Bellator planning heightened security measures before Kimbo Slice vs. Dada 5000 fight

BEVERLY HILLS -- It's no surprise to anyone that Kimbo Slice and Dada 500 have disdain for each other. That's one of the reasons why Bellator MMA put the bout between the two streetfighting legends together.

With that knowledge, Bellator president Scott Coker told MMA Fighting that there will be heightened security during fight week before Bellator 149 on Feb. 19 in Houston.

Slice and Dada, whose real name is Dhafir Harris, are being put up in separate hotels and whenever precautions will be taken when they are in the same room at the same time for press conferences and workouts. Bellator staff and security will make sure the two fighters and their respective camps are far apart at all times.

"We're gonna have good security there, because we don't need any fight before the fight," Coker said. "Or any crews fighting before the fight. We're already on it."

The feud between Slice and Dada goes back to their days fighting on the streets of Miami. Dada used to roll with Slice's crew, but the two had a falling out. There is no love lost between the two men and the trash talk leading up to this fight has been malignant.

"I am going to f--- this n------ up," Slice told MMA Fighting back in November. "Don't get me wrong, I'm open to all possibilities in an MMA fight including submissions and anything else that comes up. But the true fight fans appreciate a real fight, and this is two n------ from the same neighborhood who have a beef to settle. I'm going to knock his ass out and he's going to wake up and not know what hit him."

Slice, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, has accused Dada of stealing his persona (right down to his famous beard), jacking his style and trying to capitalize off his fame.

"I think he's taken too many hits to the head," Dada told MMA Fighting recently. "I'm marketable. I'm my own person. How could I capitalize on his fame? I'll give him credit. He did some awesome things inside the backyard. He inspired me to get in the game. But I got the ball, and I ran...the opposite way. To the point that my key fights — 15 total in boxing and MMA — and we're standing on the same stage now."

Fighters mingle with each other during fight week all the time. It almost cost Bellator in November when Will Brooks and the Freire brothers, Patricio and Patricky, got into a physical altercation at the host hotel and the St. Louis Police Department was called.

Coker said Bellator will be one step ahead with Slice and Dada -- execs are going to call the Houston PD themselves.

"Believe me, it's something we've already planned out," Coker said. "I feel confident we'll be fine. We're gonna have the police hang around, so they know that it's a serious situation. If anyone wants to act up, you might go to jail."

Dada might have to leave his sledgehammer at home.