Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on May 31st CBS Saturday Night Fights

by Luke Thomas on Apr 9, 2008 11:16 AM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

Speculation had been swirling for some time and now it's a matter of public record:

Ferguson (2-0), the Internet street-fighting legend who used his YouTube fame as a springboard into a lucrative mixed martial arts career, will tackle the 6-foot-5 British behemoth in the featured attraction at the premiere of CBS EliteXC: Saturday Night Fights on May 31 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. NBCSports.com reported the long-rumored match-up on Tuesday.

The 34-year-old Ferguson carried EliteXC's latest effort - "Street Certified" - last month. The show, which ended with Ferguson's 43-second knockout of David "Tank" Abbott, drew rave reviews and generated a live gate of more than $500,000 at the BankUnited Center in Miami, Fla. Ferguson has just 62 seconds of professional experience under his belt. In that brief time, he has emerged as the promotion's top draw.

The glass-jawed Thompson (14-8) has dropped six of his last eight fights, including two straight. In the last 14 months, the 29-year-old has been knocked out by Eric "Butterbean" Esch, Neil Grove and Brett Rogers. Thompson lasted less than a minute with Esch and Grove. Victories over UFC Hall-of-Famer Dan Severn and Don Frye highlight his resume.

Two things. First, Kimbo's handlers are building him the right way. Each time the stakes get progressively higher and the opponent progressively better. Notch by notch, they are setting up new but beatable challenges for Kimbo that help boost confidence along with the experience that comes from fighting. Thompson isn't exactly a terror, but he does have a great deal of experience, trains with a good team and has some takedown ability. That means if Kimbo wants to box, he'll be forced to earn the position.

Second, look at how The Fight Network describes Thompson. When a professional news outlet remarks how fragile your jaw is, you've got nowhere to hide. Yikes.

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Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

People will bitch and moan about Kimbo not getting good fights, but this is the way to go. He's clearly the golden goose for EliteXC and they need to bring him along slowly. He shouldn't fight even mid-tier competition until he's got six or so wins under his belt.

by Kid Nate on Apr 9, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

I'm probably over extending here, but this might be an illustration of the difference in perspective between people who train and people who don't. Leaving aside the grounds that EliteXC wants to keep their golden goose a viable entity for some time to come, it's simply not realistic to expect someone to learn the ground game in a year. In fact, that's downright ludicrous. There are so many nuances to that game that take a long time to master even for former wrestlers and natural athletes. I'm sure Kimbo's come a long way, but there's simply no way his ground game is even professional level at this point.

by Luke Thomas on Apr 9, 2008 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

He's fairly old too. So really he isn't going to be turning into a whiz on the ground at any point in his career. The focus of his training needs to be on stopping takedowns and if it does go to the ground he needs to have basic submission defense and ways to hold on until the fight is stood back up.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be working on his ground game, but the people that seem to be waiting for him to "prove himself on the ground" are waiting for something that is pointless. We're not likely to see Kimbo catching anyone with a triangle anytime soon...but that's not where his game is.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 9, 2008 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

Maurice Smith was able to put together a credible defensive ground game after three years in the sport and he was in his 30's at the time. But Mo had the luxury of being able to take many matches in Pancrase and RINGS that really let him work on his grappling against top groundfighters. Mo never did develop a decent sprawl though -- instead he build a good enough game to survive on his back and working to get the fight back to the feet. Kimbo should be working the sprawl and brawl model more. How do you guys rate Kimbo in the clinch? Is he the anti-Houston Alexander -- best fighting at range and possibly weak in the clinch?

by Kid Nate on Apr 9, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

Smith also had the infamous "Alliance" helping him out.

by Simco on Apr 9, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

And Kimbo has Bas Rutten. Pretty comparable IMO.

by Kid Nate on Apr 9, 2008 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

I'm not insinuating that he can't possibly develop a good ground game. But that it makes more sense for him to focus on spending no time there.

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 9, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

Agreed. A year is enough time to maybe become a blue belt in JJ. Or time to learn enough wrestling as someone who wrestled three months of the year for four years in high school.

I'm wit's end with people who merely think that focusing one's training on a particular area of the game will necessarily a fighter elite at it. Natural talent and years of training (usually from a young age) are generally a prerequisite for being elite at striking, wrestling, or JJ. This is further complicated by the fact that striking, wrestling, and JJ tend to favor different body types and athletic skills.

by cjd on Apr 9, 2008 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Saturday Night Fights

At least Thompson has a good stare down.

The fight with Kimbo has the potential to be great if Thompson tries for a takedown and get's it.

by Nick Thomas on Apr 9, 2008 11:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

Do you think over the course of the last 2-3 years of mma, people that had Thompson "collecting debts" from them were a lot less intimidated?

by The Gaijin on Apr 9, 2008 12:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

^LOL

by Luke Thomas on Apr 9, 2008 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

I'm happy James Thompson is getting this fight. He's a real stand up guy, nice as all get out.

He'll probably get a decent payday from this fight, and on the chance that he actually wins it could turn his career around.

If he loses, but gives a good performance (like he always does), maybe ElietXC will keep him around anyway. If not, there's always DREAM, whom I'm sure would love to have him once they get their heavyweight devision going.

by AnonymousA on Apr 9, 2008 3:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

Not a terribly interesting Main Event for EXC's first CBS show.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Apr 9, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice

James Thompson could be KO'd by Kid Yamamoto. He has got to be one of the biggest jokes in MMA now.

by MoreThanUFC on Apr 11, 2008 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice

I hope he somehow flukes into a win here because EXC deserves it for trying to pass this off as a main event.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Apr 13, 2008 2:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Official: Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson on Ma

James Thompson? The biggest problem with James Thompson is that he was a Pride Big-Guy. Meaning he was tough looking, strong, and in Japan was well liked. In the USA fans don't want to see just two big guys, with limited skill. James Thompson does have more talent then Kimbo, but Kimbo, as-is, will be a Flash-in-the-pan. A fighter people claim to be the next big thing, but then just fade away. Kimbo beat a way past his prime pro-boxer in Mercer and Tank Abbott. Tank winning only 2 fights in the past 10 years. Mercer having no knowledge of MMA.

This could very well be Kimbo's 1st loss, that puts him into a spiral of loses. If Kimbo loses to an unknown in the USA fighter, fans won't really view him as being the next big thing. Kimbo is decent, but I just don't see him being able to match up against the best in the world. He is more of a Tank Abbott (No Offense). A fighter that will fight anyone, without notice, just for a paycheck. But seeing as Kimbo is not even that well known. No where near as well known as Tank. A loss here will send him back onto the Internet and out of MMA.

I predict, Both guys will come out fighting. James Thompson will put Kimbo against the fence. Knee Kimbo in the face and body. Kimbo will force the take down, then James will roll on top of him and get a naked choke.

Just my thoughts.

by the2ndflood on Apr 14, 2008 7:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs