Kimbo Slice has UFC staying power

The ratings for the first edition of Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter: The Heavyweights," doubled the popular reality fighting series' usual numbers, Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White said Tuesday.

There were 4.1 million viewers for the show's debut, and another million watched the replay. The major draw of the show is Kimbo Slice, the former YouTube street-fighting sensation who had a brief run in the short-lived Elite Xtreme Combat fighting organization that aired fights on CBS.

Although filming for "The Ultimate Fighter" is complete -- except for the finale to be aired live in December, with the winner earning a six-figure contract and membership in the UFC -- White told The Times that whether Slice wins or loses during the competition, he'll be in the UFC.

"Are you going to see Kimbo Slice fight again in the UFC? Yes," White said.

Asked if that was a decision based on the first episode's ratings, White said: "No, never. The ratings do not influence our decision. The guy can either fight or not."

White said one of the strongest endorsements he received about Slice's skill in the octagon came from former light-heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, who's a coach in the show and told White he wants to continue working with Slice at his elite MMA training compound directed by respected trainer Greg Jackson in New Mexico.

"We've been very impressed with Kimbo's performance," added UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta.

-- Lance Pugmire

Photo: Kimbo Slice. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tom]

hopefully he will pummel dana white first

[Justin]

Thats real talk, i knew it was going to happen, whether you like the guy or hate the guy, hands down, he came in as a rookie street brawler, and he tore up guys who have headlined major fight cards, ray mercer, tank abbot, james thompson.. ray mercer knocked out tim first round, ect my point is hes fought some decent mixed martial artists and dominated. Fact of the matter is hes learned alot more and is alot further with his mma career than hes ever been, it was only a matter of time before slice would be in the position hes in, and fighting for the worlds greatest mma association, and thats real talk peopl, whether you want to accept it or not, kimbo slice is a fighter, period

[Isaac]

Well Kimbo is a brawler and like it or not he has power and can be very successful. His down fall is his ground gve if he does not develope a decent ground game he will be done.

[Jess]

Kimbo swears he won't ever tap, so it's only a matter of time till his arm gets snapped in two. And that's only by submission. I know he can bang with the best of them, but if that Dairy Queen worker can knock him out with a jab(A JAB!) he's gonna get destroyed by a good heavyweight.. Now THAT'S real talk!

[Tony W.]

Kimbo slice is a street brawler everyone knows that. If he learns how to submit someone he will be unstoppable. The only person that I think would ever dominate strenth wise would be Brook Lesner. Kimbo is a bad dude and he is going to get even better.

[jiggadu]

go kimbo!

[UFC Notes]

Kimbo seems like he is really trying to learn how to fight and improve his ground game. I know its only been two episodes of The Ultimate Fighter, but it really seems like he wants to learn from Rampage.

[andrew villeranda]

well i think people need to stop hatin on my boii kimbo cuzz he can bang wit the best of em...n he doesnt have a good ground game but if he gets that izzz a rap sonn.....

[Brian]

He is definitely a legit fighter so him fighting for the UFC was a given...regardless of his performance on the show. This makes me believe that he doesn't win the show because White wouldn't say he would be in "win or lose" if he was going to fight in the finale. He's just laying the groundwork for his entrance into the octagon with those statements.

Remember, White is a brilliant businessman...he has to see the nearly unlimited potential value of Kimbo fighting for the UFC. He could have lost in the first show and still headline PPVs right out the gate.

I'm rather impressed with Kimbo now we get a change to see him at length on the show. Impressed the most how humble and coach-able he is. You can tell he "gets it" with how he carries himself in the house, too. He knows he is the target and accepts it. Usually those guys have been the bullies only to end up getting KO'd.

Kimbo will be just fine.

[rapstar]

finally ufc put a real dude in the cage. but everybody knows kimbo would make money even without a contract.

[Brian Maher]

Randy Couture will take it to kimbo all day

[sethook]

Kimbo is all show. Getting in with the big boys will be his end....

[kooo]

"We been very impressed with Kimbo's performance"... wink wink... (performance = high television ratings).... as for fighting, everybody saw how the Elite match went down... is Kimbo in regardless of winning or losing Mr. White? "No, never".... Mr. White would be a terrible poker player.

[Frank]

The guy needs to stay in the internet viewing world. Watching him go up against obvious flakes can only take him so far. He looks violent and that's cool but he doesn't have the abilities or youth required to last. Well, that said I wouldn't get in a ring, Octabgon, or car with the guy. His name does, however, make me rethink my own. I may change it to sound more believable as a fighter. Frank Slice! Pizza Slice or even Slice and Dice!

[JMhgny]

Haha couldn't agree more with you Frank (btw I like Slice'n'Dice for ya).

[Greg]

I've seen Kimbo a couple times on you tube.Then saw him on elite.Wasnt really impressed as a MMA fighter.I didnt think he had the cappibilty to make it.Just thought of him as a street fighter.But DAMN the boy can be taught.Very impressed and i see him going places in the U.F.C.Dana would be an idiot if he didnt have him fight in the octagon.GO KIMBO..I am now a fan Kimbo Slice....

[john andreas]

I am a big Kimbo Slice fan. I even tried to take the day off from work to watch the season primere of the ultimate fighter heavy weights. Its a good thing spike aired it again later that night or i would have been really disapointed. As you can see by the ratings, the people want him. If he were to leave the show, he will take the ratings with him. WIN KIMBO WIN!

[carlos]

i just want to know if kimbo teaches people him self
look i know u guys might laugh right now but i have seen all the
street fight hes done and man i really want to fight like
him if any one who reads this really know him
just plz let me know kuz i really want to learn from
him well that if hes willing to teach me i promise
i wont let you down....

[Blake Leathers]

Like it or not, Kimbo Slice is a draw, and win lose or Draw as long as the ratings continue to soar Slice will stay in the UFC.

[adam]

i don't think kimbo will get anywhere in the HW division but maybe if he dropped down to 205 he could do alright

[Charles]

Jimbo will win anyways why not let him in now

[Leeallen]

Food for thought Kimbo. I think you would make a lotmore money in the boxing ring, and have much better success in the boxing ring compared to the ufc. Think about it Kimbo, when you were street fighting in backyards you were boxing without gloves. You really didn't have to worry about anyone taking down, kicking you in the face or laying over 250lbs of dead wait on top of you or on your arm. You look liked a fish out of water on the ultimater tonight. like Michael Jordan trying to baseball. Or Tiger Woods trying to play tennis. You have nothing to prove to Dana White or UFC fans. You know you can fight they know you can fight and the boxing world knows you can fight. The problem you can be the the best at any sport but if you are in the wrong place you can't shine or be the best. In boxing all you have to do is avoid punches and land hard punches, again no kicking no trying to avoid take downs and no crcifixing or submission hold or no one no one laying on top of you. all your focus would be on knocking someone out. That is speciality and that's what your fans want to see you do knock heads. You remind me of Mike Tyson, the eye of the tiger is not with you in the ufc. When you first came on the scene you could see the confidence, the boldness the attitude and thrill and excitment of a mikre tyson when you walked in the ring. If you get into boxing I belive get that spark again. You don't have go back school and learn how to crawl walk and talk all over again, like in the ufc you have learn ji jitsu and master the ground an pound game and all other types of karatee. In boxing all you have is fine tune what you allready no how to do. And that's KNOCK PEOPLE OUT. Love 2 Fans LeeAllen

[Sylvia Alexis]

I don't think that the country boy that fought Kimbo Slice tonight won at ALL, all he did was lay on top of him preventing him from breathing, and if this guy is under three hundred pounds, then i'm the Queen of Sheba. The was some of the poorest sportsmanship i've ever wittnessed and I love that show, He knew he couldn't beat Kimbo standing up that's why he laid on top of him trying to smother him to death the whole time, Hey Big Country Boy stand up and fight like a man and stop lying down like a woman. I personally think you're using your weight because you obviously have no talent standing on your feet. Real men go Toe to Toe. I don't think he would last one minute up on his feet against Kimbo. Piece of advice Country stand up and fight, the one or two punches I thought I saw you throw, I can tell you that I've been hit harder by a mild wind blowing. Kimbo, I believe in you and I know you can do it. I would love to see you and big boy again, but this time try to keep him from falling on you, it seems that's the only real talent he's got, falling on you and just smothering the breath out of people. So keep your head up Kimbo, you're still number one in my book.

Sincerely,
Sylvia

[Sylvia]

I'm a big fan of The Ultimate Fighter, but I personally don't think that the big country boy that Kimbo fought tonight won, all he did was use his weight to smother Kimbo, if you can't breath you can't do much of anything. I don't think he would have lasted a minute on his feet against Kimbo. Real men stand and fight Toe to Toe, and the one or two punches he did throw I've been knocked over by wind that was stronger...come on big country get a grip, you didn't actually win anything because you didn't do anything. I guess they gave you credit for being able to lay on someone and keep them from breathing longer than two minutes. If this is your strategy for all of your fights then you might as well roll in the ring and just lie down and wait for your opponent. Come on stand up and fight, and stop falling on the other fighter trying to smother him. Kimbo, hang in there you're still the man to beat in my book.

Sylvia,

[kelso]

i think he will have another chance at fighting in the ufc. He is learning his ground game pretty quick.