Kimbo Slice is considered a modern day icon. The bearded warrior came to fame when videos of prize fights held in backyards and shipping yards surfaced on the internet. Having attained the status of internet celebrity, he was hired at a premium to fight at EliteXC, and has since made three professional MMA appearances, all victorious. Tomorrow, Kevin Ferguson, Kimbo’s given name, will be bearing the responsibility of heading yet another EliteXC event to be broadcast on network television across the United States. Solid audience numbers are fundamental for popularizing the sport in the Land of Uncle Sam.
GRACIEMAG.com Nalty Jr. had an exclusive chat with Kimbo, who was going through his final preparations for his bout with Ken Shamrock. Check it out:
What do you find most difficult, fighting on the street or in the octagon?
It’s definitely a lot tougher to fight in the octagon, since you have to be really well prepared, technically and physically. The octagon is way harder.
When did you start street fighting?
I started a long time ago, when I was 13. I’ve fought practically my whole life.
Where are you from?
The Bahamas. I grew up in Miami, Florida.
And how are your preparations for the upcoming event going?
I’m still learning a lot. I train a lot to become a well-rounded fighter. I know I have a long road ahead. I know a lot of stuff on the ground, I practice muay thai, Jiu-Jitsu and boxing. I try to do my best, I give it my all, I train hard, and I mean to always be ready to fight.
And have you been doing any specific training to face Shamrock?
I trained a lot of ground fighting, muay thai, lots of elbows, knees, lots of techniques to knock him out. That will be my objective in this fight, but I’ll also be prepared for anything that might happen.
What are your thoughts on the event’s card?
This card is really good. One of the best of all times, there are excellent fighters, Gina Carano, Jake Shields. Truth is we have great fighters at EliteXC, and live, on CBS for the whole USA, it’ll be great.
What do you think of the partnership between Affliction and EliteXC?
We’re going to grow a lot, and that will be awesome, really good for the sport.
Do you think a fight with Fedor Emelianenko might end up happening as a result of this partnership?
Man, I have great respect for Fedor. I’ve been keeping up with his fighting for a long time. Fedor is the best right now, I love watching him fight.
Would you be prepared to face Fedor?
First I hope I can beat Ken, I’m focused on that. I have a long road ahead, and I need to train a lot to be able to fight such a talented and skillful fighter as Fedor. But a fight is a fight and anything can happen. Know what I’m saying? What I know is I’m ready to fight anybody.
You’ve been fighting a long time and watched MMA grow. What are your thoughts on that?
MMA is one of the sports that is growing most in the world. It grows more and more, day after day. In four years it might make it to being an Olympic sport. There are great fighters like Fedor, for example, to model ourselves on. But we must also thank the Gracie family for having created this marvelous sport, and these days we can fight in great events and become professional MMA fighters.
What are your plans for the future?
To keep doing what I love and have done my whole life, fight and fight. It’s what I love, it’s what captured my heard. It’s what I do for a living!
