1. Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice, was a Bahamian mixed martial artist, professional boxer, and actor.
50 Facts About Kimbo Slice
1. 2.
Kimbo Slice was born Kevin Ferguson in Nassau on February 8,1974.
3.
Kimbo Slice moved to the US as a child and grew up in Cutler Ridge, Florida.
4.
Kimbo Slice was raised with his brother Devon and sister Renea by his mother Rosemary Clarke.
5.
Kimbo Slice went to Bel-Air Elementary School, where he was reportedly involved in his first fight with fellow student Dominic Sauer at the age of 13 as he tried to defend a friend.
6.
Kimbo Slice attended Miami Palmetto High School, where he was the star middle linebacker.
7.
In 2005, Kimbo Slice started training in martial arts at the Freestyle Fighting Academy under Marcos Avellan and David Avellan.
8.
In 2006, Kimbo Slice signed to fight against former WBO Heavyweight champion and Olympic gold-medalist boxer Ray Mercer in a CFFC event in 2007.
9.
Kimbo Slice was 33 years old facing Mercer, who would be 46 years old at the time.
10.
Kimbo Slice defeated Mercer with a guillotine choke at 1:12 into the first round.
11.
Kimbo Slice was originally set to make his professional MMA debut against Mike Bourke, a reformed street fighter, but a shoulder injury from Bourke led him to face Bo Cantrell.
12.
Kimbo Slice defeated Cantrell 19 seconds into the first round by submission due to strikes, landing a variety of elbows and body punches, after Cantrell failed to land a spinning back fist.
13.
On February 16,2008, Kimbo Slice fought Tank Abbott in the main event at EliteXC: Street Certified.
14.
On May 31,2008, Kimbo Slice fought in the main event of the first ever mixed martial arts event shown on prime time network television, EliteXC: Primetime.
15.
Fellow EliteXC competitor Brett Rogers, who himself had previously defeated Thompson in a previous Elite XC event, was particularly critical of Kimbo Slice's victory, calling Kimbo Slice's performance "garbage" in a post fight interview.
16.
Kimbo Slice's team stated they did not want him fighting Frank no matter how much money was offered to them, so Lappen decided that Petruzelli was the best option for the main event.
17.
Kimbo Slice agreed to take the fight after receiving a raise in pay, and took in $500,000.
18.
Kimbo Slice was the number one pick for coach Rampage and the second pick overall.
19.
Kimbo Slice later turned down the opportunity to take Matt Mitrione's place in the quarter-finals after it was revealed that he had arthritis in his knee.
20.
Kimbo Slice brought record breaking views during his time on The Ultimate Fighter, and given his humbleness and apparent potential as he fought and honed his skills, it was decided he would be offered a contract by the UFC promotion regardless of his elimination at the hands of Nelson, albeit a lesser valued one than the coveted six figure deal the winner would receive.
21.
Kimbo Slice made his debut when he fought Houston Alexander on December 5,2009, at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale at a catchweight of 215 pounds.
22.
On May 8,2010, Kimbo Slice made his pay-per-view and official heavyweight debut in his second fight at UFC 113 against his fellow Ultimate Fighter veteran Matt Mitrione on the Main Card.
23.
Kimbo Slice ended up losing in the second round via a TKO.
24.
Kimbo Slice exhibited the same sharpened ground fighting skill he gained from The Ultimate Fighter, landing an explosive takedown early on and was thought to have taken the first round on the judges cards, but Mitrione began to chop down the senior Kimbo Slice with hard leg kicks that led to him gaining mount.
25.
Kimbo Slice was indeed subsequently released from his contract the following day, alongside welterweight Paul Daley.
26.
MMA junkie reported that Mike Imber, Kimbo Slice's manager, confirmed that he was considering all of his options in the free agency market, including mixed martial arts and newly opened boxing opportunities, but Imber declined to confirm or reveal any of them.
27.
However it was later stated that at time Strikeforce CEO was in no hurry to sign Kimbo Slice following his release from the UFC.
28.
Kimbo Slice made his pro boxing debut on August 13,2011.
29.
Kimbo Slice fought in a four-round headlining attraction against 39-year-old James Wade at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
30.
Kimbo Slice won the fight via KO at 0:10 in the first round.
31.
Kimbo Slice defeated Jesse Porter and Howard Jones both by first-round KO, but the more prominent came in the form of fellow Mixed martial artist, Brian Green.
32.
Kimbo Slice fought Green in Missouri, and the bout nearly went the distance.
33.
Green took all four rounds on the cards, but in the closing seconds of the final round, Kimbo Slice landed a left uppercut that dropped and knocked Green out, marking a mild upset.
34.
Kimbo Slice's next fight, the highest profile one of his career, was in Australia on the Anthony Mundine vs Daniel Geale undercard on January 30,2013.
35.
Kimbo Slice defeated Shane Tilyard, former 2x ANBF Queensland champion and IBF PP cruiser title challenger, by TKO in the second round.
36.
Additionally, it was heavily rumored, and Kimbo Slice apparently was open to the event, that he and Eric "Butterbean" Esch were eying to get into the ring with each other, with Butterbean having even called out Kimbo Slice early on during his MMA career, having fought in MMA himself, in 2008.
37.
Kimbo Slice ultimately remained inactive as a boxer and mixed martial artist in 2014, and did formally accept the offer and remained a free agent.
38.
On January 16,2015, nearly five years since his retirement and more than two years of absence from combat sports, Bellator MMA announced that Kimbo Slice had signed a multi-fight deal.
39.
On February 19,2016, at Bellator 149, Kimbo Slice faced Dada 5000.
40.
On May 2,2016, it was revealed that Kimbo Slice had settled with the Texas Athletic Commission with a fine of $2,500 and a revoking of his license in the state of Texas.
41.
Kimbo Slice died of heart failure before this fight could happen.
42.
In 2009, Kimbo Slice starred in an antivirus software advertisement called Caterpillar vs Kimbo Slice.
43.
Kimbo Slice was featured on The Iron Ring, a television series airing on BET that features MMA prospects.
44.
Kimbo Slice was part of the selection process for the participants.
45.
Kimbo Slice played an inmate named JC in 2009's fighting film Blood and Bone.
46.
Kimbo Slice had a son named Kevlar and a daughter named Kassandra.
47.
Kimbo Slice had two stepdaughters named Rae'Chelle and Kiara.
48.
On June 3,2016, Kimbo Slice was admitted to a hospital in Margate, Florida.
49.
Kimbo Slice is regarded by many to be a legendary figure in the sport of Mixed martial arts.
50.
Kimbo Slice set a Spike TV record, that stood during its fifteen years of operation, by participating in The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights bringing a viewing of more than 6.1 million views on the episode where he fought and was eliminated early on by the tournament winner Roy Nelson in the opening round, trumping any other UFC content aired on the broadcasting.