Joe Rogan is convinced that Kimbo Slice, the iconic street fighter who tragically passed away, would have been incredibly successful in bareknuckle boxing.
Kevin Ferguson, known to the world as Kimbo Slice, rose to fame through viral videos of his backyard brawls in Dade County. Few could have predicted his transition to the UFC in 2009.
Despite boxing legend Mike Tyson`s advice against turning professional, Slice transitioned from backyard fights to MMA training in 2005. He made his professional MMA debut in 2007, defeating former heavyweight boxing champion Ray Mercer.
Kimbo won his debut MMA fight with a guillotine choke and continued to win three of his next four fights before joining season 10 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ Despite a loss to Roy Nelson, Slice was signed to the UFC.
At 35, Kimbo Slice entered the UFC with limited MMA experience. His UFC career was brief, ending in 2010 with a 1-1 record.
Joe Rogan Highlights Kimbo Slice`s Bareknuckle Potential
UFC commentator Joe Rogan praised Slice`s aggressive striking and speculated about his potential in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Rogan believes Slice`s stand-up fighting style would have made him a star in bareknuckle boxing.
“If he was just fighting in a stand-up fight, he’s very dangerous,” Rogan stated on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, referring to Kimbo Slice.
“If bareknuckle boxing had been popular back then, he would have become a massive star. He would have really hurt a lot of people in bareknuckle boxing.”
Joe Rogan Praises Kimbo Slice`s Courage in MMA
In MMA, Kimbo Slice demonstrated his finishing ability, winning all of his first four fights in the first round. Even after his UFC stint, he defeated Ken Shamrock in Bellator. His street fights in Miami were known for their brutality.
Bareknuckle boxing experienced a resurgence in 2018 with the creation of BKFC, two years after Kevin Ferguson`s death at 42 due to congestive heart failure.
BKFC fights consist of five two-minute rounds, a format Rogan believes would have suited Slice well.
Despite MMA grappling not being Slice`s strength, Joe Rogan acknowledged Slice`s bravery in entering the Octagon, particularly later in his life.
“Kimbo had previous football injuries,” Rogan explained. “It’s difficult to grapple effectively with knee injuries and learn grappling at 35 or older.”
“But credit to him for having the courage to step into the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter,” Rogan concluded, paying tribute to the late fighter.
