In the history of the Ultimate Fighter, no single man has brought with him a degree of infamy, nor a previously existing fan base anywhere near the level of Kimbo Slice.
A polarizing figure, the budding mixed martial artist with a fearsome reputation (and beard to match), has been almost solely responsible for the highest ratings to ever grace the Spike TV produced reality show. Yet, in a short order, Kimbo has proven to the world that not only is he a very green fighter, but that he has virtually no ground game to boot. If this is truly the case, why then is he continually being marketed, and is he really worth watching from a competitive standpoint?
The answers to those questions are actually quite simple. Firstly, it's business, and secondly, no he isn't.
When it comes to watching TUF, there have been relatively few surprises over the years. On a weekly basis, we are given a peek into the daily lives of the contestants present on the show, for better or for worse. From episode to episode, we learn about the life and times of these competitors from whatever angle Spike has managed to capture, piece together, and decide makes for the most interesting story line.
Regardless of how they are portrayed, fighters generally get their fair share of camera time. Their 15 minutes are almost assured, except in certain cases where the contestants are virtually devoid of personality. Welcome to the selective nature of reality TV. However, there are some notable exceptions to the rule. Occasionally, a wrench is thrown into the works, as was the case with the young and troubled Junie Allen Browning of Season 8. Still, these brief periods of extended focus, guaranteeing an extra measure of time on air, are usually a passing phase. This was, in short, how it always worked.
And then there was Kevin Ferguson. Kevin who, you may ask? Why, that's the real name of the man they call "Kimbo Slice" -- infamous street fighter, philosopher, family man, and now mixed martial artist.
From the very onset of the season, we, the viewers, have been bombarded by everything Kimbo. We are literally four episodes deep into the season, and yet, we've barely been given a glimpse of the other fifteen fighters on the cast. While the fourth episode took a determined step back, we were taunted with the possibility that despite losing a fight, Kimbo might eventually come back into the game. This sure as heck wasn't based on any semblance of fighting ability. Frankly, the only reason Kimbo would be invited back is because he enigmatically attracts millions of viewers to their TV sets. Viewership is key, and that's the network's bottom line.
In his first and hopefully only fight of the season, Kimbo was beaten handily by Roy (Big Country) Nelson. An easy series of takedowns followed by some weak (yet undefended) ground and pound was exactly what the doctor ordered. This allowed for Big Country to take the easy, and more importantly, uninjured path into the next round of the mini-tournament. Despite Dana's "unimpressed with Nelson's performance" stance, Nelson did precisely what he wanted, and he did it without taking any effectual or lasting damage.
What this proved once again, and what the majority of people need to realize, is that Kimbo may be a much nicer fellow than he appears; he may even be more eager to learn than most. The problem is that he's 35 years old, has decent striking at best, and has no semblance of a developed ground game. He is not a young buck, a Tyson of MMA, or a legitimate threat to anyone in the upper echelon of the heavyweight division. To be honest, he has little hope of ever becoming more than the infamous street fighter with a greasy beard (unless, of course, he shaves).
It's time, as they say, for the show to go on.
Riding this newfound lack of Kimbo, Team Rashad fighter Brendan Schaub pulled off a slick anaconda choke on Demico Rogers that will hopefully be a sign of things to come on a season that so desperately requires excitement. With the win comes a renewed sense of hope, a renewed sense of direction, and with a little luck, a whole lot less Kimbo.
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