The upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter is easily the show’s most anticipated. The main reason is simple: Kimbo Slice. Slice is the polarizing figure that garnered mass attention just two years ago. First, he rocketed up Youtube’s most popular list for his Internet street fights. Then, he embarked on a main event run with the ill-fated EliteXC.
Now, Slice goes from CBS main event performer to “wanna-be” fighter on UFC’s reality show. The question is has Slice’s MMA game developed enough to be a UFC caliber fighter? Judging from his last appearance in the cage, Slice has a lot of work to do in order to prove he belongs. He has taken the first step though, and that is his surprising participation in UFC’s training camp.
There are two major reasons that make his appearance on TUF so unexpected. The first is that he has already been featured in MMA main events on national television, and the second is the public comments made by UFC President Dana White.
During Slice’s run with EliteXC, White repeatedly challenged the credibility of Slice. In 2008, while Slice’s popularity was its peak, White was asked about Slice’s chances if he was to compete in the UFC.
“He would get hurt bad – real bad,” White said in February 2008 at the UFC 81 post-fight press conference.
But one thing White also stated was the only way Slice would ever get a chance to fight in the UFC would be to make his way through the Ultimate Fighter house. To the surprise of many MMA fans and White himself, Slice accepted the opportunity.
“I respect Kimbo,” said White. “He took me up on the offer and came in. He took me up on the challenge.”
However, Slice is not the typical entrant on TUF. He already has an established following, and he has earned more money in MMA than all of the show’s prior entrants. Due to his large appeal, the UFC has given Slice some special considerations.
“He has a contract if he wins this season,” White said, when asked about the money Slice will earn, “and it’s bigger than everybody else’s.”
As for Slice’s earnings for actually participating in TUF, White stated he is in the same boat with everyone else.
“They do get paid on the Ultimate Fighter, but it’s just a reality show stipend,” said White.
Now that he has agreed to do the high-profile show, Slice has to have some success in order to give his MMA career some credibility. His standing as a fighter was destroyed when he fell to the mat in just 14 seconds from a Seth Petruzelli jab.
As a former participant on the second season of TUF, Petruzelli has some interesting views on how Slice will fare in the Ultimate Fighter house.
“I think he’s going to go crazy on the show,” Petruzelli said. “I can’t seem him staying in the house and doing what we did like that.”
More than just fighting on the show, Slice could have some additional problems to deal with due to the reputation he brings with him. The former street fighter can be very flashy even though he has not yet backed it up in the cage.
“I don’t think the guys are going to like him either on the show because of who he is and the aura he portrays,” Petruzelli said.
Just appearing on the program will not be an instant ticket to success for Slice. He has to win at least one fight and show that he is fully willing to “pay his dues” in the sport. The two coaches that will judge Slice’s dedication during this season are Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans.
Two seasons ago, like Slice, the coaches were heavyweights. Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira were the UFC stars training the fighters. The former UFC interim heavyweight champion, Nogueira, is not completely convinced that Slice will have a great deal of success.
“His ground game is not there yet,” Nogueira said. “He does have good hands. For UFC level, let’s see how he’s going to do.”
In order to get to the UFC, Slice first has to survive training and living in the Ultimate Fighter house. One of last season’s coaches, Dan Henderson, admits that he has heard good things about Slice.
“It will be interesting to see if he actually takes the training seriously and tries to learn,” Henderson said, “which from what I’m hearing he is trying to do.”
Should Slice have been on last season’s show, Henderson would not have had any issues coaching someone with such a large persona.
“Yes, I think anybody can coach him,” Henderson said. “It’s not up to the coach. It’s up to the individual.”
With his quick loss to Petruzelli on the final EliteXC show, Slice was exposed as not being a main-event level fighter – even though EliteXC pushed him in that role. With his current opportunity to make the UFC, he has to build himself back up.
“He hasn’t become an MMA fighter yet,” Henderson said. “He’s not there. He’s been thrust into that limelight without the skills.”
Now that the new season of the show is about to debut, all eyes will once again be on Kimbo Slice. Due to the ratings bonanza that will accompany his first actual UFC octagon appearance, Slice is getting what many fighters in the sport have not – a second chance. Plus, Slice will have the advantage of not having to win the Ultimate Fighter tournament to make it to the UFC. He only has to demonstrate he can be somewhat competitive with a lower-level UFC fighter.
The big problem is – Seth Petruzelli was a lower-level UFC fighter. Therefore, if Slice wants to be successful on MMA’s biggest stage, he will have to prove that he can do a lot more than just be competitive.