48-year-old UFC veteran Ian Freeman has not fought since 2013, but appears keen for a big return following the controversial “Kimbo Slice” vs. Ken Shamrock bout that took place this past weekend at Bellator 138.
The heavyweight Sunderland native posted the following image online following the headline bout on June 20 when 41-year-old Kevin Ferguson aka Kimbo Slice snatched a first round TKO victory against 51-year-old UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock.
A true pioneer of MMA in the UK, Freeman (20-7-1) achieved a 3-2-1 record in the UFC between 2000 and 2003. ‘The Machine’ claimed a famous victory when the UFC came to London, England for the first time with UFC 38: Brawl at the Hall. In the co-main event, Freeman produced a memorable upset with a first round TKO win over top heavyweight prospect Frank Mir who was undefeated at the time.
After his final UFC contest in 2003, Freeman competed on-and-off until 2013 with a run of 6-1 fighting on British soil. Freeman most recently snatched a TKO victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez on July 27, 2013, but was originally set to face Ken Shamrock until the American pulled out.
It’s obvious that the first Brit to compete inside the UFC Octagon has remained active in the gym and in good shape, but would Bellator have any interest in this? It’s clear that there’s a legitimate interest in ‘spectacle’/nostalgia fights, if not just the infamous Kimbo. While this type of contest may not be taken as seriously as the latest generation of athletes, it still carries a serious draw, evident with the 2.1 million viewers that tuned in for Kimbo vs. Ken.
How do you think a fight between Freeman and Kimbo would play out?
