EliteXC Has Short List for 'Slice'

A short list of candidates await Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (Pictures), who makes his return appearance with EliteXC on Oct. 4 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., for the promotion’s third engagement on CBS.

Jeremy Lappen, Head of Fight Operations for EliteXC, said the promotion has pared down four to five potential suitors for the Internet fighting legend turned bona fide MMA superstar. They include EliteXC newcomers and veterans alike, including Brett Rogers (Pictures), who got into a verbal sparring session with Ferguson at a post-fight press conference following his May 31 victory over British brawler James Thompson (Pictures) in Newark, N.J.

Rogers called Ferguson’s performance “garbage,” which nearly incited a heavyweight showdown then and there before entourages and other fighters jumped in between the heated pair. In the days following, EliteXC’s Live Events President Gary Shaw told Sherdog.com that he would make the bout happen in October because both fighters wanted it. Shaw has since pulled back from his duties with the promotion though, and Lappen was noncommittal of the matchup materializing.

“I’m not sure if that’s the fight fans want to see right now,” said Lappen following EliteXC’s second CBS-televised event Saturday.

Lappen wouldn’t divulge names, but another alumni who might be up for the task is Dave “Pee Wee” Herman, who weathered an early onslaught at the hands of a seasoned Ron Waterman (Pictures) before churning out a TKO by ground-and-pound at an EliteXC in June.

CBS was quick to point their cameras at Gina Carano (Pictures) for her reaction following Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos’ decimation of Shayna Baszler (Pictures) Saturday, but Lappen was careful not to name the Brazilian as the raven-haired beauty’s Oct. 4 dance partner.

Santos’ ultra-aggressive striking style resonated with the bloodthirsty Stockton, Calif., crowd, and a bout with Carano is sure to garner particular attention, as Santos will be the “American Gladiator” star’s toughest test to date. Standing at 5-0, the six-packed Santos is only one victory shy of Carano’s undefeated record.

Though her Portuguese translator a smiling Santos described Carano as a “good fighter” but wouldn’t elaborate on an evaluation of the Las Vegas muay Thai fighter’s skills.

In other notes:

• Justin Eilers (Pictures) announced his drop to the 205-pound division following his second-round TKO loss to Antonio Silva (Pictures) in a heavyweight championship matchup. The former Iowa State footballer weighed in a scarce 218 pounds against the 6-foot-4, 258-pound Brazilian, who probably plumped up more by fight time. Eilers, a four-time UFC veteran, showed competent footwork and good hand speed in his tussle with Silva, but couldn’t shake the weight disparity. EliteXC’s Lappen was happy to hear of the 30-year-old Eiler’s decision, hinting that a bout with Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante, also victorious Saturday night, could be a real possibility.

• Shayna Baszler (Pictures) was faced with the question of dropping down to EliteXC’s newly-formed 130-pound division in light of her loss to Santos earlier that evening. “The Queen of Spades” said she hadn’t time to think much about the suggestion, but reckoned her body could make the cut if asked to.

• EliteXC is taking an aggressive approach to promoting a la the UFC. No less than four events are scheduled in the next two months, beginning with an Aug. 15 ShoXC “Elite Challenger Series” rendezvous at the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Calif. An EliteXC event is planned for Sept. 20 with a trailing ShoXC installment on Sept. 26. The push will culminate with the Oct. 4 event featuring Slice and company.