Bellator 138: Kimbo vs. Shamrock Retro Recap

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Fred Richani’s rapid recap of Bellator 138: Unfinished Business in St. Louis, headlined by Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock.

Bellator 138 Review

Adapted from the episode and edited for clarity and brevity. Listen above for the full review.

My Twitter and Facebook feeds are blowing up, because we finally got the freak show fight some people were waiting for. Ken Shamrock came in ripped, looking like Wolverine, sideburns and all. After an exchange, Shamrock got a takedown, took Kimbo Slice’s back and locked in what looked like a tight rear-naked choke. Kimbo looked like he was about to tap, almost like a pro wrestling tease, but he escaped, got up and knocked Shamrock out for a first-round TKO.

For those saying Shamrock took a dive, look at the cut above his eyebrow. That was a big punch. I hope this is the last time we see Shamrock in a cage. He’s 51, he’s in the UFC Hall of Fame and hopefully Bellator paid him well. Ride off into the sunset, do commentary, train kids. In business terms, the right guy won. Kimbo is 10 years younger and can put over a young heavyweight Bellator wants to market.

Bellator brought out the big set, with a cool arch for St. Louis, and the presentation was great. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire retained the featherweight title in a fight you should go out of your way to see. Daniel Weichel dropped him and rained down punches late in the first round, and Weichel thought he’d won when John McCarthy stepped in, but it was the end of the round. Early in the second, Pitbull knocked him out with a big hook.

Michael Chandler, a fellow DDP Yoga disciple and a mutual friend of my good friend Diamond Dallas Page, submitted Derek Campos in the first round. It’s a nice rebound after three straight losses, including two close decisions I thought he won, and Bellator can market around him again. Daniel Straus submitted Henry Corrales in the second round, and Bobby Lashley beat Dan Charles by TKO in the second.

Bellator also announced Dynamite, a Sept. 19 event with Glory Kickboxing at SAP Center in San Jose, featuring Liam McGeary vs. Tito Ortiz for the light heavyweight title, a one-night tournament with King Mo, Phil Davis and Emanuel Newton and Joe Schilling vs. Paul Daley. That’s a spectacle, but Bellator’s long-term challenge is building the stars of the present and future. Maybe Spike TV needs pro wrestling again as a promotional vehicle.

Editor’s note: Shamrock fought again, losing to Royce Gracie at Bellator 149 in February 2016. Kimbo Slice died in June 2016 at 42.