Street-fighting MMA sensation Kimbo Slice dead at 42
ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2008
In this May 31, 2008 photo, fighter Kimbo Slice, right, threw a punch at James Thompson of Manchester, England during the second round of their EliteXC heavyweight mixed-martial arts bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2008
In this May 31, 2008 file photo, Kimbo Slice, right, battled James Thompson of Manchester, England during their EliteXC heavyweight bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
Kimbo Slice, the bearded street fighter who parlayed his internet popularity into a mixed martial arts career and worldwide fame, has died. He was 42.
Slice, whose real name was Kevin Ferguson, was taken to a hospital in Margate, Florida, near his home today, Coral Springs Police Sgt. Carla Kmiotek said.
Slice’s death was confirmed by Mike Imber, his longtime manager.
“We lost our brother today,” Imber said in a text message to The Associated Press.
The cause of death was still unclear. Kmiotek said there is no active police investigation, and no foul play is suspected.
Born in the Bahamas and raised in the Miami area, Slice was a strip club bouncer and bodyguard who began competing in unsanctioned street fights in 2003. Videos of his violent knockout victories in those bouts became wildly popular online, both for Slice’s raw punching power and his distinctive, intimidating appearance.
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After gaining viral internet fame at a time when the phenomenon was still relatively new, Slice studied MMA and eventually competed for several promotions, including the UFC and Bellator, which staged his two most recent fights. While he went only 5-2 and never won a championship belt, the personable Slice became one of MMA’s best-known figures, attracting large television audiences and crowds to his growing sport.
Slice’s death also was confirmed by Scott Coker, the CEO of Bellator, which promoted his return to MMA last year after a five-year absence. Slice beat Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris with a third-round knockout in February at Bellator 149 in Houston, but the result was overturned after Slice tested positive for steroid use.
“We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice,” Coker said. “One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport. Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man. His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts.”
Slice was scheduled to headline the Bellator 158 show in London next month in a bout against James Thompson.
He was the star of the first MMA show broadcast on network television, beating Thompson by third-round knockout in May 2008 on CBS with the defunct EliteXC promotion. With Slice and pioneering featherweight Gina Carano as the top attractions, EliteXC’s two CBS shows drew big television ratings and introduced millions of viewers to MMA.
Although Slice never reached the sport’s competitive heights, his aura never waned among MMA fans: His bout with Harris four months ago drew the largest television ratings in Bellator’s history.
The UFC issued a statement praising Slice, who appeared on a highly-rated season of their long-running reality competition show, “The Ultimate Fighter,” in 2009. Slice also fought at UFC 113 in Montreal, losing to Matt Mitrione before taking his five-year break from MMA.
“He carried himself as a true professional during his time in our organization,” the UFC’s statement read. “While he will never be forgotten for his fighting style and transcendent image, Slice will also be remembered for his warm personality and commitment to his family and friends.”
American Top Team, the prominent South Florida gym where Slice trained for many years, mourned his passing.
“The ATT Family and South Florida community lost a legend today,” the team said in a post on its Twitter account.
Slice also had a pro boxing career between stints in the cage, going 7-0 with six knockouts from 2011-13.
For all of his glowering in-cage swagger and outsized fame, Slice was extraordinarily honest about his fighting abilities. He acknowledged being an MMA newcomer with much to learn, never claiming to be anything but a big puncher providing for his family while constantly working to learn the sport’s other disciplines.
“The guys who are holding the titles, heavyweight and light heavyweight, these guys are awesome,” Slice told the AP in a 2010 interview before his second UFC fight. “I’m really just having happy days in the midst — being among them, fighting on the undercards, just contributing to the UFC and the sport. That’s really what I want to do. I’m not looking ahead to winning a title or anything like that. I’m just enjoying each fight as it comes.”
Slice is survived by six children, and he credited his MMA career for allowing him to send them to college. One of his three sons, Kevin Ferguson Jr., made his MMA debut in March.
16 responses to “Street-fighting MMA sensation Kimbo Slice dead at 42”
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Check him for concussions.
I am so sorry. I am also so sorry so many exploited men with apparently no career options are forced to fight for the delight of spectators paying for this blood sport. It is just all too horrible. Ban it.
Is it really that different from exploited women, skinny to the bone, paraded in front of the public in “fashion” shows and magazines?
yes it is..but yes, both are bad
so you’re banning these “exploited men” only career option? more brilliance from
Al
It’s like saying why stop drug dealers from their ONLY career option. Brilliant Bob!
I guess you would rather them become criminals instead.
Nonsense, NO ONE WAS FORCED to fight. These are all adults that made ADULT choices and most seek the glory and money that comes with the sport, some will do it just for the glory even if little or no money is available. They are professional athletes and they’re no different than football players, rugby players or even surfers that risk their lives in dangerous shark infested waters. Far more people drop dead from heart disease and diabetes doing nothing but watching TV and stuffing their face with a deep dish pizza than athletes that engage in risky sports or blood sports as you call them.
Supposedly, no one is forced to do anything in a well run society. That doesn’t mean a man/women makes right choices all the time nor engage in activities contrary to generally accepted norms of a society. Guess you think bashing a guy’s brains out for your entertainment is an accepted norm. Guess what, it’s comforting to know you’re not the norm.
Sorry for his untimely death but to call him a “sensation” is a perversion of the word. He was a drug-adled, exploited freak show as most of these “entertainers” are. Until blood thirsty Neanderthals stop paying for such savagery, there will be more untimely deaths. Unfortunate theses real “sub-human freaks” will continue to shell out money to get their fill of blood.
Well, that’s one point of view and you’re entitled to it. But to call him a “drug-addled freak” is really hitting below the belt. He did test positive for steroids — once. But that hardly meets the criteria for calling him “drug-addled” (speaking of which, have you ever gotten drunk?) or a “freak”.
As for your “entertainment” comment, you do make a valid point. It’s a point that also applies to football (traumatic encephalopathy, destruction of joints, etc.); would you include that sport in your characterization as well?)
I wish Lord Tally-Ho Blears was still around and in his prime, so I could see if you’d make those comments to his face.
I’ve been drunk many times but I don’t go about trying to beat someone’s brains out.
Yes, I have decried the accepted blood-sport component of football and have admitted to being part of the problem in enjoying football and being a season ticket holder for UH. There is, however, a significant difference between the violence that results in injuries in football from a freak show where the primary emphasis is on beating one’s brain to a pulp.
By the way, guys like Kimbo takes drugs for a specific reason of gaining a competitive advantage in a money earning venture. It’s far different from old geezers like me drinking a few beers for a buzz.
true..and geezers have a certain value…
So…..let’s see if his son will be a rising star?