As noted earlier, Kimbo Slice addressed the media during a conference call today. In addition to talking about his fight with Roy "Big Country" Nelson this Wednesday, Slice also talked about his teammates and coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. Much of the first two episodes of the season showed fighters talking smack about wanting to fight Slice.
“I kinda already knew guys were gonna talk shit, not knowing who I am, not knowing me,” Slice noted. “I’m already getting phone calls from some guys apologizing for talking shit in the house, so it’s all good.”
Slice also talked about his coach on the show, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and his decision to retire from the UFC to pursue his acting career.
“He’s not walking away from the UFC," Slice stated. "Rampage is chasing his career right now. Fighting was his job, his bread and butter. He’s an actor as well. Right now, he’s just putting fighting on hold.”
Slice, who is taking a break from training at the end of next week to film a movie in Texas for a few days, admitted that he would like to have played B.A. Baracus in the A-Team movie, but is happy that Jackson got the role, saying that "I ain’t’ no hater. He and I are like the real Mr. T."
Slice also said that his movie commitment wouldn't affect his training camp.
“A three-month training camp is what I’m used to. I’m in camp now for my fight in December. I’m never away for two weeks or three weeks or anything like that. I wouldn’t do anything that takes three weeks of my time when I know I have a fight coming up. That would be just stupid on my part.”
Slice also talked about his opposing coach, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who recently said that he would like for Slice to train with him at Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico.
“That would be a possibility,” Slice admitted. “Greg Jackson’s camp, I’ve heard, is the best that’s out there right now. Anyone who’s trying to become a fighter or if you’re fighter and you want to become a better fighter, other than American Top Team, Greg Jackson’s camp is the best one out there."
For now, Slice will be training with American Top Team, at least for his next few fights.
"I'm training at American Top Team," Slice said. “I need a camp now. I need to belong to a home.”
“I'm a hard puncher trying to learn the ground game,” Slice stated, when talking about his training. “You can do a lot, but you’re not going to master anything in two years. In mixed martial arts, the more you roll, the more you learn .. . It’s not something you learn and you got it, then you go, go, go and kick someone’s ass. No, no, no. That’s something that you have to continue to do.”
While Slice has been competing as a heavyweight his entire career, Slice said that he could possibly cut down to 205 lbs. and fight as a light heavyweight.
"I'm a heavyweight," Slice noted. "But if the promoters want me to come down, heck yeah, I'd give it a try."
Speaking of promoters, Slice also talked about his relationship with UFC President Dana White, who had verbally assaulted Slice relentlessly for years until Slice agreed to compete on The Ultimate Fighter.
"It's not like we sit down together for tea and toast, but we're businessmen. He's a promoter and I'm a fighter. We do what we do."
Kimbo's first - and possibly only - fight on The Ultimate Fighter takes place this Wednesday night on Spike TV.