Petruzelli returns with another 1st round KO at Art of Fighting 4

Former “The Ultimate Fighter: Season 2” contestant, Seth “Silverback” Petruzelli (11-4) took the first step in shedding the “Kimbo Slayer” tag on Saturday night by serving up a first-round TKO win over Tampa resident Chris Baten (5-5).

As the co-main event of the Florida-based Art of Fighting 4 event, Petruzelli delivered with pressure on his shoulders to not only win, but to win in spectacular fashion.

Petruzelli was able to avoid a couple of early haymakers from Baten, grab a single leg takedown attempt, and dump his opponent on his back within the first minute of the co-main event bout. With neither fighter wanting to make it a grappling match, the bout soon reset with both fighters in the standing position. Petruzelli, showing his strength, threw Baten back to the floor with one arm and followed it up with an illegal kick that failed to land.

Again, in the standing position, Petruzelli backed Baten up against the fence by pushing his left jab lightly towards the face of his opponent. As soon as Baten lowered his hands, Petruzelli connected flush with a hard right hand, putting Baten on his back. Petruzelli followed the knockdown punch up with some strikes from the top, causing the referee to halt the bout at the 2:23 mark.

After the bout, Baten and some of his Tampa faithful half-heartedly argued the stoppage but to no avail as it looked to be “Silverback’s” night. The win marked his third consecutive TKO and the fourth stoppage in his last five bouts. The IFL vet, Baten, has now lost three straight bouts, fighting only once in each of the last three years.

Petruzelli, 29, returned for the first time since his 14-second TKO of former Elite XC lead man, Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson, ten months ago. It was there, at Elite XC: Heat, where Petruzelli was to try and rebuild his reputation as a fighter, after losing both of his UFC bouts a year earlier.

Scheduled to fight on the undercard against light heavyweight prospect Aaron Rosa, Petruzelli instead was offered Kimbo when Ken Shamrock, Kimbo's original opponent, was injured in his pre-fight preparations. The “Silverback” immediately accepted. He proceeded to knock Kimbo out, sending the company in a tailspin with him.

It looks as if Petruzelli may be exploring a couple of different options for his now-flourishing nine year career. He already has verbally committed to fighting November 22 in the next Art of Fighting event, but also makes it clear to other potential employers that nothing has been signed.

With competition as hot as ever between Strikeforce and the UFC, he could easily find himself fighting in either the Strikeforce cage or the UFC octagon in the future.

For now, it seems that Strikeforce is the probable destination, as they are in need of solid fighters that have marketability; however, his chances of gracing the octagon again are high, as well. With the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter ready to begin in September, there is one heavyweight contestant that he would be more than willing to give a rematch. TUF 10 will not conclude until December, and considering Kimbo makes it through his time in the house, it puts the rematch on the back burner for now.

For now, it looks as if we will see the new-look Petruzelli back in the major leagues of MMA. Wherever he winds up, as long as Petruzelli keeps knocking down the opponents they put in front of him, he should get whatever opportunity he wants.

Let the marketing machine begin!