BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
Kimbo Slice Made $175K to Fight Tank Abbott.
There's a good reason mixed martial arts fighter Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (2-0) calls himself a "Six Figga #####".
According to the Florida State Athletic Commission, Slice earned $175,000 for knocking out David 'Tank" Abbott (9-14-0) at EliteXC: Street Certified on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Miami, Fla.
Note: MMA Junkie offers this helpful disclaimer: "the figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income."
Kimbo Slice Fight Collection
http://www.jmazz.info/index.php?p=87
In the wake of Kimbo Slice's brief demolition of Tank Abbot, we've been treated to approximately 76 different takes on the Miami brawler's performance and MMA status. Reactions run the gamut from hardcore commentators being won over by his training and popularity, to ignorant haters focusing on Slice's racial background and ignoring his skill. I've expressed my overall appreciation of Slice before, and nothing's changed. While I'm skeptical about Kimbo's ceiling in the sport (he's not exactly a young prospect), I have no problem with Elite XC building around the former Hurricane. I don't even fault Elite XC for elevating Kimbo to main event status. What does bother me is the kind of fight MMA fans are getting for their money and interest.
Kimbo's popularity is a given at this point. Research involving Google trend searches, website traffic flow, and YouTube hits all confirm that Kimbo can generate interest among MMA fans and newcomers. The hometown location certainly amplified the ecstatic reaction Slice garnered on the 16th. Fans in the Northeast or West probably would have received Slice just as vocally. The man is a marketer's dream, except for that whole "illegal street fighting" thing.
If the above is true (and I think we can agree it is), Elite XC cannot bury Kimbo on the undercard of a show. Fans want to see Kimbo regardless of his relative inexperience in the sport. Like Brock Lesnar, Kimbo brings in an audience that established MMA titleholders could only dream of. Unlike Lesnar, Elite XC does not have the depth in talent to provide Kimbo with the proper level of opponent. While former UFC champions and recognizable names can challenge Lesnar, Kimbo faces over-the-hill bar room fighters and men riding 4 fight losing streaks.
Luke Thomas of BloodyElbow fame makes the correct assessment that Tank Abbott represents the kind of fighter perfect for someone's second professional fight. Unfortunately, Kimbo is not fighting at local shows or on the undercard. He's a main event star, someone that brings in viewers. Eventually, fans will grow tired of 40-second fights. Someone spending money to view a fight (and Showtime is a pay channel) will feel cheated.
Many people pointed to the WWE-style promotion that went into the Kimbo fight. Unlike professional wrestling, Elite XC cannot guarantee a tremendous fight at the conclusion of the build. For some reason (whether nostalgia or naivete), people bought into the Abbott myth that Gary Shaw was selling. Even though most writers knew exactly how the fight was going to go, some still thought Tank might present some sort of challenge.
The fight reminded me most of the recent UFC Tito Ortiz v. Ken Shamrock debacle. Even though Shamrock is well removed from the prime of his career (like Abbott), fans still thought that past greatness and real hatred might inspire Shamrock into putting on a show against a younger, better fighter. Instead, we got back-to-back blowouts that left some fans feeling swindled. Quick stoppage or not, I felt stupid after plunking down my $40 for a fight card that had no chance of living up to expectations. If Shaw truly believes that fans will sign up for Showtime to watch Slice, he had better be able to provide better fights.
When people compare boxing and MMA (in a negative manner), the argument usually goes that MMA has to avoid the mistakes of boxing that led to the best fighters not fighting each other. That's a real issue, though not, in my opinion, the greatest threat. My fear is that Slice represents the same sort of marketing that catapulted Mike Tyson to fame. He's being built up as this destructive force that can take a man's head off with one punch. He's being presented with sub par opponents who crumble under the pressure seconds into the fight. That sounds exactly like Tyson's comeback run, during which gullible fans were tricked into believing fighters like Peter McNeely posed an actual challenge to the knockout king.
Which UFC fighter does Kimbo most resemble? To me, that's an easy answer: Houston Alexander. Both have instantly developed fan bases due to their brutal striking ability. Both got into the game late and are years away from challenging the elite fighters in their respective weight classes. The UFC provided Alexander with some tough early challenges, some of which he passed (Keith Jardine), some he failed (Thiago Silva). Now, it appears the UFC is going to attempt to maximize Alexander's talent by providing him with winnable fights against opponents that play into his strengths. No one wants to see Alexander smothered by a high caliber wrestler, or easily submitted by a BJJ black belt. They want to see him stand and bang, kind of like what will happen when he fights James Irvin, assuming Irvin makes it to and through the fight in one piece.
The difference between Slice and Alexander is that the UFC isn't building entire PPVs around Alexander. It's fine for Alexander to excite a Spike program with a 90-second knockout. Personally, I'm going to feel cheated if Slice continues to dominate overmatched foes in brief exhibitions. I'm certainly not ordering an Elite XC PPV just to watch Slice overwhelm another hand picked opponent.
This is not about Kimbo being booked against Fedor, Couture, or another top heavyweight. It's about Elite XC treating him for what he is. I don't want to be deceived by another promotional campaign that builds someone like Abbott as a credible threat. I don't want to see a Kimbo v. Paul Buentello fight billed as a battle between "top heavyweights." There's no shame in enjoying Slice for what he is. A talented, unproven fighter that will likely beat a Sean Gannon or Ken Shamrock with relative ease.
Tito Ortiz is as popular as an MMA fighter can get. But a short, one-sided fight is disappointing no matter the background of the competitor. Every once in a while it's ok for a headlining match to be quick (like Liddell v. Jackson). But without those 15 or 25-minute wars, it ends up being meaningless.
There's a good reason mixed martial arts fighter Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson (2-0) calls himself a "Six Figga #####".
According to the Florida State Athletic Commission, Slice earned $175,000 for knocking out David 'Tank" Abbott (9-14-0) at EliteXC: Street Certified on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Miami, Fla.
Note: MMA Junkie offers this helpful disclaimer: "the figures do not include deductions for items such as insurance, licenses and taxes. Additionally, the figures do not include money paid by sponsors, which can oftentimes be a substantial portion of a fighter's income."
Kimbo Slice Fight Collection
http://www.jmazz.info/index.php?p=87
In the wake of Kimbo Slice's brief demolition of Tank Abbot, we've been treated to approximately 76 different takes on the Miami brawler's performance and MMA status. Reactions run the gamut from hardcore commentators being won over by his training and popularity, to ignorant haters focusing on Slice's racial background and ignoring his skill. I've expressed my overall appreciation of Slice before, and nothing's changed. While I'm skeptical about Kimbo's ceiling in the sport (he's not exactly a young prospect), I have no problem with Elite XC building around the former Hurricane. I don't even fault Elite XC for elevating Kimbo to main event status. What does bother me is the kind of fight MMA fans are getting for their money and interest.
Kimbo's popularity is a given at this point. Research involving Google trend searches, website traffic flow, and YouTube hits all confirm that Kimbo can generate interest among MMA fans and newcomers. The hometown location certainly amplified the ecstatic reaction Slice garnered on the 16th. Fans in the Northeast or West probably would have received Slice just as vocally. The man is a marketer's dream, except for that whole "illegal street fighting" thing.
If the above is true (and I think we can agree it is), Elite XC cannot bury Kimbo on the undercard of a show. Fans want to see Kimbo regardless of his relative inexperience in the sport. Like Brock Lesnar, Kimbo brings in an audience that established MMA titleholders could only dream of. Unlike Lesnar, Elite XC does not have the depth in talent to provide Kimbo with the proper level of opponent. While former UFC champions and recognizable names can challenge Lesnar, Kimbo faces over-the-hill bar room fighters and men riding 4 fight losing streaks.
Luke Thomas of BloodyElbow fame makes the correct assessment that Tank Abbott represents the kind of fighter perfect for someone's second professional fight. Unfortunately, Kimbo is not fighting at local shows or on the undercard. He's a main event star, someone that brings in viewers. Eventually, fans will grow tired of 40-second fights. Someone spending money to view a fight (and Showtime is a pay channel) will feel cheated.
Many people pointed to the WWE-style promotion that went into the Kimbo fight. Unlike professional wrestling, Elite XC cannot guarantee a tremendous fight at the conclusion of the build. For some reason (whether nostalgia or naivete), people bought into the Abbott myth that Gary Shaw was selling. Even though most writers knew exactly how the fight was going to go, some still thought Tank might present some sort of challenge.
The fight reminded me most of the recent UFC Tito Ortiz v. Ken Shamrock debacle. Even though Shamrock is well removed from the prime of his career (like Abbott), fans still thought that past greatness and real hatred might inspire Shamrock into putting on a show against a younger, better fighter. Instead, we got back-to-back blowouts that left some fans feeling swindled. Quick stoppage or not, I felt stupid after plunking down my $40 for a fight card that had no chance of living up to expectations. If Shaw truly believes that fans will sign up for Showtime to watch Slice, he had better be able to provide better fights.
When people compare boxing and MMA (in a negative manner), the argument usually goes that MMA has to avoid the mistakes of boxing that led to the best fighters not fighting each other. That's a real issue, though not, in my opinion, the greatest threat. My fear is that Slice represents the same sort of marketing that catapulted Mike Tyson to fame. He's being built up as this destructive force that can take a man's head off with one punch. He's being presented with sub par opponents who crumble under the pressure seconds into the fight. That sounds exactly like Tyson's comeback run, during which gullible fans were tricked into believing fighters like Peter McNeely posed an actual challenge to the knockout king.
Which UFC fighter does Kimbo most resemble? To me, that's an easy answer: Houston Alexander. Both have instantly developed fan bases due to their brutal striking ability. Both got into the game late and are years away from challenging the elite fighters in their respective weight classes. The UFC provided Alexander with some tough early challenges, some of which he passed (Keith Jardine), some he failed (Thiago Silva). Now, it appears the UFC is going to attempt to maximize Alexander's talent by providing him with winnable fights against opponents that play into his strengths. No one wants to see Alexander smothered by a high caliber wrestler, or easily submitted by a BJJ black belt. They want to see him stand and bang, kind of like what will happen when he fights James Irvin, assuming Irvin makes it to and through the fight in one piece.
The difference between Slice and Alexander is that the UFC isn't building entire PPVs around Alexander. It's fine for Alexander to excite a Spike program with a 90-second knockout. Personally, I'm going to feel cheated if Slice continues to dominate overmatched foes in brief exhibitions. I'm certainly not ordering an Elite XC PPV just to watch Slice overwhelm another hand picked opponent.
This is not about Kimbo being booked against Fedor, Couture, or another top heavyweight. It's about Elite XC treating him for what he is. I don't want to be deceived by another promotional campaign that builds someone like Abbott as a credible threat. I don't want to see a Kimbo v. Paul Buentello fight billed as a battle between "top heavyweights." There's no shame in enjoying Slice for what he is. A talented, unproven fighter that will likely beat a Sean Gannon or Ken Shamrock with relative ease.
Tito Ortiz is as popular as an MMA fighter can get. But a short, one-sided fight is disappointing no matter the background of the competitor. Every once in a while it's ok for a headlining match to be quick (like Liddell v. Jackson). But without those 15 or 25-minute wars, it ends up being meaningless.