Bellator MMA has announced the company debut of Kimbo Slice's son, Kevin Ferguson Jr.
Ferguson was set to compete this summer, but was pulled from his planned Bellator 160 fight against Johnny Tomasian. You can see a press release Bellator MMA sent Fightful.com below.
PROFESSIONAL DEBUT OF ‘BABY SLICE’ SET TO ANCHOR PRELIMINARY PORTION OF ‘BELLATOR 162’ IN MEMPHIS ON OCT. 21
CHASE GORMLEY, JULIA BUDD, DAN CHARLES, & VIRGIL ZWICKER ALSO BACK IN ACTION
COMPLETE ‘BELLATOR 162’ CARD BELOW
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (September 26, 2016) – The preliminary portion of "Bellator 162: Shlemenko vs. Grove" at FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn., on Oct. 21 is official and amongst the 12 new additions, there is plenty of action to be consumed during the Bellator.com-streamed card.
Notably, the professional mixed martial arts debut of “Baby Slice” will finally take place, when the 24-year-old returns from injury to meet Rick Bing, who also will be lacing up the gloves for the first time as a pro. In addition, Steve Garcia (6-1) will face Ronnie Lawrence (1-0), Julia Budd (8-2) also returns from injury to face Arlene Blencowe (7-5), heavyweights Chase Gormley (13-5) and Bobby Brents (17-5) collide, and 2009 Alabama Crimson Tide National Champion Eryk Anders (4-0) takes on Brian White (5-4).
The completed preliminary portion joins a stacked main card highlighted by a middleweight main event pitting former middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko (53-9) against Kendall Grove (23-15). In addition, former WWE competitor Bobby Lashley (14-2) andJosh Appelt (12-5) prepare to square off in a heavyweight co-main event, while a middleweight tilt between Hisaki Kato (6-2) and A.J. Matthews (8-5) is also set for the SPIKE-televised main card. Lastly, Goiti Yamauchi (19-3) and Ryan Couture (10-4) will face-off in a lightweight feature fight.
Tickets for the event are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster or FedExForum Box Office. Main card action kicks off LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while prelims streams live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.
See below for the complete listing of "Bellator 162: Shlemenko vs. Grove" tilts, which amounts to 16 action packed bouts.
Complete “Bellator 162: Shlemenko vs. Grove” Main Card:
Middleweight Main Event: Alexander Shlemenko (53-9) vs. Kendall Grove (23-15)
Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Bobby Lashley (14-2) vs. Josh Appelt (12-5)
Middleweight Feature Bout: Hisaki Kato (6-2) vs. A.J. Matthews (8-5)
Lightweight Feature Bout: Goiti Yamauchi (19-3) vs. Ryan Couture (10-4)
Complete Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Baby Slice (Debut) vs. Rick Bing (Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Ricky Rainey (11-4) vs. Gilbert Smith (12-5)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Steve Garcia (6-1) vs. Ronnie Lawrence (1-0)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chase Gormley (13-5, 1 NC) vs. Bobby Brents (17-5)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Julia Budd (8-2) vs. Arlene Blencowe (7-5)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Dan Charles (10-3-1) vs. Virgil Zwicker (14-5-1)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Tyler Hill (6-0) vs. Wade Johnson (10-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jonathan Burdine (4-4) vs. James Wallace (1-0)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Eryk Anders (4-0) vs. Brian White (5-4)
Catchweight (160 lb.) Preliminary Bout: Jaleel Willis (6-0) vs. Omar Johnson (4-0)
Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chad Cook (10-10) vs. Grady Hurley (9-1)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Wessell (14-8) vs. Frank Tate (4-1)
