New MMA superstar Kimbo Slice is back in action this Saturday fighting on CBS at 9 PM ET against James Thompson in a three-round Elite XC bout in the UK with the MMA odds heavily in Slice's favor. The former bare knuckled street fighter Kevin Ferguson aka. “Kimbo Slice” has gotten off to a promising start to his MMA career with three convincing stoppage wins over C-level MMA fighters. At 6'2" 235 Lbs. with a bodybuilder physique, gold teeth and a take no prisoners fighting style, Kimbo has become the hottest fighter on the planet. The MMA odds on the Kimbo Slice vs James Thompson fight are Kimbo -600 at sportsbook Bodoglife.com.
Slice has the well-reputed MMA legend Bas Rutten in his corner guiding his training, but with less than 3 years of formal MMA training, Slice has his detractors. UFC weasel president Dana White had this to say about Ferguson: “…who gives a crap about Kimbo Slice? This guy can’t fight MMA. You know what would happen if he fought in the UFC? I’d put him in against (lightweight champion) BJ Penn and Slice would get annihilated… I am telling you, BJ Penn would beat him.”
Despite Kimbo having all of the ideal physical measurables of size, power, speed and explosiveness that trainers crave, the criticism didn’t stop with Dana White with former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia having this to say: “I just don't agree with (him being in) the main event," Sylvia said. "Don't get me wrong, Kimbo is a hell of an athlete — big, strong, tough guy. And I believe he's doing the right things to become a better person. I just didn't like how he became famous on the Internet. It gives the wrong impression to kids nowadays. They see Kimbo made this big impact by fighting on the Internet and fighting guys on the street. I feel you're going to have kids fighting on the street and making all these videos and putting them on YouTube hoping they can get the same break that Kimbo did."
Even with all the criticism Kimbo Slice is laughing all the way to the bank. With an estimated 3 to 4 million viewers expected to tune in Saturday Kimbo Slice should become a very wealthy man very rapidly. By defeating the best MMA fighter to date in the 6'5" 265 Lb. James Thompson (14-8), Kimbo has the opportunity to silence his naysayers with a concussive thud. Thompson is nowhere near a UFC level fighter but the UK pug is a big boy coming to rumble in front of his local supporters. Thompson has lost 3 of his last 4 bouts all by strikes in the first round showing a vulnerable chin, but his own striking power is formidable.
The ultimate goal for the Gary Shaw promoted Kimbo Slice is an eventual showdown with Mike Tyson. Kimbo Slice vs Mike Tyson would be a fight for the ages if it ever happened despite Tyson’s decline. Anything more than a 2 minute OVER\UNDER in a Kimbo Slice vs Mike Tyson bout would be a stretch with the two pitbulls guaranteed to swing for the fences from the opening bell.
Bodoglife.com’s MMA odds for Saturday’s Elite XC card on CBS:
Kimbo Slice (-600) vs. James Thompson (+400)
Robbie Lawler (-260) vs. Scott Smith (+200)
Gina Carano (-350) vs. Kaitlin Young (+225)
Phil Baroni (-115) vs. Joey Vilasenor (-115)
Brett Rogers (-280) vs. Jon Murphy (+220)
Carlton Haselrig (-210) vs. Carlos Moreno (+170)
