Why Fighters Hate Kimbo Slice

Whether you are a big mixed martial arts fan or not, there is a good possibility that you have heard of Kevin Ferguson.  Well, let’s be more specific.  While the name “Kevin Ferguson” probably does not ring a bell, the moniker of Kimbo Slice probably does.  Kimbo Slice is the man that the UFC’s biggest stateside competitor is looking to ride to mainstream success, but he is also disliked and disapproved of by many of his fellow fighters.  To figure out why, we must first explore who Kimbo is, and what he’s all about. 

The Kimbo Slice phenomenon would not be possible without the internet, as Kimbo made his name by word of mouth, which steadily built up as millions of people discovered videos of him performing in unsanctioned, bare knuckle brawls in Florida.  It is instantly understandable that people would be taken aback by the large man, with distinctive facial hair (a bushy beard) that fades into a hairstyle that can only be labeled as “male pattern baldness” chic, along with a physique (and level of aggressiveness) similar to that of Mike Tyson in his younger days. 

In the videos themselves, Kimbo would frequently step right out of a car, walk up to his opponent, and simply start throwing punches.  This, along with his post fight (and sometimes, during-fight) talks, which were laced with street slang and a “gotta make money” mentality, struck a chord among many viewers, especially young males.  However, Kimbo had bigger plans than simply fighting in the street and mugging for YouTube viewers. 

Kimbo decided to make a name for himself in the world of legitimate fighting, and fought against former heavyweight boxer Ray Mercer in a faux-MMA bout, which allowed for limited ground fighting.  He was successful against the somewhat less than game Mercer, and began training heavily with former UFC and Pancrase champion Bas Rutten.  Soon thereafter, upstart Showtime promotion Elite XC decided to give Kimbo a chance, and the rest is history. 

What Kimbo’s detractors have noted is that Elite XC has been building shows, and even their entire promotion, around him, despite his lack of experience.  Kimbo has fought three times for Elite XC (which are his only three professional fights to date), and was the main event for both of his last two fights.  In his first fight, only the highly-anticipated KJ Noons-Nick Diaz title fight was higher up on the card than Kimbo’s quick destruction of the completely underwhelming Bo Cantrell, who was practically tapping out as he fell down due to a barrage of Kimbo swings. 

Everyone from former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell to fellow Elite XC fighter Brett Rodgers has noted that Kimbo is making more money and receiving more publicity than fighters who have been active- and successful- in the sport for years.  Although fighters are generally happy to see others get paid, the fact that Kimbo Slice can headline the first network MMA broadcast on the strength of wins over Bo Cantrell and an over-the-hill Tank Abbott did not sit well with many. 

It isn’t hard to see where Elite XC is coming from, however.  The ever-elusive “casual fan” isn’t worried about who so and so has fought or what his experience level is, he (or she) simply wants to see entertaining fights and entertaining fighters.  After all, if Kimbo Slice can deliver great television ratings, why stick him on the undercard and pass up on the opportunity to attract new fans?  At the same time, it is understandable that someone such as Chuck Liddell or even Tito Ortiz- both of whom persevered through years of small paydays and little recognition before the sport boomed- might shake their heads at the thought of a guy jumping right into such a prestigious role on the strength of beating a couple of tomato cans and getting a few million YouTube views. 

One thing is for sure- Elite XC can’t (and doesn’t seem to want to) keep Kimbo from being tested forever.  His last fight, although against a journeyman fighter with questionable cardio, was his toughest yet and against an experienced opponent, and a showdown with the talented Rodgers looms.  Soon, we will all know just how seriously Kimbo is taking the sport of mixed martial arts.

Tags: Chuck Liddell, Nick Diaz, Tito Ortiz, UFC