Dana White feared the worst when he entered a Las Vegas hotel room to negotiate Kimbo Slice's signing with the UFC.
Before Kimbo Slice first appeared in the UFC spotlight via The Ultimate Fighter 10, UFC CEO Dana White viciously mocked him in the media, calling him a “bum” and discrediting his fighting credentials. When White and the UFC decided to give Slice a shot after several knockout victories in EliteXC, White was concerned that Slice would brutally make him pay for his rhetoric.
Slice made his name in unsanctioned head-to-head street brawls in backyard brawls in South Florida. His battles with street gang members and other willing opponents have been viewed millions of times online.
Despite Slice's fame and notoriety, White was one of Slice's harshest critics in the public eye. But when White's perception of Slice quickly changed and he agreed to negotiate a contract with the street-fighting superstar, he feared a Las Vegas hotel room would be the site of a horrific assault.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Dana White tells a hilarious story about first meeting Kimbo Slice
During episode 317 of the IMPAULSIVE podcast, White explained his first face-to-face meeting with Slice and his manager.
“I used to talk all kinds of things about Kimbo when he wasn't in the UFC. “He's a bum, he'll always be the toughest guy at the barbecue and stuff like that,” White said of Slice. “But then we started talking and we ended up doing this deal with these guys. We met them in a hotel room in Las Vegas, me and Lorenzo[Fertitta[andwalkingintothisroomwithKimboSliceandI'mlike'Wemightgointothisroomandhemightknockhimoutofmyroom!'[Fertitta[andwe'regoingintothisroomwithKimboSliceandI'mlike'Wemightgointothisroomandhemightbeatthes***outofmeandleave!'[Fertitta[enwegaandezekamerbinnenmetKimboSliceenikhebzoietsvan'Wegaanmisschiendezekamerbinnenenhijkandes***verslaanuitmijenvertrek!'[Fertitta[andwe’regoingintothisroomwithKimboSliceandI’mlike‘Wemightgointothisroomandhemightbeatthes***outofmeandleave!’
“The nicest man in the world. And his manager, Mike, was one of the best guys I've ever done business with…don't judge books by their covers.”
Slice fought twice in the UFC Octagon during his 5-2-1 MMA career, defeating Houston Alexander by unanimous decision at the TUF 10 Finale. The promotion cut ties with Slice following his TKO loss to fellow TUF 10 standout Matt Mitrione at UFC 113.
Kimbo Slice's life and career are detailed in a brand new documentary
Slice's extraordinary life and career are featured in a VICE TV documentary series entitled Dark Side of the Cage. He died in 2016 due to a heart condition.
White, as evidenced by his past experiences with Slice, isn't afraid to voice his opinions on fighters outside of the UFC. But Slice's approach to their first in-person meeting quickly changed White's perception of the legendary fighter.
The relationship between White and Slice eventually became an amicable one, despite White's past criticism and ridicule. Years after Slice's first meeting with White, the South Floridian made a lasting impact and impression on the UFC leader.
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