Kimbo Slice: Ultimate Student

The opportunity to train with a gym full of heavyweights was one Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson said he couldn’t pass up.

EliteXC’s former cash cow will make his Octagon debut this September on the tenth season of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Fans are already salivating at the chance to watch Slice, who built a following on the Internet brawling in backyards around Miami but has little legitimate MMA training thus far, soar or crash on the series that has launched more than a few fighters’ careers.

For Slice, who’s had only four pro fights to date, the show comes at a precarious time.

Last October, Ferguson’s aura took a hit when Seth Petruzelli knocked the Bahamian-born fighter down and out in only 14 seconds.

However, curiosity for the bearded one is still very palpable, and with the UFC and Spike TV’s muscle now behind him, there’s no telling how far Slice’s popularity will grow.

“I don’t consider myself big-time,” Slice told Sherdog.com during this video interview at the UFC Fan Expo on July 10 in Las Vegas. “I’m just a regular guy, doing what I love to do.”

Recent promos preach otherwise. Since the announcement of Slice’s participation on the show, TV spots for the series have all showcased the 35-year-old father of six, even though there are 15 other heavyweight contestants competing alongside Slice for a multi-year, six-figure contract.

How Slice will be portrayed on the show will be a hot topic of discussion in the coming weeks. Ferguson, for one, said he isn’t worried about it.

“They know what they get with me,” said Slice. “They know who I am. That’s why they can relate to me. They know what to expect.”