day Man on Aug 22, 2008 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions

They could follow it up with Tito vs. Frank on PPV at least. I think the ratings and interest it draws may be enough to convince CBS to buy in, which is really what matters at this point. Once Kimbo loses they could also feed him a series of cans to build up to a Tito rematch. To me, Tito Ortiz is worth beating Kimbo for. He can deliver the numbers on the night they need it most, and Kimbo won’t be dead if he loses to a legend like Tito.

by Michael Rome on Aug 23, 2008 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I wouldnt be surprised if they get Butterbean for Kimbo to fight. They need the oldest, weakest, most out of shape, hadn picked can for Kimbo to beat. And they need someone that has zero ground game. The only time Bean is hitting the ground is when his fat ass carcass meets it.

Perfect match for Slice. Bean is

A.) Slower – CHECK
B.) more out of shape – CHECK
C.) No ground skills – CHECK
D.) Recognizable name with minimal mma skills – CHECK
E.) Soemone that should of called it quits long ago – CHECK

Although there is that hell freezing over possiblilty that Bean gets close enough and connects without getting KO’d in the meantime…..So Elite needs even better odds that Kimbo wins

by fightfan on Aug 22, 2008 2:13 PM EDT reply actions

SI.com’s “scoops” seem to miss more often than hit. Gannon, Tito signing, etc.

by raidernationz on Aug 22, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

true dat.

But, I am willing to bet that Tito, himself, contacted SI.com and stuck his foot in his mouth. That would be just like Tito, so full of himself, thinking that there is no way that Affliction cant agree to the demands of the great Tito Ortiz

by fightfan on Aug 22, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Wouldn't be surprised

Tito was wrong about a Tito story when he claimed Affliction was signing him to a record breaking deal. What a genius..

by Blackout612 on Aug 22, 2008 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Shamrock is the best bet for them. They should probably pay him anything he wants. Shamrock is like Tank, a custom fit opponent. It doesn’t matter if they can get Rogers to fight Kimbo for peanuts if Rogers wins.

by Michaelthebox on Aug 22, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions