Slice to step into cage in next episode of ‘Ultimate Fighter’

Viewers have tuned in to the first two episodes of the 10th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in record numbers.

Many of them will get what they have been waiting for in the third episode, which will be shown Wednesday night.

Kimbo Slice will step into the cage.

The Internet-legend street fighter turned professional mixed martial artist, who’s real name is Kevin Ferguson, will take on former International Fight League champion Roy Nelson in the next episode of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s reality show, which airs on Spike TV (Cable 29) at 10 p.m.

The bout, which was taped in June, will not be an easy one for Slice. Nelson has the most impressive MMA credentials of anyone on the show.

“I knew a little bit of Roy from the IFL,” Slice said during a conference call Monday. “I saw him when he fought Big Ben (Rothwell). I saw when he fought (Andrei) Arlovski. I knew he was game and he was a fighter.”

He was careful not to give away the outcome; the cast members signed strict confidentiality agreements.

“This fight is very exciting,” Slice said. “I was impressed with my performance. I was impressed with everything. I’m not crying about nothing.”

He said he had no preference as to whom he wanted to fight in the house, which features 16 UFC hopefuls vying for a contract.

“I didn’t really have any special picks on who I would have wanted to fight first, second or third,” he said. “I didn’t have time to think about (expletive) like that. I was just there to thump whenever my name was called.”

Slice also said he doesn’t think the recent retirement announcement of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, his coach on the show, will be permanent. “Right now, he’s just putting fighting on hold,” Slice said.

Jackson recently announced on his Web site that he was done fighting. He was upset at recent comments by UFC president Dana White criticizing Jackson’s decision to delay his upcoming fight with Rashad Evans because of scheduling conflicts with the filming of the “A-Team” movie.

• SWICK REPLACES KIM — UFC welterweight contender Mike Swick will take on Dan Hardy at UFC 105 on Nov. 14 in Manchester, England, the organization announced.

Hardy was to face Dong Hyun Kim, but the Korean fighter was injured in training.

Swick was to face Martin Kampmann in a No. 1 contender match for the welterweight title at UFC 103 earlier this month but was forced out of the bout after suffering a concussion in training.

• WEC — Erik Koch is the latest World Extreme Cagefighting combatant to be forced off the WEC 43 card because of injury, a source close to the organization confirmed.

Mackens Semerzier will make his WEC debut in Koch’s place against featherweight Wagnney Fabiano at the event in San Antonio on Oct. 10.

A source close to the WEC also confirmed the rumored return of former lightweight champion Rob McCullough for a bout against Anthony Pettis at WEC 44 on Nov. 18 at the Palms.

McCullough has been out of action since fracturing his right hand in a victory over Marcus Hicks in March.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.