LOS ANGELES -- Baby Slice is ready to fight.Kevin Ferguson Jr., the oldest son of late fighting star Kimbo Slice, will make his professional mixed martial arts debut next month for the Bellator promotion, The Associated Press learned Monday night.Ferguson had his first amateur MMA fight in March, stopping his opponent in 83 seconds. Less than three months after the death of his father, who also fought for Bellator, the 24-year-old Ferguson will fight on the undercard of Bellator 160 in Anaheim, California, on Aug. 26.I was always around the fight business and everything, so I saw it and I understood what was going on, Ferguson told the AP. I just knew without a doubt that one day, this was what I wanted to do.Ferguson showed a glimpse of his fathers punching power in his amateur debut in March, but he has been training full time in MMA for just two years. He studied photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco before deciding to pursue his first athletic passion in the cage.I trained [in MMA] a little bit in college, but not really, Ferguson said. I was more focused on having fun and partying a little bit, getting that out of my system early. I trained a little bit, like once a week.Although he played football and basketball at his private high school in South Florida, Ferguson preferred the one-on-one rawness of wrestling and MMA.Despite his collegiate photography training and his fathers imposing shadow, Ferguson decided to pursue a fighting career seriously with the blessing of Slice, who parlayed his fame from viral backyard fighting videos into a lucrative career in MMA and boxing.The 42-year-old Slice also fought for Bellator earlier this year, but he had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and needed a heart transplant when he collapsed at his home on June 6. He died at a hospital several hours later.I wont say I adjusted well or it didnt bother me, but I was talking to him a few days before, so I understood what was going on, Ferguson said.It was more of a shock to the world, put it like that. It was still a very big tragedy, but I got through it. Im still getting through it. I wont say Im over it, but Im working on it, I guess.Ferguson has two younger brothers and three younger sisters. Slice once said the most important function of his fighting career was to provide his children with college educations.Ferguson trained in Connecticut before moving to Long Beach, California, two months ago to train in the gym of veteran MMA fighter Antonio McKee. He has been working alongside fellow Bellator fighters A.J. McKee, Bubba Jenkins and Joey Davis, who are all fighting at Honda Center in Anaheim next month.Antonio just changed the game for me, Ferguson said. He understood what I needed, and he understands the science behind it all.Bellator is likely to build up Ferguson against comparable competition. His opponent for next months debut should be selected this week.Bellator 160 in Anaheim will be headlined by former UFC champion Benson Henderson and Patricio Pitbull Freire. The show airs on Spike. D.J. Hayden Jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Abry Jones Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.thejaguarsfansshop.com/Jaguars-Josh-Lambo-Draft-Jersey/ .Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres have recalled forward Kevin Porter and defenceman Chad Ruhwedel from the minors as part of a five-player roster shuffle made by the NHLs worst team. Jermey Parnell Jersey . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Dawuane Smoot Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. On New Years Day, I wrote a message on a running bib: In 2016, I #ResolveToRun a BQ (Boston Qualifying) time. In February, six weeks before a marathon I had signed up for, I injured my hamstring. Then in March, I received a lottery spot in the Nov. 6 New York City Marathon.On Sunday, I unfortunately didnt achieve my Boston qualifying goal.I did, however, run almost 10 minutes faster than my personal best. I completed the 26.2-mile trek through New York City in 3:48:16.The weather was nearly perfect (though I couldve done without the 15-mile-per-hour wind), my body felt strong and I was running in my favorite city. The first mile, windy and uphill on the Verrazano Bridge, was about a minute-and-half behind my goal pace of 8:00 minutes per mile. While you cant win a marathon in the first mile, you can certainly lose it. But I didnt panic. I knew what my body had to give, and I couldnt worry about making up that time in the second mile -- it would have to be throughout the race.I felt very strong through mile 23. The Queensboro Bridge was quiet and offered spectacular views of Manhattan. Around mile 17, I saw my mom, my boyfriend and my best friend who had surprised me for the weekend. Near mile 18 I found out other friends were cheering me on, and at 103rd Street I met up with one of my running partners.But at mile 23, the slight incline of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan became intimidating, and my hamstring really started to feel the pounding. By mile 24, I decided I could give everything I had left into running the best personal record I could. I saw my mom, boyfriend and best friend again at mile 25.5 and had tears in my eyes because I was going to accomplish that new personal record.As I finished the race, I pulled out my phone to take a selfie with my medal, and my dad FaceTimed me to congratulate me onn my accomplishment.ddddddddddddShaving just one second off a personal best is a huge accomplishment -- but to cut nearly 10 minutes is downright incredible. But it comes with mixed feelings as I relive the race over and over again. Im sad to not have reached my Boston qualification goal, but nothing can take away what my body accomplished on Sunday. That night, I celebrated with family and friends with pizza, beer and a smile on my face.The Monday after the marathon in New York is a great sight -- many runners from the previous day waddle around wearing their medals over work clothes, and engraving machines are up and running. The only medals I engrave are the ones Ive received from the New York City Marathon, and to know that this years medal has my personal best time on the back is huge.As I hung up my medal on Tuesday, I was reminded why I love the crazy endeavor of running marathons. Training can be hell, but you find a way to bring yourself back from it through the joy and pride of race day. Race times may not always be your target, and what matters is that youve run a marathon and you can say youve accomplished a huge goal.Im really sad that this particular marathon journey is over, and its been difficult to sit down and evaluate the health of my body. I dont know what my next marathon will be, and I dont really know when I will run again, but I am still a runner and I ended this journey with a 3:48:16 personal best.Megan Flood is a seven-time marathoner and half marathoner. She is on a quest to qualify for the Boston Marathon and hopes New York 2016 is her ticket to Boston. You can follow her progress every other week here on espnW.com and on Twitter @meganflood11. Jerseys NFL China NFL Jerseys Outlet China NFL Hoodies China Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Youth NFL Jerseys China NFL T-shirts From China Cheap Authentic Jerseys NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap Authentic Jerseys Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys 2020 Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '