With his enormous muscles, YouTube hit list and imposing facial follicles, Kevin Ferguson's manliness was never in question.

But only now does it appear that "Kimbo Slice" has finally manned up.

As a newly announced cast member for season 10 of "The Ultimate Fighter," he's ready to actually earn some of the outlandish money he banked as EliteXC's undeserving poster boy before the company did a face plant into the canvas last year.

Instead of becoming a cartoonish pro wrestler in Japan or joining Strikeforce's solid legion of fighters as a headliner, Ferguson accepted Dana White's offer to enter the reality-TV cauldron and try to win a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

He could've continued raking in cash as a street-brawling-badass-turned-MMA-imposter. But, at 34 years old, Ferguson decided to take his best shot at legitimizing his standing in the sport on TUF.

A lot of folks want to pat ol' Kimbo on the back for his attempt at respectability and laud White for another stroke of marketing brilliance.

Until I see Ferguson fighting for the title of "The Ultimate Fighter," I'll reserve praise.

Just because Kimbo has been cast doesn't mean he belongs. And just because Zuffa will turn a profit and Spike TV will enjoy huge ratings doesn't mean the charade is good for the sport.

But with television, it's all about entertainment. And Kimbo plus Dana equals entertainment.

To ensure at least a week or two of KimboVision, recent rules of the show will be bent in consideration of Ferguson's still-questionable ability to win even one bout against middling competition: The heavyweights will not have to fight their way into the house on Episode 1, a facet that was added a few seasons ago to great fanfare.

Another possible addendum: Contestants will not be permitted to dye their hair pink, for fear that it might send Ferguson into a crumbling flashback of his 14-second loss to Seth Petruzelli last October.

On a serious note, we should hope that Ferguson spent the past several months honing his skills so he won't look like a total misfit in the TUF house, where he will be the world's most menacing underdog.

Huge underdogs don't usually wear the bull's-eye, but Ferguson's bushy chin will serve as an apropos place for the crosshairs. No matter how cool a cat Kimbo is, every dude in the place will be aching to deliver more comeuppance on national TV.

They'll probably be guys, after all, who have fought for a pittance in bars or low-grade MMA promotions while Ferguson - thanks to slobber-knocking some nobodies on grainy video - was cashing main-event paychecks alongside Gina Carano.

Or, maybe the guys will fully accept Kimbo and treat him like every other fighter in the house by urinating on his bed.

Either way, it should be more fun to watch than some of the show's recent seasons.

Some possible highlights:

Episode 3: Kimbo explains to his fellow fighters how he decides which pec to shave in preparation for his bouts.

Episode 4: During a light training session, coach Rampage Jackson playfully throws a jab that glances Kimbo's cheek and knocks him out.

Episode 5: James Thompson's cauliflower ear pays a visit to the guys and challenges Kimbo to a rematch. He declines.

Episode 8: After being eliminated early in the season, Kimbo considers leaving the house so he can pursue pro rasslin'. In response,...