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Why Kimbo Slice's Life In And Out Of The Ring Will Go Down In History

Why Kimbo Slice's Life In And Out Of The Ring Will Go Down In History

A legend for more than his fighting.

George Pavlou

George Pavlou

On February 8th, 1974, a legend was born. Little did anyone know that Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson was going to forge a career as one of the most recognisable and inspirational MMA fighters in the world - but he did.

Sadly, aged just 42, Kimbo was rushed to hospital in his home state of Florida and pronounced dead on June 6th, 2016. His cause of death is still not known.

His life was far from conventional and his rise into the UFC and Bellator MMA fighting championships was not easy but, as it was so eloquently put by MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, he truly lived the American dream, giving hope to countless fans across the world that with a bit of hard work and dedication, your situation in life can improve drastically.

Born in the Bahamas, Kimbo moved to Cutler Ridge in Florida when he was young. He was raised by his mother, Rosemary Clarke, along with his two brothers.


Credit: Getty

A vicious animal in the ring and a gentleman out of it, at age 13, Kimbo is said to have got into his first fight while trying to defend a friend at school. He didn't look back after that, despite many challenges.

In 1992, his home was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, forcing him to live out of his Nissan Pathfinder for a month, but that didn't stop him gaining an athletic scholarship at the University of Miami. Unfortunately, his time there lasted just 18 months and despite a trial as a line backer for the Miami Dolphins in 1997, he was unable to get a place in the first team.

Not at all put off by these setbacks, Kimbo worked as a strip club bouncer, limousine driver and then bodyguard for porn moguls Reality Kings (don't act like you don't know). He even continued organising security for the porn producers well after his fighting career took off - a testament to his willingness to work, provide for his family and loyalty to those who helped him.

The stain on his career came in 2002, when he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, but in 2003 he began his long journey to the top of MMA by street fighting. Unsanctioned and unregulated, Kimbo dominated the mutual combat street fight game and quickly became an online sensation.

In his very first taped fight against Big D, Kimbo left a huge cut on his opponent's eye, which led to his childhood nickname Kimbo gaining the 'Slice' we now know so well. The fights generated huge views it wasn't long until the professional fighting companies came to snap up Kimbo.

His MMA debut came in Atlantic City on June 23rd, 2007, against former WBO Heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist Ray Mercer at Cage Fury Fighting Championships. Straight into the action, Kimbo won after just one minute and 12 seconds using a guillotine choke.

His professional MMA debut was equally as devastating after knocking out Tank Abbott in 43 seconds at EliteXC: Street Certified on February 16th, 2008.

Arguably Kimbo's most well-known fight came against James Thompson on May 31, 2008. After two tight rounds, he swung a haymaker to his opponent's left ear causing Thompson's ear to explode.

After the fight, Kimbo was widely criticised for the victory, with former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Frank Mir, claiming every time Kimbo fought, it was 'setting MMA back'.

Shortly after a wave of criticism, Kimbo was knocked out in just 14 seconds by Seth Petruzelli after his original opponent, MMA legend Ken Shamrock, pulled out of their fight with a cut to his eye. Petruzelli's incredible performance was undoubtedly a blow for Kimbo and he went about getting his career on track by calling out Shamrock for not fighting him. Speaking to MMAjunkie, Kimbo didn't hold back:

"I just hope he takes this fight, because who cuts themselves? You do shit like that when you're scared, when you're afraid. I just hope he fights; I hope he don't pussy out. Because if he does, I'm taking it to the dressing room, and we're just going to do an old fashioned bare-knuckle right there in St. Louis. Fuck it."

Kimbo was a fighter and when he wasn't allowed to fight, he'd want to find a way to fight. That's what made him so popular with MMA fans. His popularity was so influential that many attributed the bankruptcy and failure of EliteXC fighting to Kimbo's defeat to Petruzelli.

EliteXC's loss was UFC's gain, although it didn't exactly go to what we imagine to be Dana White's plan. After a drawn-out process to get a fight, Kimbo was to make his pay-per-view debut at UFC 113 against Matt Mitrione on May 8 2010. It was to be his last fight in the UFC after losing via a TKO.

It was then that he decided to take up boxing, and between 2010-2013 he won all seven of his professional fights.

His return to MMA came in 2015 when he signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator, defeating Ken Shamrock by TKO at Bellator 138 before his infamously terrible fight against Dada 5000 at Bellator 149. That win, however, was eventually ruled a 'no contest' after Slice tested positive for steroids.


It would be far too easy to think of Kimbo Slice as nothing more than a marketable commodity who lucked his way through a fighting career. But with far more wins than defeats, underestimating his skill, power, strength and desire to win to better his status in life wouldn't do credit to the man.

Neither would his dedication to his six children, long-time girlfriend and friends. The outpouring of emotion since the news of his death from fans and fellow fighters alike shows you that. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has it spot on...







Despite many people who knew Kimbo paying their tributes, of all the ones I've read on the internet today, it was actually rapper The Game, speaking to TMZ, who summed up what Kimbo Slice meant to his fans the best.

"Just being an African American and coming from the hood... I think that Kimbo Slice is one of those stories that gives people hope."

And that's why, whether you liked him as a fighter or not, Kimbo Slice will go down in history.

RIP Kevin 'Kimbo Slice' Ferguson.

Words by George Pavlou

Featured image credit: Getty

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