Despite UFC President Dana White’s consistent publicly voiced disdain for EliteXC’s use of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson as a marketable MMA commodity, White did recently offer Slice an opportunity to join the world’s leading MMA promotion.
With Slice out of a job after the recent collapse of EliteXC and parent company ProElite, White was asked about the possibility of bringing the former streetfighter into the UFC at the post-UFC 90 press conference.
“[Slice] can be on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’” White said.
Despite the offer, White’s position on the skills of Slice have apparently not changed.
“What’s [Slice] done other than get 10 million hits on YouTube?,” White asked. “What’s he done to deserve to be in the UFC? Nothing. I don’t consider him a real athlete or anything. He won’t win The Ultimate Fighter. The offer’s out there if he wants to take it, (but) he won’t win it.”
The prospect of Slice appearing on the Spike TV reality show still seems a bit far-fetched.
Little is known of the exact status of the contracts the now-defunct EliteXC held with its fighters. Slice and others may be tied up in court battles for the immediate future. The UFC would also almost certainly not be willing to match Slice’s $500,000 salary for his most recent fight.
But when asked if the UFC would be willing to feature a heavyweight edition of “The Ultimate Fighter” for the first time since the show’s second season, White certainly didn’t rule out the prospect.
What does he have to gain? The fights are only 2 rounds until semis and finals, and he could easily lose his fight to get into the house to some no-name with a 2-0 record. If he actually did win the show, he would be rewarded with a “6-figure contract” which is spread over several fights, and he would make much less money than he could elsewhere. Dana White has everything to gain, as Kimbo would boost hype and ratings for that season.
[quote]chitown34 wrote:
What does he have to gain? The fights are only 2 rounds until semis and finals, and he could easily lose his fight to get into the house to some no-name with a 2-0 record. If he actually did win the show, he would be rewarded with a “6-figure contract” which is spread over several fights, and he would make much less money than he could elsewhere. Dana White has everything to gain, as Kimbo would boost hype and ratings for that season.[/quote]
The thing is though, that I doubt “Dream” or “Affliction” are gonna be offering Kimbo any money to fight either. So, if he ever wants to make any substantial money fighting again, this might be his best shot at it.
Plus if he did actually win the show (which I agree is unlikely) he would have gained some credibility.
[quote]Sentoguy wrote:
The thing is though, that I doubt “Dream” or “Affliction” are gonna be offering Kimbo any money to fight either. So, if he ever wants to make any substantial money fighting again, this might be his best shot at it.
Plus if he did actually win the show (which I agree is unlikely) he would have gained some credibility.[/quote]
I 100% agree… though, I think the chance of him walking out of there a winner is slim to none.
he should definitely make some tshirts and maybe get a supplement line. sell the shit outta them before he has to go back to working out with the milfhunter
[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Some no name promotion will pick him up or he will become a pro wrestler.[/quote]
thats exactly what i think also, & he will make alot more money there. MMA is so far advanced & saturated with lots of well rounded fighters, any one dimensional fighter that tries to make it has no chance.
Kimbo is a “toughman” kind of fighter and once he hits the ground its over & then no one will care about his size & mean looks.