Slice pounds Abbott at Elite XC event

Feb 17, 2008 - 7:23 AM By Anthony Malakian Special to PA SportsTicker

MIAMI (Ticker) -- It took just 43 seconds for Kimbo Slice to send the fans at the Bank United Center home happy.

Slice scored an exciting first-round knockout over former UFC "superstar" David "Tank" Abbott on Saturday at Elite XC's Street Certified event.

With the victory, Slice improved to 2-0 in the world of professional Mixed Martial Arts.

Slice, whose birth name is Kevin Ferguson, stunned Abbott 15 seconds into the opening round with a left-right combination. After Abbott dropped to all fours, Slice rained down three shots to the back of the former World Championship Wrestling star's head.

Referee Troy Waugh stepped in and warned Slice for the rabbit punches. While Abbott got a 20-second reprieve, it was not nearly enough time for the native of Huntington Beach, California to recover.

Slice immediately started to press Abbott after the restart and landed a big overhand right that dropped his opponent yet again. Ever the brawler, Abbott got back to his feet, but Slice landed another brutal right hand that caused him to land flat on his face.

Waugh had seen enough at that point and stopped the fight.

"I got a lot of respect for Tank," Slice said. "I always watched him, growing up as a shorty. This was one of my dream fights, along with (facing Mike) Tyson. My hat goes off to you, Tank."

The win, however, proves nothing.

The 42-year-old Abbott is 2-7 since 1998, with his last victory coming in 2005 against a faded Wesley Correira. If Slice had lost, it might have meant a quick return to YouTube.com, which helped launch him into the public spotlight.

But Slice did win and showed he has no fear of putting on a show for the fans. While he could have fought a more technically sound fight and wrestled Abbott to the ground, he gave the fans what they craved - a brutal beating.

Slice is 34 years old, and while a fighter of that age normally would require more rapid growth, expect Elite XC to continue to milk their moneymaker. There even is talk that he next will fight Ken Shamrock, assuming that the aged veteran defeats Robert Berry on March 8.

Yet, while Slice may never rise to the level of legitimate champion despite the tutelage of Bas Rutten, there is no doubt he is one of the most entertaining and marketable heavyweights in the world.

For proof, simply look at the raucous crowd at the Bank United Center. No matter how long or productive Slice's career is, every fight will be a must-see event.

On the undercard, heavyweight Brett Rogers raised his record to a perfect 8-0 by knocking out former Pride contender James Thompson in the first round. Fellow heavyweight Antonio Silva won a lackluster, three-round split decision over former UFC champion - and current cast member of VH-1's "Celebrity Rehab" - Ricco Rodriguez.

Also, Scott Smith and Yves Edwards each scored brutal knockout victories.