The Kimbo Slice blues
Kimbo Slice
If you don’t follow mixed martial arts fighting, you probably haven’t heard of Kevin Ferguson, aka Kimbo Slice.
According the hype, Ferguson-or Slice, if you prefer-was going to rule the MMA (mixed martial arts) circuit for years to come. The buzz was enough that I noticed it, and I watch MMA only in the rare case that I have nothing better to do and there’s not a thing else worth watching.
But Kimbo? I noticed him.
First of all, the guy is 6′ 2″, 240 pounds, insanely ripped and has a huge black beard. He looks great on a poster, bad in a dark alley.
Kimbo got his “rep” from a series of YouTube videos that showed him, among other things, beating up bums and full-tilt tackling people for money. No, I’m not making this up.
Kimbo Slice videos were the sorts of schlock your brother-in-law e-mailed you on his lunch break. Everyone agreed the guy looked mean, and videos of big guys beating each other up are nothing if not entertaining. But nobody mistook Slice for a real, trained fighter. Continue reading »
