Kimbo Slice is a Free Agent
Posted by Larry Csonka on 05.20.2009
Too late for Super Hulk?
- According to an SEC filing, Kimbo Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson was released by Pro Elite on May 13th. Slice's manager, Mike Imber, confirmed the release as he and his client couldn't come to an agreement with Strikeforce. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker commented on Slice, stating the following…
"We had an option to exercise Kimbo's contract from Pro Elite. Basically out of all those fighters we took, he was the only one that we didn't grab –- it was an option to take [Slice's contract.] With that option, there was an expiration date on it. In the very beginning, we tried to have dialogue with them about trying to make the deal a little more realistic and we just couldn't work it out. At the end of the day, if we would have worked it out, we would have exercised the option,"
- Imber states that Strikeforce offered Slice a pay scale less than what was stipulated in his EliteXC contract, stating…
"They wanted us to fight for less. I wouldn't say dramatically [less], but there were just a lot of moving parts in the contract. Once you start moving one, they all kind of got moved around. It just didn't work out, I guess."
- Coker says that the door in not closed on Slice coming to Strikeforce…
"I still think that we'll continue the dialogue and at some point, if he really wants to fight in MMA, then we'll let him fight for us. Why not? He was an Internet phenomenon that went mainstream on CBS and Showtime and the support he was given last year really propelled his popularity. Why not put him back in the mix? We just need to talk about a different arrangement, that's all."
Posted By: Guest#4725 (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 12:16 AM
kimbo who?
Posted By: Guest#4725 (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 12:16 AM
You know, the guy who got knockout by a MMA no body. All hype, no sizzle.
Posted By: Tugman (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 12:41 AM
I heard Kimbo was a free agent.
Posted By: Samer Kadi (Registered) on May 20, 2009 at 04:56 AM
kimbo slice, is that some new fruit juice ?
Posted By: Guest#9900 (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 06:18 AM
I think I'm a rare breed of MMA fan who doesn't mind "freakshow" fights occasionally. My big problem with Kimbo is that ProElite was basically centering their company around a "freakshow" attraction in Slice. If you insist on putting on the occasional freak show fight, very rarely make it a main event and don't build your company around the freak. Because once you put your freak against a legitimate fighter (even a TUF reject like Seth Petruzelli), well... you see what happens.
Posted By: NDN (Registered) on May 20, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Yeah, your occasional freakshow fight doesn't bother me(I was a big PRIDE fan after all) but Elite XC was stupid to shoulder the company on this guy.
Sure, he is/was a draw, but he was a mediocre fighter at best. Strikeforce is smart not to offer him the ludicrous amounts of cash he was making there, and I don't think anyone will at this point...except maybe in Japan.
Posted By: Guest#1951 (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Fedor vs Kimbo book it! Freakshow for Fedor to pad numbers with.
Posted By: Daniel (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Bobby Lashley submits Kimbo in 22 seconds in the first Heavyweight fight on next season's TUF. Book it.
Posted By: King Durin (Guest) on May 20, 2009 at 05:43 PM
