Kimbo-Mitrione Set for UFC 113; Liddell-Ortiz 3 Likely for UFC 115

LAS VEGAS -- Reformed street-fighter turned mixed martial artist Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson will meet Matt Mitrione at UFC 113 “Machida vs. Shogun 2” on May 8 at the Bell Center in Montreal, UFC President Dana White confirmed on Thursday.

Ferguson made a successful Octagon debut in December, when he notched a unanimous decision against Houston Alexander at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale in Las Vegas. He lost to eventual winner Roy Nelson during production for the Spike TV reality series but remained a strong ratings draw throughout the season. Slice holds victories against Pride Fighting Championships veteran James Thompson and David “Tank” Abbott.

White hailed Slice’s decision to forgo more lucrative offers in “freak shows” in favor of his appearance on “The Ultimate Fighter.” He admitted he did not expect the EliteXC veteran to defeat Alexander when they met in December.

“I thought Houston Alexander would win that fight,” White said. “Kimbo Slice beat a guy I consider a real guy, a guy who’s fought some good guys and beaten them. [Alexander] knocked out Keith Jardine. He knocked out Alessio Sakara.”

Mitrione, who emerged as the lead villain on the reality show, made his professional debut at “The Ultimate Fighter 10” Finale, as he stopped Marcus Jones on second-round strikes on the undercard. He trains out of the Integrated Fighting Academy in Indianapolis.

Meanwhile, White also revealed UFC 115 -- scheduled for June 12 at the GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia -- as the target for the latest chapter in the Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz feud. The two former light heavyweight champions will coach opposite one another on Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which premieres in March.

“Chuck hates Tito,” White said. “He doesn’t understand why I brought him back. He doesn’t think he belongs here.”