Spike TV confirmed on Monday what many had predicted for months; Kimbo Slice would indeed be fighting at The Ultimate Fighter Finale to be aired live December 5th on Spike. What wasn’t announced was who he would be mixing it up with that night.
Kimbo has provided a shot in the arm for the successful UFC series on Spike. This season, the show has received record ratings and fueled renewed interest in the reality show that offers the winner a six-figure UFC contract. Past winners have included Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans, both who went on to win a UFC title after the show.
This year, the show features a group of heavyweights competing for the contract, but most of the attention has surrounded Kimbo. After having helped Elite XC draw some of the highest ratings ever for MMA events, he was left without a place to fight after the organization went out of business. Prior to Elite XC going under, UFC President Dana White had said the only way Kimbo would fight in the UFC octagon was if he went through the Ultimate Fighter house.
True to his word, that’s exactly the deal White ended up reaching with Kimbo. The ratings for the show peaked at over 5 million viewers for Episode 3, during which Kimbo lost to Roy Nelson. The ratings since have been no where near that figure, but still stayed very respectable as several times viewers were teased with the idea that Kimbo may be returning.
Despite speculation, until today there had been no official announcement regarding Kimbo’s future with the UFC. The fact that viewers love to watch the guy, combined with Kimbo having reportedly made $500,000 for his last fight for Elite XC, seemed to indicate he wouldn’t have entered the show without some sort of contract at the end of it.
Whether he's fighting for the six-figure contract or already has one in place, December 5th Kimbo Slice will officially be making his UFC debut.
Comments
I wonder if he learned anything on the show or if he'll just be taken to the ground again and pounded into a bloody pulp. Last chance for this guy. Until he beats an established fighter, he's just a side-show act.
Kimbo is far from a "side show act". On a striking and stand up basis Kimbo can "hang" with any top heavyweight, he's got that kind of power.
What Kimbo needs to concentrate working on is defending against choaks, locks, and submissions. Work anything and everything that helps him keep his fights standing. To try and "cram" various skills into Kimbo's arsenal could prove detrimental when in the heat of a fight, because he will go back to what he does best.
Kimbo can be an attraction for the UFC if the aforementioned conditions are his forte in training.
Kudos to Dana White.
He has proved to be a man of his word. Integrity...something that often lacks in the fight business.
Mr. White has given many MMA athletes the opportunities that they were not able to get with other organizations.
In my book Dana White is a "giver" not a "taker".
no kimbo just needs to finish ever fight via ko or tko,he should go out brawling in 1 round instad of trying to be a mma fighter because he is a brawler,and he CAN ko anyone anytime anyday and he will watch
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