(Nah, bro…you.)

EliteXC hosted a media conference call this afternoon, where a fired-up Ken Shamrock and a comparatively laid-back Kimbo Slice traded insults to hype their headlining fight at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, on October 4th. After Jeremy Lappen ran down the fight card, Shamrock kicked things off by apologizing for his recent performances. “I have my reasons for the losses, but they’re just excuses,” he said. “But on October 4th I will shut everyone up and I will make amends for those fights by putting Kimbo’s lights out…[people ask] can I get in the ring, should I be in the ring, do I deserve to be in the ring, and I guarantee you I will answer that question and I will put a period at the end of it.”

Though he expressed respect for Shamrock and his accomplishments, Slice seemed confident about his chances. “[Ken's] gonna stay on his streak, and I’m gonna stay on mine,” Slice said. When asked what his gameplan was, Slice sardonically added: “Being a great grappler like myself, against a striker like Ken, I’m gonna break his leg.”

Though things started out relatively civil, Shamrock’s blood was boiled by an early question from a reporter, and he stayed mad for the remainder. When he was asked if he thought he was being used as a stepping stone for Slice, Shamrock shouted “I am! That’s absolutely what this is, and I’m absolutely taking this as an insult to me! And i’m going to smash it back in their face.”

An uncomfortable Lappen tried to do damage control by saying “we definitely don’t look at it that way,” while Jared Shaw started running down Shamrock’s career accomplishments, and clarified that the guys who beat Shamrock during his last 10 fights were all legends. [Ed. note: Which reminds me, how long do we have to wait until Buzz Berry is inducted into the MMA Hall of Fame?] “The press wants to paint a picture that Ken is washed up and he’s being served up,” Shaw said. “But Ken doesn’t believe that, and we don’t believe that.”

Of course there was some great back-and-forth between the headliners. When asked about the likelihood of him taking the fight to the ground, Shamrock said “I’m gonna go out there, I’m gonna be too fast for him — I hit hard — and he’s going to eat a few of my punches, some leg kicks, a couple push kicks. He’s gonna get tired. And then I don’t even have to take the guy down, he’s gonna fall down.”

“Ken, I’m gonna let you hit me,” Slice said. “I’m gonna give you a chin shot.”

“You guys heard that. Everybody heard that. See, that’s why I’m the veteran and you’re the rookie, ’cause you’re an idiot.”

Speaking on his motivation for the fight, Shamrock explained, “This guy’s coming from the same spot I came from, and he’s trying to take my territory. And I’m getting a [chance] to shoot him down and get back what’s mine? You gotta know I’m gonna take this fight.”

“That’s the same shit Tank said, man,” Kimbo said.

Shamrock’s rage wasn’t just saved for his opponent, either. When asked a seemingly innocent question about veterans of the sport disrespecting Kimbo, Ken lashed out. “First off all, you need to shut your mouth because you have no idea what respect is. This is what they call a ‘press conference’? And we’re going into a ‘fight’? So if I was you I’d redirect your question.”

Later, Lappen touched on the decision to put Kimbo against Ken Shamrock rather than Brett Rogers: “I think when you compare Brett to Ken, there’s no comparison. [Kimbo and Ken] are the two biggest stars in the sport…the fight appeals to a huge audience.” He also danced around the issue of CBS keeping EliteXC around for the long haul. “[The next event] will be the fourth of a four-fight deal, and then they do have the ability to move forward, and we’re talking about that as we speak…I think they’re happy, and we’re happy with the relationship.”

Check back here later for the full audio of the conference call…