Kimbo Slice: Street Fighting Everyman of MMA
Kimbo Slice: Street Fighting Everyman of MMA
By Tony ReidFloCombat: What's one fight from your career that every MMA fan should see?Kimbo Slice: All of them. They were are special and they are all grea
By Tony Reid
FloCombat: What's one fight from your career that every MMA fan should see?
Kimbo Slice: All of them. They were are special and they are all great. I like the James Thompson fight though because there was a little more activity. There was a little more back and forth, a little more up and down. That fight showed the world that I was MMA-ready.
In 2003, you burst into the mainstream in the legendary street fighting videos that millions and millions of people have viewed online over the years. What was the initial idea or inspiration to actually film the fights and put them online?
It was just an amazing situation that was happening at the time. I wanted to start pushing myself to not be so much of a street fighter and channel me toward being more of a mixed martial artist. That inspired me to more serious training. I dedicated myself to something; to grow myself. I had to mentally prepare myself for a challenge; for a life-changing experience.
Who calls you Kimbo and who are the people that call you by your given name, Kevin?
My mom and family members feel like there are two different people or a split personality: Kev and Kimbo. I have to live up to that. After years of experience, you know how people address you when they approach you and you know if they are friends or if it’s a fan coming up to you.
You developed a fan base like few fighters have in the history of MMA. What do you think your “it” factor is? Can you put your finger on it?
I don’t think that is for me to decide or think about. I just ride the wave.
Bellator president Scott Coker talks often about “needle movers.” There might not be a bigger “needle mover” in the sport than you. After five-plus years away from the game, you still outdraw everyone.
The passion is there. A lot of people can relate to me because I don’t consider myself above them. I am a hard-working member of society just like a normal person. You will see me shopping in the same stores you are in. You see me fighting on TV, and then there I am the very next day shopping at Wal-Mart. Fans were coming up to me, telling me what a great fucking fight it was, and I thanked them. That’s real shit. I am a real person. I don’t think I’m f***** untouchable. I’m really down to earth, and I like people to respect me like I respect them. That’s what makes me a little more unique than other people you see on TV.
You suffered a gnarly injury in the Shamrock fight as you nearly tore your pinky toe off. What happened there?
I think it happened when I was getting back to my feet after the rear naked choke. There was so much behind getting up, and it just came right out of the little joint. Everything just evolves so quickly in there. I don’t even need the pinky toe anyway. So f*** it. When it almost came off I didn’t even know until after the fight when the doctor started sticking me with the needle and sewing that sh*t up.
You said you are embracing now what you took for granted earlier in your career, which I am assuming is the ground game.
I’m liking the ground game. I’m making it second nature for me. It’s going to happen. A lot of these fighters I engage with are not going to stand with me. It’s going to be a one-way fight. I am so comfortable there on the ground now. I can spin to submissions; I can feel it. Now, anywhere the fight goes, it’s going to go my way. That’s what I like, and that’s what has changed from earlier in my career. If I learned earlier, things would have been different, but I’m glad my fighting career went the route it did.
Joe Warren told me once that “all the cool kids fight for Bellator.” What is it like working with the cool kids at Bellator?
Fighting for a company like Bellator is great. I like the way they treat us. They are genuine. Scott Coker and company, they look you in the eye, they shake your hand and really want to know how you are. I like that. I have so much respect for Scott, just knowing these guys, knowing their compassion for the fighters and their passion for the business and the sport. Bellator is here to stay. Guys want to fight for Bellator.
FloCombat: What's one fight from your career that every MMA fan should see?
Kimbo Slice: All of them. They were are special and they are all great. I like the James Thompson fight though because there was a little more activity. There was a little more back and forth, a little more up and down. That fight showed the world that I was MMA-ready.
In 2003, you burst into the mainstream in the legendary street fighting videos that millions and millions of people have viewed online over the years. What was the initial idea or inspiration to actually film the fights and put them online?
It was just an amazing situation that was happening at the time. I wanted to start pushing myself to not be so much of a street fighter and channel me toward being more of a mixed martial artist. That inspired me to more serious training. I dedicated myself to something; to grow myself. I had to mentally prepare myself for a challenge; for a life-changing experience.
Who calls you Kimbo and who are the people that call you by your given name, Kevin?
My mom and family members feel like there are two different people or a split personality: Kev and Kimbo. I have to live up to that. After years of experience, you know how people address you when they approach you and you know if they are friends or if it’s a fan coming up to you.
You developed a fan base like few fighters have in the history of MMA. What do you think your “it” factor is? Can you put your finger on it?
I don’t think that is for me to decide or think about. I just ride the wave.
Bellator president Scott Coker talks often about “needle movers.” There might not be a bigger “needle mover” in the sport than you. After five-plus years away from the game, you still outdraw everyone.
The passion is there. A lot of people can relate to me because I don’t consider myself above them. I am a hard-working member of society just like a normal person. You will see me shopping in the same stores you are in. You see me fighting on TV, and then there I am the very next day shopping at Wal-Mart. Fans were coming up to me, telling me what a great fucking fight it was, and I thanked them. That’s real shit. I am a real person. I don’t think I’m f***** untouchable. I’m really down to earth, and I like people to respect me like I respect them. That’s what makes me a little more unique than other people you see on TV.
You suffered a gnarly injury in the Shamrock fight as you nearly tore your pinky toe off. What happened there?
I think it happened when I was getting back to my feet after the rear naked choke. There was so much behind getting up, and it just came right out of the little joint. Everything just evolves so quickly in there. I don’t even need the pinky toe anyway. So f*** it. When it almost came off I didn’t even know until after the fight when the doctor started sticking me with the needle and sewing that sh*t up.
You said you are embracing now what you took for granted earlier in your career, which I am assuming is the ground game.
I’m liking the ground game. I’m making it second nature for me. It’s going to happen. A lot of these fighters I engage with are not going to stand with me. It’s going to be a one-way fight. I am so comfortable there on the ground now. I can spin to submissions; I can feel it. Now, anywhere the fight goes, it’s going to go my way. That’s what I like, and that’s what has changed from earlier in my career. If I learned earlier, things would have been different, but I’m glad my fighting career went the route it did.
Joe Warren told me once that “all the cool kids fight for Bellator.” What is it like working with the cool kids at Bellator?
Fighting for a company like Bellator is great. I like the way they treat us. They are genuine. Scott Coker and company, they look you in the eye, they shake your hand and really want to know how you are. I like that. I have so much respect for Scott, just knowing these guys, knowing their compassion for the fighters and their passion for the business and the sport. Bellator is here to stay. Guys want to fight for Bellator.