Kimbo Slice’s next opponent has been named for July 16th in London

Bellator President Scott Coker joined Todd Grisham on Sportscenter just moments ago to announce some major news for the Newport Beach based promotion. Kimbo Slice (6-2) will meet England’s James Thompson (20-16) in a rematch of their 2008 bout for EliteXC. That fight earned nearly 7 million viewers for CBS, a record that held up as far as MMA viewership goes until the UFC debuted on FOX in 2011. Slice won that fight via controversial TKO to up his record to 3-0 and set himself up to disappoint the masses later that year against Seth Petruzelli.

Grisham asked Coker about Slice’s suspension for steroids and elevated testosterone levels handed down by the Texas Commission from his fight with Dada 5000 in February and how he could possibly fight as soon as July. According to Coker, the suspension will only last 90 days which means Slice would be cleared to fight by May.

Slice vs. Thompson II will take place on July 16th at the o2 Arena in London. A welterweight rematch between Paul “Semtex” Daley and Josh Koscheck is also being rumored for the card.