In this edition of "Drunk on MMA" I want to talk about the ratings magnet that is Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson. Before his arrival on the UFC's Ultimate Fighter show he was fighting with the EliteXC where he was portrayed as the Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan of MMA. Well, needless to say, we already know what happened to him there, as well as the organization itself. However, while he was fighting with the EliteXC Dana White was publicly trash talking Kimbo saying things like he may be the toughest guy at the BBQ but he is no mixed martial artist. Now Dana White is giving Kimbo the chance at making it to the UFC through the show.
First of all I would like to say that I'm glad to see Kimbo fighting professional fighters rather than on Youtube. And I think it would be a sad day in the MMA world if they no longer accepted straight up street fighters. I think Kimbo belongs in MMA. That being said, I think it's quite clear that he doesn't belong in the UFC, but that won't stop him from getting a contract. His appearance on the Ultimate Fighter has given the show records ratings, and he is clearly the star of the show. This is the reason he is going to get a contract. Not because of his fighting skills, because they are clearly not at the level of the UFC fighters, but because he brings ratings.
Let's face it, in the show, he was beaten easily by a grappler who was performing at half speed. Just imagine if he was up against heavy weight grapplers like Mir, Lesnar, Carwin, Velasquez, Nogueira, Couture, or Gonzaga performing at full speed! It would be both ugly and boring. Even with this fact Dana White still gave Kimbo another fight on the Ultimate Fighter Finale possibly against heavy striker Houston Alexander. And it won't surprise me to see Kimbo on the next UFC pay per view regardless of the outcome. Which I find to be a shame. Kimbo had his chance and lost. Even with a contract he will never be champion contender. Anyways, it's not his fault. There is an opportunity for him to make money, who wouldn't take it? Instead of giving him a contract I think they should make him a permanent host of the Ultimate Figher tv show.
Now let's see what MMA has in store for us duing the month of November.
Nov. 7 Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers: I still predict Fedor to win via submission, but an upset isn't that far from an impossibility. Rogers needs to, and will, come out throwing a hurricane of punches. And with his power he has the ability to KO Fedor. But he needs to do that right away, otherwise Fedor will have his way with him. Like I said, I see Fedor weathering the storm and Rogers gassing out, with Fedor winning by submission in the second round. This is a great card overall. Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva makes his Strikeforce debut against Fabricio Werdum. Light heavy weight champ Gegard Mousasi fights Ramaeu Sokodjou in a non-title fight. And Jake Shields faces the host of MTV's "Bulley Beatdown" Jason "Mayhem" Miller for the vacant middle weight title. I see that as a back and forth grappling contest with Jason Miller as the winner via decision. The best part is that this event is live for free this weekend CBS!!
Nov. 21 UFC: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2: I want to talk about this event because I think it's an exciting fight for both men. First of all it's the return of Tito Ortiz. He's been away from the UFC for three years now recovering from a back surgery. Now he says that this is the first time he is coming into a fight at 100% since his first fight with Ken Shamrock and he is hungry to make another run for the light heavyweight title. Forrest Griffin, on the other hand, is coming off a devastating loss to Anderson Silva. And one thing we've all learned from Forrest Griffin is that he trains harder than ever and comes back a stronger fighter after a loss. So we got two hungry fighters who both need wins ready to square off. I see a back and forth fight with heavy shots being landed standing and on the ground, but I see Tito Ortiz as the winner via decision.
There are other great MMA events this month like Nov 7. Sengoku 11th Battle, Nov. 14 UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera, and Nov 18 WEC: Brown vs. Aldo. Another great month of MMA action for us fans! Don't forget that the sport of MMA expands farther than the UFC!
Peace!
No, no, no, no, no.
Kimbo doesn't have a good ground game.
Sure the dude was half-speed, but he KNEW wrestling inside and out.
Kimbo does not.
Exactly my point. Because Kimbo had no ground game just imagine how he would do against the grapplers I mentioned performing at full speed. It would be another boing fight with Kimbo the loser. That's why on the Ultimate Fighter finale they want to pair him against Houston Alexander, another heavy swinger. That way it's more entertaining.
Oh, okay.
Sorry, I kinda misread that as you saying Kimbo shouldn't be in it at all.
lol
Actually I don't think he should be fighting in the UFC at all. That's one of the things I don't really like about the show. They promote it as a "16 fighters 1 contract" contest. But since the very first season they have offered contracts to more than one fighter. But in those past seasons they gave contracts to fighters who lost but still showed skill. Kimbo, however, was getting a contract even before his first fight, all because of the ratings he brings. That makes me question the shows, and the UFC, credibility. I think Kimbo belongs in MMA, just not the UFC.
Joe, I think everybody started questioning Dana White's decisions a long time ago. All he cares about right now is money, and if Kimbo is fighting, he'll be making money.
On the subject of Ortiz vs. Griffin, I disagree with you. You make a good point about Forrest's recent loss to Silva, but really, Silva's at the top of his game right now (although his recent cockiness might get the best of him in the future). He's a tough guy to beat, and I don't see that loss affecting Forrest too much. Ortiz, on the other hand, was a great fighter a few years back, but he really hasn't evolved his fighting in the way it should have evolved. Forrest is still a relative newcomer whose game is constantly improving. You could be right, in all honesty, but personally, I can see the fight going all three rounds, Ortiz getting gassed by the third round, and Griffin winning the decision.
That's a good prediction of the Griffin/Ortiz fight! I think it's one of the more intersting fights in the UFC this month.
Dana White is a business man and making money is what they do. He just wrecked this Ferrari needs to get that fixed. :) How ever do you feel that Kimbo isn't made for MMA and no amount of training will make him better. Because there are fighters who started fighting who had no Martial arts or wrestling background what so ever before they decided that's what they wanted to do with their lives. Guys come in just with some boxing skills, that's not gonna help if a dude is slamming you on your head they choking you in to submission. So basically Kimbo Slice doesn't stand a chance? As a real MMA fighter.
Just remember people said this about Brock Lesner also, that he isn't talented, shouldn't be in UFC and now look at him, he is the champ. I don't think Kimbo is anything close to Lesner but he could surprise us, at least Brock had a good wrestling background. I think if they just put Kimbo in against the right people, he may proove to be good enough and could get better.
I think for saying about the show giving out more than one contract, loses the UFC crediblity, well the show is designed around winning and getting a guaranted contract, but it never said that others won't be signed. The show is perfect to show off talent and see how they will do and than go sign them up. Why wouldn't you sign other people from the show if they showed talent?
I know that this MMA talk but WWE had its show on MTV and the winners of those shows most of them are not in the WWE but others from the show are now becoming stars in the WWE. Like Morrison and the miz didn't win the shows they were on but now they both are in and doing well.
Alexander vs Kimbo, oh man...That would be a slug fest. Griffin vs Bonnar all over again? I think so.
@Darth,
I see your point. I'm glad to see that the sport of MMA recognizes street fighters and I hope the sport always does. Both Tank Abbott and Tito Ortiz came into the UFC as street fighters. And I'm glad to see Kimbo making a run. But he lost. And didn't really show anything. The past fighters who got contracts but didn't win the show got contracts because they still showed talent. Kimbo didn't. When Kimbo fights in the UFC, like you said, they will pair him up against certain fighters only, like strikers. Insead of fighting anyone he'll just be hand-fed opponents.
And Brock Lesnar would leave Kimbo as a stain in the octagon if they ever fought.
I'm getting more and more hyped up about the Fedor vs. Rogers fight! Brett Rogers can make MMA history if he beats Fedor. It's almost like the first Rocky movie. But instead of Rocky fighting Appalo Creed he's fighting Ivan Drago.
It's time for another Community Update, my gaming compadres. Thanks so much for all your submissions
It's not history if Fedor has lost before. Granted, it was a stoppage due to incidental headbutt, but the man has lost.
As far as your view of Kimbo, you are failing to see one key aspect. The guy is a brawler with great power, but he really hasn't ever worked with anyone with a killer ground game. Even now in the show, you think Rampage is providing great ground training? If this guy gets on with a good camp that will push him, he has the making to succeed. Don't write him off just because. I guarantee Dana is looking at the situation objectively and will base his decision off of talent.
I really don't see the Alexander thing happening considering Alexander is a light heavyweight. Kimbo would have to trim alot of weight or Alexander would have to be dumb enough to go up a weight class when he isn't very good at light heavyweight.
Lastly, Tito has fought twice in the last 3 years. He had a draw against Rashad in 2007, and lost to Machida in a unanimous 30-27 decision. Personally I thought he had won one of those rounds against Machida. Other than that was a fight against Chuck Liddell in 2006. He may not have progressed as much as people thought he should have but the guy is still a great fighter and if he finally has his head focused on fighting, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
It is nice to see that Forrest stopped running though.
Kimbo and Alexander will be fighting at a catch weight of 215. But Kimbo is having a hard time cutting weight.
I know about Fedors "loss". It was to Tsuyoshi Kosaka when he accidentally elbowed Fedor in the opening seconds of the first round causing a doctor stoppage. Fedor has lost, but he's never been beaten.
lol about the Forrest joke!
And no one foresaw him having trouble cutting weight. That is a very big man.