Kimbo Slice's Future

by Luke Thomas on Oct 22, 2008 12:18 PM EDT in MMA News

Kimbo_medium Still very much up in the air:

"It’s not out of the question that CBS might do some fights in the future. Who knows? They’re might be some doors still open," said Imber. "They liked their numbers. They like the sport itself, and they wanted to do it. Unfortunately, it’s just not going to be with the current organization. Maybe they don’t do anything in the future, but it wasn’t just completely ruled out."

If early buzz that CBS plans to either run its own events from here on out or bring a new promotion into its coveted "Saturday Night Fights" slot holds true, the network hasn’t made any moves to hint at it yet.

The Kimbo Slice entourage has not been contacted by CBS, Showtime, Affliction, Strikeforce or even the UFC.

I have no doubts Slice will end up in a large promotion where he is prominently featured, but promoters are taking their time before they make any moves. Using Slice will require promotional and marketing gymnastics of a very unique kind. Coker, Atencio, Kahl, White and others know this.

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

J-A-P-A-N

by Derek Suboticki on Oct 22, 2008 12:41 PM EDT reply actions

subo is right

Kimbo would be extremely marketable in Japan. He’d be the new Bob Sapp and they would throw useless opponents at him for highlight reel finishes and he’d make a killing off of it all (in more ways than one).

by hermit on Oct 22, 2008 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I also agree Japan’s MMA world would be a natural fit for Kimbo. Mayhem Miller’s become more comfortable over there. Now that he’s retired, maybe he could manage Kimbo-san.

by dmayeda on Oct 22, 2008 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Really?

I wouldn’t be so certain about his being featured as a top-tier fighter elsewhere (domestically, at least) in a major promotion. To me, it truly seems like a case of bad timing for Kimbo. It’s going to be interesting to see how things unfold. Because my assessment is that, coming off of his loss to Petruzelli, he’s in promotional limbo. Without XC having invest in him so heavily, and desiring to reclaim his image for that very reason, what other promotion (after the Petruzelli fight) has the desire to gamble with him towards the top of their card (or at a high payroll rate)? UFC absolutely will not, and Affliction is billing itself as the most hardcore of the hardcore, so I can’t imagine their ideology would allow for such a move. Then again, I don’t really feel that Attencio and company have a firm grasp on their direction (or how to properly execute it), so I wouldn’t be very surprised. Confused and a little upset? Yes, on both accounts.

by Charles Awad on Oct 22, 2008 1:27 PM EDT reply actions

It’s also possible he packs up and does something else. He has quite a bit of fame, with which he could easily create a high-end bodyguard company or something. I doubt he’ll find anything in the MMA world nearly as lucrative as the ElietXC deal, so I think it would behoove him to turn his eye somewhere else.

by mythbuster on Oct 22, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

WWE. :)

by pud333 on Oct 22, 2008 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Hehe I see you already saw below. I don’t think he would do very well in the WWE (or TNA) for long.

by mythbuster on Oct 22, 2008 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

My throughts

since the announcement then exc had folded were professional wrestling…

I think he could be very marketable in the wrestling market. Big scary street brawler/mixed martial artist.

i can’t stand professional wrestling, but I do think that that is a possible route for kimbo and his unique brand of celebrity. Also if wwe coudl afford floyd mayweather, I’m sure they can afford kimbo slice!

by JaeeJaee on Oct 22, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds about right

Hadn’t considered that, but it would work for sure.

by Charles Awad on Oct 22, 2008 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he could be huge

maybe even bring a new era of wrestling fans in… for all that he lacks, kimbo does have star power. With some good marketing he could be The only reason people watch wrestling.

by JaeeJaee on Oct 22, 2008 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Honestly

He would be marketable in pro wrestling for about a month. The guy, while a nice guy, has zero charisma and less acting skills. He would wind up being a short-term gimmick.

by mythbuster on Oct 22, 2008 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Crap. You beat me to it.

by pud333 on Oct 22, 2008 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

perhaps....

but there has to be a spot for kimbo somewhere…

he could the the Surreal Life… then he could be flavor flavs body guard on flavor of love…

get his own reality show, then do the wrestlign thing for awhile, then do celebrity fit club and start a record label!

by JaeeJaee on Oct 22, 2008 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

bwaaaha

I would actually watch the Surreal Life if Kimbo was on it. Kimbo, Gary Coleman and Vanilla Ice. :)

by mythbuster on Oct 22, 2008 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I could see Vince McMahon pulling the trigger on this but I don’t think that Kimbo would last long in the WWE. K-1 seems like a better fit, kickboxing with Akebono on New Years Eve might just be as good as it gets for Kimbo Slice.

by who me on Oct 22, 2008 2:30 PM EDT reply actions