Kimbo Slice silenced his opponents, including UFC CEO Dana White, by putting one of the UFC's pioneers to sleep.
Kimbo Slice's path from a backyard fighter in Florida to an appearance on one of the biggest fighting platforms is one of MMA's most remarkable success stories. He captured the attention of millions of viewers online as a street fighter who earned some bad finishes in backyard leftovers.
After a long career in street fighting that also saw the development of eventual UFC stars like Jorge Masvidal, Slice made his professional MMA debut in 2007, finishing Bo Cantrell in just 19 seconds in a stunning finish to his first EliteXC fight.
Following the victory over Cantrell, Slice faced a steep upgrade in competition against Tank Abbott at EliteXC: Street Certified in February 2008. Few believed he would perform on par with his debut against the veteran Abbott, despite the latter being well over his physical was great.
It only took Slice seconds to destroy Abbott, sending the crowd into a wild frenzy.
Photo by Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Kimbo Slice flattened Tank Abbott in less than a minute
Slice vs. Abbott was a wild brawler while it lasted. Both heavyweights chose to fight in a phone booth in the center of the cage, with both Slice and Abbott taking heavy damage.
But Slice had the last laugh against Abbott, who invited him after his professional debut. A sharp jab and straight combination just 43 seconds into the fight left Abbott face-first to the canvas.
Slice's win caught the attention of White and the UFC brass, who invited him as a surprise addition to The Ultimate Fighter 10 months later. While he went 0-1 during his time on TUF 10 (TKO loss to Roy Nelson), he was the most talked about personality on the show and helped bring a new audience to the UFC's brand.
Despite falling short on TUF 10, Slice got his UFC opportunity at the TUF: Heavyweights Finale in December 2009. He defeated Houston Alexander by unanimous decision before losing to fellow TUF 10 member Matt Mitrione at UFC 113.
Kimbo Slice's new documentary explores his extraordinary story and life
After parting ways with the UFC following the loss to Mitrione, Slice signed with Bellator and defeated another UFC legend Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138 after a five-year absence. He ended his long-running feud with Dada 5000 by TKO at Bellator 149 before the fight was overturned to a no-contest after Slice tested positive for multiple banned substances.
Slice died in 2016 at the age of 42 from a heart condition. His death sent shockwaves through MMA, including the UFC, following his transcendent performances in and out of the cage.
Slice's son, Kevin Ferguson Jr., was set to return to action later this month at Bare Knuckle FC: Knuckle Mania 5 before withdrawing due to injury. “Dark Side of the Cage,” an ongoing documentary series produced by VICE TV, highlights Slice's life story in a Wednesday, January 8 episode.
Years after his death, Slice's impact on martial arts is still felt by those who battle inside the cage and fight for survival outside. While the UFC has since had bigger box office stars like Conor McGregor, Slice was one of the promotion's early personalities that you absolutely can't miss.
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