On this day in 2015, the late Kimbo Slice De Kooi came in for the penultimate time.
Slice, who became an internet sensation as a viral street hunter, enjoyed a short but memorable mixed martial arts career.
Originally a bare boxer, Slice immediately went from the back garden of the MMA star to MMA star after debuting under the Elitexc banner in 2007. That was after Slice Olympic boxer Ray Mercer choked as an amateur.
After gone 3-0, Slice suffered a 14-second knockout loss for Seth Petrzelli before the financial collapse of the promotion released the way for him to arrive at MMA's largest stage.
After Slice stimulated his star row on the ultimate hunter, Slice 1-1 passed two UFC fights. After his UFC release, the fan favorite remained unbeaten by Zeven Pro Boxing, but his time in MMA was not over yet.
Kimbo Slice installed a comeback to stop Ken Shamrock in Bellator Fight 2015
Five years after his last UFC performance, Slice returned to MMA in Bellator. He headed Bellator 138 against a legend of the sport, Ken Shamrock, in a matchup that was originally planned in 2008.
Just like Slice, the MMA pioneer was also five years away from his previous fight, and he was then 51 years old. Nevertheless, the former UFC Superfight Champion had problems.
Less than two minutes after their fight, Shamrock broke down slices and brought a followed choke. The former internet sensation struggled to survive and looked away from ticking seconds.
But the crane never came in the Choke -Hold, despite more than 30 seconds. And when he slid freely, Slice Shamrock made it pay for the missed opportunity by having his reputable force close the show on the feet.
Ken Shamrock claimed that he had Kimbo throw away because he had tapped
However, the result was not without controversy.
In addition to an accusing Shamrock of taking a dip against Slice, the MMA legend claimed that he had released the choke at Bellator 138 because he had felt a tap.
Shortly thereafter, that claim was made by referee John McCarthy, but Shamrock repeated it just as recently as his performance in 2024 at the Jaxxon Podcast with Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.
“I felt so good. I felt that I would destroy him,” Shamrock said. “I remember that I dropped it … It went exactly as I thought it was going.
“If you look at that fight, I slide into that choke … He extends and he does this (twice taps). … the original Ken Shamrock, I had destroyed it and I had kept holding it until they pulled me off.
“But it was just something I achieved a point where I wanted more respect. I wanted to leave with respect. I wanted to have the courtesy to choke on, shaking his hand … so I let go.
“I went off because I felt he was tapping,” Shamrock added. “He was ready. It was over … I felt him go weak. … suddenly he pops up and slides away.”
The former Brawler in the back garden would compete again in MMA, which eliminated Dada 5000 at Bellator 149 before that result was destroyed into a NO match due to a failed drug test.
Slice died tragically in his home State Florida four months after that fight in June 2016.