Strikeforce Grapples With Kimbo Slice
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 11:10 AM EST
in MMA News
Email
Print
It isn't clear what Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker plans to do with Kimbo Slice when he launches his series of Showtime and CBS events this year. Sherdog reports:
"Picture a guy that has some streetfighting capabilities that seems like he can punch pretty good, but put him in an MMA situation," said Coker. "He's not a journeyman fighter, he's not a superstar in MMA -- he's just learning. He got thrown into the spotlight at a high level where there's a lot of pressure to perform, but he probably needed 10 to 12 fights under his belt before he took that leap."
...
"I think that if you look back at the past, he could have been built up to have the fights that he needed to face the Seth Petruzellis of the world and be successful, but he wasn't given the opportunity," said Coker. "When I look at Kimbo, I don't look at it as his fault. He was in a ‘no win' situation."
Ferguson's manager Imber didn't disagree with Coker's assessment.
"It seems pretty accurate, I guess," said Imber. "He definitely didn't control what happened to him. He just went along with what was thrown at him. He wasn't the one who said, ‘Hey, put me in the spotlight.' They put him there and they got what they wanted."
I'm not sure that "they got what they wanted' is the most apt way of describing what their overhyping of Kimbo got EliteXC.
In other Kimbo news, MMA legend Bas Rutten will no longer be training Kimbo. From AOL Fan House:
I know you've worked closely with Kimbo Slice. When do you think we'll see Kimbo fight again, and will you be in his corner again when he does?
I stopped training Kimbo. I had him six weeks before the last fight (a loss to Seth Petruzelli on October 4), I talked to him about certain things that I didn't like, and he promised never to do it again, and then he started doing it again. If people come to me and ask me to train them, I want them to do what I tell them to do, because that's what they came for. ... Once you start doing different things, you're out. It's not because he got knocked out. This was already in progress long before the fight.So you basically don't think Kimbo was preparing the right way?
I would rather just leave it like this: Let's say that the Kimbo who came to me at the beginning of training, that wasn't the Kimbo who was at my gym the last time. Six weeks before his last fight, I told him, I want that Kimbo back. Otherwise, you're out. And you know, he started doing differently again. Let's just leave it like that. I don't want to go into all the details. I wish him nothing but the best. Really, I really do.When was the last time you talked to Kimbo?
After the fight. After the fight I didn't talk to him anymore. It was pretty obvious -- that was the last time. The fight was the last time.
96 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’d be willing to bet he doesnt end up fighting for Strikeforce. Coker isnt going to coddle and ass kiss this guy like the Shaws did, and Kimbo’s undeserving tomato can ass is not going to want to take anything less than what Pro Elite was giving him. The guy isnt a real fighter anyway. Fuck him. He can go to Japan and roid up and fight other non-talents like Bob Sapp and Hong Man Choi.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
Jesus...
that’s pretty harsh on the guy. Blame EXC, don’t blame Slice for doing what damn near everyone else on earth would do. I can promise you that 99% of fighters on this planet would be more than happy in accepting the kind of deal he got.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions
Im not blaming him for taking the money, I’m just saying that its going to be a whole different world for Kimbo when his ass isn’t kissed or he isn’t hand fed opponents or he doesnt get $500k a fight. The guys doesnt belong in MMA, period. Also, anyone that would want to see a show just because Kimbo is fighting shouldn’t really consider themselves a fan of MMA either. The guy is a straight up joke.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
He has...
the same right as anyone else in this world to be an MMA fighter. And sorry bro, but you’re not the keeper of who gets to be an MMA fan either. I have my problems with the Kimbo/EXC thing. But you’re acting like somehow you’re in charge of determining who is worthy of being involved in “your sport” but sorry bro. you’re not.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
and yes...
I did give not one but TWO “sorry bro”s
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
So?
I’m not really sure what that means. Both are guys who absolutely are able to make more money based on who they are…not how good they are. But they haven’t done anything wrong in making that money. Would I like to see the best fighters make the best money? Sure…but that isn’t how the real world works.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
You must have missed my reply four comments up saying where I don’t blame him for taking the money.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
Right...
but what was the point of saying he is the same level fighter as Sapp?
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
And am I the only one that thinks that Bob Sapp is a freashow (which is why he is in Japan fighting fake cartoon characters) that also should have no place in MMA?
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
Who cares if either them or anyone
are “freakshows”? If they get paid and are willing to get in the cage, why do you care? There is obviously a place for them in the sport or they would not be there.
Being in agreement with Dana's take on
Kimbo as an MMA fighter in an opponents promotion is fine. But to bash they guy when you are not associated with the UFC because he took what EXC gave him is ridiculous. It was/is Dana’s job to say those things about other promotions fighters.
You're wrong...
in thinking that you somehow have the right to determine who does and does not have a place in MMA…yes. Very much so.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
The coddling of no talent fighters on this blog is pretty laughable. Thanks, everyone, for all of your input. Im out.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
See ya...
you’re more then welcome to remain around here. But I’m not going to shit on fighters and pretend that I am in charge of who is worthy of participating in the sport and I’m not going to give anyone a pass on pretending they are either.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, you’re gone. You don’t get it and we’re done explaining it to you. Find another site.
by Luke Thomas on Feb 10, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions
I really do not even understand your contempt for Kimbo.
He was put up as an MMA fighter & he was defeated by a little known fighter with not much MMA success. Why would you have a problem with him even being given the chance? I say anyone who is brave enough to get in there can do it, as long as someone is willing to pay him/her & pay to watch him/her.
Oh what he did wrong was pulling out lame performances, but you could blame the match making for that. Kimbo can brawl and win in an impressive fashion, but he is one dimensional (Dan Henderson got 3 :o) and pretty much bring nothing to the table except his charisma (call it whatever you like). Is he bad for the sport? Absolutely not. People came to see KIMBO and they saw shield, gina, lawler… many legit fighters promoting TRUE mma. Kimbo is like the nintendo wii in the video game business. Is the wii lame? YES! But it’s good for the business as it brings out the interest of new “consumers”.
...I like my Wii
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, he was great for Elite XC’s business. When is Elite XC’s next show? Oh, my bad.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
The Wii comment wasn't the best example
I would guess that many people on this site alone own a Wii and like it very much (it is the top selling video game console after all). As far as Kimbo goes, I personally didn’t feel that he belonged to where he was at (the main event), but I liked him for his charisma and personality. While many of the hardcore MMA fans like MMA for the fighting itself and the technique, many others pay for a ticket, ppv, or watch an MMA event for a particular fighter or fighters and not for the fighting itself (if it were for the fighting, then UFC Fight Nights would get much higher ratings).
by chrisbboy82 on Feb 10, 2009 12:26 PM EST up reply actions
Dude. The Wii is a lot of fun.
Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken
by Richard Wade on Feb 10, 2009 8:02 PM EST up reply actions
The hatred of Kimbo is kind of ridiculous
Kimbo was really, really poor. He was offered more money than he’d seen in his life to fight despite not having really trained. What was he supposed to do? Tell the Shaws that he didn’t want half a million to show up for 15 minutes? As Brent just mentioned, pretty much everyone is going to take that kind of money to fight.
I don't hate Kimbo, but
I also don’t let him off the hook for what happened with EXC. Sure, he was poor and had alot of money thrown at him, but for that amount he can take the scorn of the hardcore MMA world because in partially deserves it.
Beyond that, I hope Kevin Ferguson the man does well in life and from the sounds of what Bas was talking his way around , avoids the issue that will likely lead him back to poverty.
Kimbo said he had made about 1 million dollars from all his internet videos in a Sherdog article.
by Dropkick434 on Feb 10, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
You're right on the edge of fighter bashing
Even Kimbo deserves some respect for getting in the cage.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Thanks
For adding the Bas quotes. Interesting stuff. Bas is certainly a hardline guy who I’m sure expects the same efforts from others, that he does from himself. I do get the feeling that he sincerely wants Kimbo to “get it together” and succeed. I get the feeling there are a lot of “users” around Kimbo getting in his ear.
And yes, the comments about Kimbo are way over the line. You can make points without degrading someone to that degree.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
I’ve literally stepped in a cage before, but I by no means consider myself a fighter or demand respect for something I am clearly not. It’s my opinion. Besides, I haven’t said anything that was untrue. Also, would demanding an extra cash bonus for having your opponent changed at the last minute be considered respectable?
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
At BE we try to treat everyone with respect fighter or not. We especially limit fighter bashing because its such an easy pitfall on an MMA site.
You can criticize Kimbo all you want here at BE, just try to avoid terms like “undeserving tomato can ass” and “The guy isnt a real fighter anyway. Fuck him. He can go to Japan and roid up…”
That’s neither respectful nor productive.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions
that’s all I’m asking. Brent is debating you on content, not trying to run you off.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
"Would demaning an extra cash bonus for having your opponent changed at the last minute be considered respectable"?
YES. These guys train for months for a specific fighter, so why shouldn’t they be paid extra for risking it against someone who is unknown to them?
Kimbo isnt a true mixed martial artist. He fought every fight the same. It was all about the big payday. Now that the big payday is gone, Kimbo will be gone.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
Who cares?
The guy was paid to get in there & fight, which is exactly what he did. Ultimately, if you are not a true MMA fighter it will catch up to you.
Mark coleman...
Not a true MMA fighter…fought every fight the same (takedown, gnp)
Maia? Fights every fight the same…
…etc
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions
You miss the point. You would think a contributing editor would be able to comprehend the difference in what Maia and Kimbo bring to MMA. Laughable.
...some call me "el mexicutioner"...
I tried to save the kid, I really did
but he just begged for the banhammer.
Ask and ye shall receive.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions
fighter bashing + insulting the editors = gone
he was warned for both.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
by Nate Wilcox on Feb 10, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Weird that he started a shit fit here. He posts on MMA4Real a lot and didn’t go off the deep end like that from what I can remember.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
Even though I love BE ...
… I was slightly hoping he was part of an FL Jackal force that was gonna come here starting ish after Fagan punked-out of the Maple Syrup bet.
until just recently
there were no true MMA fighters. People would train one or 2 things, then put them against someone who knows other styles. BJJ and Kickboxing seem to have risen to the top, but thats not to say western boxing, judo, grecco, karate and in kimbos case, street fighting do not have a place. That was the initial appeal of the sport.
Kimbo comes from a street fighting background, and has no BJJ to speak of – he fights with big punches, and ground and pound. Who else has been doing that? Lesnar?
and the guy is 3-1. A lot of times ability can over come a lack of skill.
Bringing up Kimbo's record isn't a strong card to play
when you want to establish him as legit.
Sure, more wins than losses, but we all know how that got that way.
sure
but its not like the other guys threw the fights. He never got over powered or into a position he couldnt get out of. He got hit on the button.
And dont you build fighters up by giving them manageable guys first? No one said he was ready for a title shot, but he is a draw and people wanted to watch his warm up fights.
Not a big fan of the "manage fights to build a fighter" concept
Its a big part of what makes boxing so bad.
Even so, it only goes to reinforce why Kimbo’s record shouldn’t be use to equate him with quality. He beat 3 guys hand picked for their beatability. Guys well past their prime that had styles that would play into the limitied range of tools possessed by Kimbo.
And most damning of all was so that it could be perpetuated as Main Event level fighting.
Comparing him to Lesnar is way off too.
Not completely the same
But the UFC has more or less done the same with Carwin and Velasquez. Carwin (and I assume Velasquez soon) are just starting to fight against “upper echelon” guys right now – whereas before they’ve been given fairly winnable fights to “bring them along”.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Granted Carwin and Velasquez were not the “face of the promotion” either.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I think that’s what pisses people off: Velasquez may be called the “future” of the heavyweight division, but no one is claiming he’s the present for roughing up randoms. Carwin neither, and he IS getting a step up in Gonzaga shortly. You can build up fighters slowly, but only if you sell them on potential.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
Right on mexi! You always say it like it is! I don't think many on this site really watch much mma, maybe wwe or some crap.
by BOW on Feb 10, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you for your piercing insight.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 3:30 PM EST up reply actions
Why not pick up Kimbo?
Kimbo has a name and he’s developing. Even though he lost people will still tune in to watch him. He could become a decent heavyweight in the future. As others have said, he was put into that position. And I don’t care what anyone says, you don’t change someone’s opponent three hours before the fight. He deserves another chance to prove himself.
Pick up Kimbo, Strikeforce!!!
I agree, however, I think that as successful promotion with a huge upside, Strikeforce is not willing to break the bank for him.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
He'll take a paycut...
I’m sure Kimbo would take a paycut or at least have a non-exclusive clause in his contract. I believe he’s committed to becoming a better MMA fighter. He can fight in Japan for the big payday. They like big black guys over there. LOL.
EXC was paying him like 500k in his last fight I believe. i think it was an escalating contract and they basically put their whole promotion on his shoulders. I think his value to SF would be more like 50k, which is a huuuge cut in pay. I agree that Japan would probably be the best place for him, and I’m surprised he hasn’t fought there already. As for being committed, I used to think so, but the quotes from Bas now have me questioning that commitment.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
I’m sure there is an Affliction joke in here somewhere, lol!
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
They’d pay him three times that if they were ever going to run a show again.
But they aren’t.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Feb 10, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
After reading what Bas says
there’s not much hope for him. If the dude blew a chance to train with someone at Bas’s level then I don’t see many other high level trainers even f’ing with him.
people underestimate how strong this guy is
he has lesnar type athletic ability and strength. The guy can counter your armbar by flexing his bicept and break your legs haha. That makes up for a lot of his technical short comings in a fight. And we forget, he is 3-1, even against cupcakes, he hasnt been submitted yet. He took 1 on the button – and that even happens to great fighters.
Just the fact that there are 45 comments on this post
shows why Kimbo has a job and will continue to get fights. There is so much interest over him.
I dont love the guy, but hes fun to watch. Hes a home run hitter and when he makes contact, its gone.
Non-MMA fan
I just want to say that I was never a fan of the MMA before Kimbo came along. I specifically started watching it for Kimbo, and no other reason. Now I watch MMA every chance I get, and I would tune into any fight that Kimbo was involved in in a heartbeat.
Rumors so far…
April 11th on Showtime
Frank Shamrock vs. Nick Diaz
Benji Radach vs. Scott Smith
Josh Thompson vs. KJ Noons
Robbie Lawler vs. Joey Villasenor
Gilbert Melendez vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
Gina Carano vs. TBA
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. TBA
May on Showtime
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson vs. Bob Sapp
Phil Baroni vs. TBA
Phil Baroni vs. Cardio
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I'd have Baroni...
at like a +750 underdog there.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
That’s a pretty darn good card considering their talent level outside of the Diaz/Shamrock ridiculousness. Seriously that fight is dumb.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
but it will probably draw in more viewers than the rest of the card combined.
by SplitBreast on Feb 10, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, it’s not dumb from a business standpoint. But in terms of sport, it’s out there. I understand that they are a business, have to make money, etc., etc. Even still, I don’t like that fight.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 12:49 PM EST up reply actions
Eh...
For whatever reason I’m into seeing that fight. What fight isn’t happening because this one is? I don’t see a whole lot of better fights for either guy that have near the drawing power or interesting build up that this will.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Feb 10, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
Touche. I suppose that perhaps some of my hate could be motivated by my disdain for both fighters involved (in a perfect world for me, this fight ends with a double KO).
Even then, Diaz has been fighting at “160” (really 165+) while Shamrock has been fighting at 185. That is a huge difference in size, to the point of absurdity. And Nick Diaz isn’t even in the same ballpark as BJ Penn. I know Shamrock ain’t GSP either, but I don’t see Diaz’s edge that will be able to account for Frank’s size advantage. They are both pretty shop worn, and I just don’t see what is supposed to make what is supposed to make this matchup compelling.
I know it’ll sell like gangbusters and there will be so much smack talk that it might ignite your TV, but outside of that, this fight is devoid of anything interesting in my eyes.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 10, 2009 1:19 PM EST up reply actions
Sweetness.
I will play my game beneath the spin light.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Feb 10, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions
With both Gina and Phil's oppenents both TBA, is anyone else getting the feeling that Phil
is about to get gassed and KTFO by a girl?
From the UG:
Is there anyone that can confirm that Kimbo has trained ANYWHERE in Ohio within the last 6 months?
A friend of mine that I work with (who has ties to several fighters out of Columbus) keeps telling me about this kid that also used to work with us…
I’ve seen this kid fight locally and he isn’t that good. SO my buddy is telling me how great this kid is getting and how he has been in contact with Joe Silva blah blah blah…
Long story short, this kid is claiming he has trained with Kimbo recently somewhere in Ohio (not Columbus) and how bad he is. Saying Kimbo doesn’t really hit that hard and his grappling is terrible etc… and all of this coming from a 155 lbs local scrub.
http://www.mmafighting.com/news/2009/02/10/live-blogging-strikeforce-showtime-conference-call
Frank Shamrock announces that he’ll fighting Nick Diaz on April 11. The fight will serve as the main event and will be at a catchweight of 179 pounds.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
