TUF 10 Preview: Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson

Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (3-1) versus Roy "Big Country" Nelson (13-4)

The Story So Far

The biggest name to take part in The Ultimate Fighter squares off with the most decorated competitor the competition has ever seen in what is rightfully being billed as the biggest fight in Ultimate Fighter history.

This fight has the potential and drawing power to headline an Ultimate Fight Night or appear on a pay-per-view. Instead, the former street fighter with a still improving skill set will lock horns with the former IFL heavyweight champion whose strength lies on the ground, where Kimbo is largely unproven.

Conventional Wisdom

First and foremost, everyone is in agreement that this episode is bound to shatter the Spike TV ratings record. In terms of the fight itself, things aren't as clear.

Part of that comes from leaked screen shots that have made their way around the Internet this past week, some believing one shot shows Kimbo on the verge of victory, while others doubt the UFC would be so careless as to let the cat out of the bag before the fight hit the airwaves.

What is certain is that this bout is a textbook style clash as Slice's stand-up goes toe-to-toe with Nelson's jiu jitsu. We've seen Kimbo struggle mightily while on the ground against James Thompson, the same way as we saw Nelson get tagged by the quick and powerful hands of Andrei Arlovski.

One thing that's for damn sure - you don't want to miss this fight. Even your anti-MMA friends will be talking about it on Thursday.

WKR Analysis

As much as we all talk about how Roy Nelson is the former IFL Heavyweight champion like that carries a reasonable amount of weight, "Big Country" didn't exactly beat a slew of standouts to capture the crown.

Antoine Jaoude hasn't fought since Nelson defeated him to earn the title in 2007, Fabiano Scherner has lost two more fights since losing in Nelson's first defense and win number three with the belt around his waist came at the expense of Brad Imes.

When he's gotten in the ring with name brand talent, Nelson has come out on the wrong side of the ledger every time. Not that Kimbo Slice is on the same level as Ben Rothwell, Jeff Monson or Andrei Arlovski, but evidently neither is Nelson.

Despite all we think we know about Kimbo, the truth is he's a question mark with solid hands. It's been nearly a year since Seth Petruzelli moved Gus Johnson to scream "Rocky!" over and over on network TV and who knows what Kimbo was up before filming began.

So far, he looks like Rampage's best student and someone intent on proving his doubters wrong. While he still may not have the ground game to match Nelson if this fight goes to the floor, we know without question that he's got a strong enough set of hands to put "Big Country" in big trouble.

Fun Fact

When I interviewed TUF 10 contestant Matt Mitrione, the former NFL'er said Kimbo is a barbecue sauce savant and that before the season is over, we'll hear Nelson referred to as "The Jiu Jitsu Panda" with some regularity.