The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation found no wrongdoing in the mixed martial arts fight between Miami's Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Seth Petruzelli, according to a statement released by the agency Thursday.

Tom Molloy, executive director of the Florida Boxing Commission, which oversees boxing and mixed martial arts in the state, conducted a preliminary inquiry after hearing rumors that the fight Oct. 4 at Bank Atlantic Center might have been fixed.

Days following his surprising 14-second victory against Slice, Petruzelli told an Orlando radio station he was offered additional money by the fight's promoter, ProElite, if he remained standing against Slice. Mixed martial arts experts consider Slice, ProElite's drawing attraction, vulnerable when fighting on the ground.

Molloy interviewed Petruzelli, ProElite officials and executive directors of other state commissions, which had previously sanctioned shows presented by the promotional company.

From his findings, Molloy concluded ''there is no reason to believe that the rumored allegation was true,'' the statement said.

ProElite canceled a show scheduled for Reno, Nev., on Nov. 8. Earlier in the week, J.T. Steele, the company's manager of fight operations, told Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, that ProElite was ceasing operations.

Source: www.miamiherald.com