Looking to bring eyes to its product, Bellator MMA is bringing back Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice to headline Bellator 138 on Friday.
An MMA pioneer, Shamrock has far more experience than his opponent. However, he hasn't competed in more than four years and is now 51 years old. There aren't many 40-year-olds who are having success in this sport, let alone 50-year-olds.
Now 41 years old, Slice is no spring chicken either. The UFC veteran hasn't stepped into a cage since he was released by the world's top MMA promotion more than five years ago. With only six professional MMA bouts, he was never able to evolve into more than a brawler.
With this peculiar bout approaching quickly, here is a look at what both men are saying heading into the Bellator 138 main event.
What Ken Shamrock Is Saying
At his age, Shamrock was bound to field questions about why he is still competing in MMA.
After suffering knockouts in seven of his past nine appearances, Shamrock's health is a concern. He last picked up a win in October 2010, so MMA seems to have passed him by.
Shamrock seems to understand the criticisms surrounding his return, telling Luke Thomas at MMA Fighting in May that he can't say his detractors are wrong given his most recent performances.
Although he is cognizant of the fact that his age could be holding him back, he doesn't seem to have any doubt in his mind that he will beat Slice on Friday. Shamrock recognizes that he's accomplished much more than Slice in the MMA world and doesn't believe his opponent can beat him despite being 10 years younger.
In a recent interview with Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, Shamrock said:
I've been saying forever that I needed to do this again. Inside of me, I knew I had something more. People who are given second chances often squander them. This is my second chance, and I promise you I am going to go into that ring and give everything I have.
And it's not just about winning. It ain't about winning a three-round decision. It's about finishing him in the first round. It's not a fight I want to go to a decision. I want to finish this guy because I can.
Shamrock has never been short on confidence, and it's hard to blame him for believing in himself heading into this matchup. Even with his advanced age, Shamrock has 39 more professional MMA bouts than Slice, which should give him an edge at Bellator 138.
What Kimbo Slice Is Saying
While Shamrock has been fielding questions about his decision to return, Slice has been the more aggressive verbal promoter in this matchup.
In 2008, Slice and Shamrock were supposed to meet under the Elite XC banner. However, a Shamrock cut caused the bout to be cancelled.
Slice has not been shy about using that withdrawal as trash-talk ammo, as he did during the Bellator 138 conference call:
I just hope they f----n pad his hands up, so he don't cut himself, and they keep all sharp objects away from him this time. Like what is he gonna do next time, gonna shoot himself in the foot? I don't know what Ken's gonna do man, I just hope he fights and takes this fight. Dude, you do s--t like that when you're scared, when you're afraid, as close as it comes to committing suicide.
I hope he don't p---y out, cause if he doesn't bring it, I'm taking it to the dressing room and we just gonna do an old-fashioned bare knuckle (fight) right there, right then and there in St. Louis. F--k it.
To be honest, it is absurd to suggest Shamrock pulled out of that contest intentionally. However, Slice is doing what he does better than most in the MMA world: getting his promotion game on.
Prediction
Given that he has been out of MMA action even longer than Shamrock, I was shocked to see Slice open up as such a heavy favorite in this matchup.
According to Odds Shark, Slice started out as a significant favorite (-390), while oddsmakers didn't give Shamrock (+270) a good chance to win. For good reason, the odds have narrowed, but Slice (-250) remains the favorite over Shamrock (+195), and I'm still not sure why.
Yes, Slice is much younger and a more dangerous striker than Shamrock. However, those things don't give him a significant edge in this matchup.
Shamrock is still a much better grappler and recognizes he'll need to get this bout to the ground. More importantly, this fight means a lot more to Shamrock than it does to Slice, considering MMA has been a much bigger part of the former's life and legacy.
For that reason, I'm betting on Shamrock to avoid Slice's hands and win this on the canvas with one more signature leglock.
