Kimbo, Rampage, and Evans Featured in “The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights” Teaser
Posted by Kris Karkoski on Jun 22, 2009 at 7:10 pm ET33 Comments
Tags: kimbo slice, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans
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When I first saw this on TV on saturday I laughed my ass off, but I wasn’t surprised at all that they are going to milk the popularity of Kimbo. Good move by Dana White, a lot of people will be watching.
When the news came out here about kimbo joining Ultimate fighter, I think I am the first one to say about Dana/UFC’s business for marketing Ultimate fighter and cashing $$. It’s not that I hate UFC or something but that’s called business.
Anyway, wtf up with kimbo’s titi!!
Very entertaining Television. Better than see the U.S. argue, sell each other out and get beat by the Britt’s all season long…
wat up only true1
Yeah dude this past season was pathetic.
Dana and the UFC are hella smart dude. They should totally promote kimbo for next seasons TUF. He’s a huge draw for even casual fans so i know the rating will be high.
For me it’s rare that i like a TUF season, but i have a feeling this one will be kool not only because kimbo’s on there, but because my boy rampage and evans are the coaches.
What up playboy!!
Yeah man this should be extremely interesting to say the least.
The personalitys alone stike me as fun..!!
I wonder how it all is gonna boil down when they all start to clash..
Dana get be smiling even in his sleep for this one..
I for 1 hope Kimbo does well buttt IMO Big Country taking it all!!
Cant lie though..,,, that comercial is great advertisment..
I think they are going to string Kimbo along as long as they can to keep the build up going…
Even though they don’t need it cause you got Crazy Rampage and Public enemy #1 of the mma world Rashad beef’n already sooo this show should be as good as any tuff show. Welllll I take that back cause tuff 1 was off the chain with Randy and Liddel coaching that was the best so far…
Considering the ratings EliteXC got with kimbo, and having Rampage and rashad as coaches this could easily be this biggest season as far as ratings go. Plus if Kimbo some how makes it to the end we will see the highest ratings for a finale ever. Im not counting on it thow.
I can’t wait for the next season! Dana is a genius! I think Kimbo will actually advance kinda far…hopefully he can become an all around fighter…that would be sick!
im predicting that wateva team his on the other team will pick him to fight immediatly(ex. if hes on rashads team 1st pick rampage makes is kimbo vs whoever.) so we shouldnt hafta wait long to see how hell fair
is roger huerta ever going to fight again
does anybody else rembember when jason dent was first in the ufc, he went against roger huerta and gleason tebeu or what ever his name is.lost a decesion to both.
That’s right!
What is up with huerta???
I thought i heard something about him and acting??
If so, that foo is a chump!
I remember he was all talking about La Raza…and how the UFC needs to go to Mexico…he had me all pumped and all of a sudden he wants to be an actor! That foo is a chavala!!!
Hopefully I am wrong, and he comes back to fight!
As it relates to Roger Huerta, a lot of sources had it that he was taking time off to pursue acting in either TV or movies, so I’m guessing for the foreseeable future that the former Sports Illustrated cover boy will be out of action until we hear differently. I’m hoping if and when he returns his first fight back will be a re-match with Clay Guida.
As it relates to the next season of TUF and some of its participants, it makes me think of why about half the people hate Dana White, and half love him. Also, a lot of folk have an almost love/hate mindset towards him.
Generally I support and appreciate almost everything he’s done for the sport in general and the UFC in particular, but when he brings guys like Brock “Vanilla Gorilla” Lesnar and Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson into the promotion, I pick up this Vince McMahon vibe off of Dana that seriously turns my stomach.
Having guys like that be a part of the UFC almost reduces Dana White to the role of carnival barker, and makes the UFC no better than the three ring circus that Japanese promoters put on with 400 pounder ex-footballers and 7 foot Asians going no holds barred in a boxing ring.
I can almost imagine White standing in front of a big top circus tent waving in the rubes and asking them to watch a venerable icon of the sport like Randy Couture get into the cage with a freak of nature like Lesnar, or in December asking us to tune in to see some sort of man-tastic reality show version of My Fair Lady, where the UFC takes some guy from the bum fight videos and tries to make him a proper mixed martial artist.
I mean whats next? Bringing in a 500 pound sumo and seeing if the TUF house can “Biggest Loser” him down to welterweight??
In the short term it might make for entertaining TV, but in the long-term it doesn’t do much good for the sport.
Apologies for what seems like fighter-bashing, but its really hard for me to catagorize Lesnar and Kimbo as fighters, regardless of their popularity and success. I think of them more like carnival attractions than as mixed martial artists.
I realize that it’s all about the cash, the publicity, the ratings, and the PPV buy rates, but I was really hoping that maybe the UFC had moved past the Ringling Brothers/WrestleMania stage of fight promotion.
I guess they still sadly have a ways to go…
Huerta announced that he was going to fight out his last fight on his UFC contract, then try to do his modeling/acting thing, then see where he ends up fighting after that. The UFC haven’t given him that last fight yet.
On Kimbo:
I don’t get what your deal is calling Dana a circus barker for having Kimbo on TUF. When ProElite was paying Kimbo half a million dollars to fight and giving can opponents Dana kept getting asked about Kimbo, and has continued to get asked about Kimbo since EliteXC ceased to exist. All along Dana has said (for at least half a year now), “If Kimbo wants to fight in the UFC, I’ll do a heavyweight season of The Ultimate Fighter, and he’ll have to fight his way in.” Kimbo took him up on it, so Dana followed through on what he said. Where is the harm in that? If Kimbo loses in the first round, we don’t have to hear from him in the UFC anymore, if he wins the show, well maybe he’s a legitimate fighter. It’s not the UFC trying to groom him into one, Kimbo has to do that on his own.
On Brock:
Ok… soo, he’s a really big guy, and used to be in WWE. But before that he was an NCAA D1 champion wrestler, and now has been training MMA for over three years. People like to argue that he got a title shot too early, well maybe so, but he won the fight, he’s the champ now, and if he beats Mir in July, you will have to get used to that. People criticize him for his loss to Mir, which only happened because the Maz saved Mir from a TKO loss with the no warning stoppage and point deduction for strikes to the back of the head. If (big if) the guy empties out the heavyweight division in the UFC the way that A. Silva has at middleweight, you’re probably still going to call him a freak show. Since you did say its hard for you to categorize him as a fighter, regardless of his success. And if that’s the case it would certainly be hard not to qualify that as bashing.
Justin, I wish I could believe that welcoming with open arms guys like Lesnar and Kimbo was a good thing for the sport, but I just don’t. I’m fine with people who are entertained by some bum fight champ or former pro wrestler getting a crack at the big time, but for me MMA is at a critical point between its NHB/toughman contest past and it’s future as the world’s biggest and greatest sport.
That being the case, I really fear that the success and popularity and main event fast-tracking of non-standard competitors like Lesnar and Kimbo for the sake of TV ratings and increased PPV buy rates will trigger an eventual backslide into the dark days of semi-regulation, weight class-less “super-fights”, mainstream disinterest or indifference, and the spread of the freak show mentality when it comes to talent.
I know I hold a minority opinion in this area. I really really hope that I’m wrong, and that the majority of you are right, and that a guy like Kimbo appearing on an MMA stage as mainstream as TUF or an obscenely fast-tracked pro wrestler HW champ with 4 MMA fights to his record is good for the continued growth and well-being of the sport.
I’ll be glad to admit I was wrong with a smile on my face as soon as it becomes clear that the rising sideshow mindset pays some long-term benefits for MMA…
Call me crazy, but I don’t get the negativity towards Kimbo being on TUF. I doubt he will be worse than “JT Money” that got kicked out of the UFC TWICE, or War “Jon Koppenhaver” Machine, or Rob Browning. For crying out loud, Chris Leben and Josh Koshcheck made total fools of themselves on TUF 1 even though they were legit professional fighters at that time. It’s TUF, not the UFC, he’s trying to get into the UFC. If you want to down on Kimbo or ProElite for the debacle that was his presence in EliteXC, fine, I get it. Kimbo should never have been a main eventer at EliteXC events (even though he and Carano carried their CBS shows), but to whine and complain because he’s on TUF just like any other up and comer is ridiculous. The guy at least has a professional MMA record, unlike Corey Hill and Amir Sodallah, going into the show.
Just because you may not like Kimbo as a person, and you may not like that he is more popular with drive by fans (less knowledgeable than casual fans) than “real” fighters, and just because ProElite tried to make him out to be better than he was/is doesn’t mean that there is anything at all wrong with him going through TUF. TUF has shown to be a good proving ground for up and coming fighters (though the talent level has arguably fallen off over time) and will act as just that for Kimbo. If he wins the show, props to him for proving everyone wrong. If he loses in the first round, which may very well happen, then he’s done with the UFC and saunters off into obscurity… or maybe “the city of Japan”. Let TUF do it’s job.
In addition, I go back to the fact that Dana said all along that Kimbo could come on TUF if he wanted, well apparently he wanted and Dana has honored his word. Don’t crap on Dana and the UFC for following through on what he said they would do. You’d be much better served to go crap on Cro Cop for NOT following through on what he said (typical politician) than crapping on someone who actually did what they said they would do.
Huerta is supposedly filming for a TEKKEN movie, according to Wikipedia. AS for Brock and Kimbo Ive got nuthin cause you summed it all up bud. Good stuff.
The problem is if Kimbo loses Dana still wins big. If your against back yard brawling, don’t put Kimbo on the show at all. Can anyone spell FEDOR. As far as Lesnar goes, the guy is for real. If anyone doubts it ask Couture what his thoughts are. Enough said.
Ummm…I doubt Fedor would sign up to fight unpaid on TUF since he won’t sign up to fight in the UFC. Nice straw man.
Looks like the UFC is using old Proelite tactics . Why was no other fighter (besides the chest) on that clip? Because they are milking the Kimbo cow . Maybe if we didnt put so much preasure on the guy to be great then he may be able to focus on the fights first . He took such a beating from the UFC before about his credibility and now they want him to make them cake . At any rate , I hope he does his **** and wins .
Dana is the Vince McMahon of MMA !!
Is Dana gonna offer ’stand up’ bonuses to the guys in the house of TUF.
well if dana is planning on making huge money due to the veiwers that kimbo will draw, then he had better raise salaries… that is all
I doubt very much if there will be any “stand up” bonuses handed out with the amount of media this TUF is going to attract, it’s gonna be under a microscope for just that sort of activity and I assure you, Dana does not ever want to be compared to the Shaw debacle so I’m sure there will be no “underhanded” offers on this Ultimate Fighter. I would really like to see what kind of heart and dedication Kimbo really has, with him on TUF we can have a look at his commitment and judge for ourselves on whether Kimbo is an MMA fighter or a brawler that belongs only in his back yard. But we’re each of us entitled to our own opinion when it comes to ****e like this. That’s the beauty of Free Speech in the civilized countries of the world, Anything is possible with the proper motivation! I hope Kimbo destroys everyone, lol good luck Kimbo.
Dana hasnt just said “i’ll let him fight onto the show.” This article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3427527
and numerous others Dana has this to say:
“DW: We put on fights between the best fighters; we don’t put on freak shows. Even in the dark days, when we were bleeding money, we could have gone out and found a freak show. I could be on CBS right now, but I’m not going to make a crappy deal. We’re in this thing for all the right reasons. Now people are out there trying to cash in. The reality is, everything about that show sucked, but they created some brand confusion…”
Constantly calling Kimbo a freakshow, saying that UFC would never go Freakshow
Another:
” I gotta tell you, I was very, very disappointed in ESPN this past weekend. A 15-minute feature on SportsCenter about Kimbo Slice? That is embarrassing. It’s so bad I can’t even tell you. Then that show goes off. That guy he fought is a joke, and he went three rounds with Kimbo in a fight that shouldn’t have been stopped. When the major media outlets would rather follow freak shows instead of real athletes, it’s embarrassing.”
That is why Dana is going from the greatest mind of MMA Promotion towards Vince McMahon UFC is WAARRRRRRR!
Dana said (and this a paraphrase) that the only way Kimbo would ever be in the UFC is if he fought his way in through TUF. Now he’s going to try.
He wasn’t calling Kimbo’s foray into MMA a freak show, he was calling the hype that the Shaws built up the freak show. He was unproven and his skills (even with Bas’s teaching) were subpar, and because of EXC’s hype he was portrayed as the best in MMA. That was the freak show.
You’re probably going to bag on me for using this example, but it is appropriate. If Kimbo had gone the Lashley route, starting in small, regional shows, actually working on his record and improving, we wouldn’t be having this discussion. We are only having it because an unscrupulous promoter decided to make him out as a god when he was really a dog.
He’s been out of action and possibly training for nearly a year now. He wants a chance to show that he’s improved as a fighter and he’s willing to do it unpaid. Why rag on that?
It costs Dana nothing to fill that spot with him. Sure, it could blow up big for Dana. It could also show Kimbo as the nobody that Dana referred to him as. Ultimately, though, it’s no different than putting Roy Nelson on the show.
If I’m the opposing coach, I throw Roy Nelson at him first. See how good his chin is, how good his ground game is, how good his conditioning is. Worst case, one of the “freak shows” wins.
i get what your saying…and i think Roy Nelson is going to walk thru everyone on the next TUF, but i also dont understand how he calls it a Freak Show when shaw puts it on CBS, yet its not a Freak Show when he puts it on TUF…?
Just because it was big and in the spotlight on CBS vs. Spike TV, that makes it a Freak Show?
I dont think Kimbo will do well…Bas even said that he is difficult to coach because after a certain point he thinks he knows everything and stops listening. I hope he does well because as a person i think he has a lot of character, and he has a Rampage-like sense of humor which i also like. I just dont like it when Dana talks smack about Kimbo…his promoters for putting him on cards, etc…then signing him for a season of TUF and featuring him on a commercial.
Yes, the freakshow was the show. that is the point. ESPN bought into some Youtube hype and gave the guy 15 minutes without even really trying to give someone like GSP or Liddell, or Couture equal time. The difference is, the three in the UFC were real, established fighters who had done something.
So how is putting Kimbo on the show not hypocrisy? Because that show is basically the bottom of the barrel in the UFC. It’s where (theoretically) guys go to try and make some noise, not to toot their own horns and act like they are already a big thing.
I realize some of that is standard fighter bravado (see some of Kimbo’s early statements, before the shaws bet the farm on him), but it can be taken to extremes, which is where the freakshow aspect begins, at least for me.
I considered the Brock situation bordering on freakshow. The difference between him and Kimbo (for me) was the choice of opponents. Tank Abbott or Frank Mir? Which is more of a test? James Thompson or Heath Herring? Shamrock/Petruzelli or Randy Couture? The difference is evident. Brock was legitmate, although green. Kimbo was sheltered to hide the fact that he was a disaster waiting to happen.
I give Kimbo a ton of credit for humbling himself and coming to fight for free when he is coming from 500k paydays. Do I think he’ll win the show? Dear god, no. Do I think there is no downside for him, coming onto it? Yup. After all, the last time we saw him fight, he was dismantled by a backpedaling jab from a pink-haired light heavyweight. One or two strong wins/performances, he may even land himself somewhere he can continue to fight.
As far as featuring him in the commercial goes…Yeah, that is a little over the top, except that he does need to grow the show. It’s a flash point that may get new people to watch. Then hopefully the real fighters will keep them watching. After all, if you tune in FOR Kimbo and someone beats him…think you might want to see how THAT guy does?
I think Dana may be banking on that.
I would add that in spite of my misgivings, I agree that this is an excellent opportunity for Kimbo to prove himself serious about MMA. Whether he’s earned that opportunity is debateable, but whats done is done.
Regardless of who Kimbo draws in his first TUF fight, he’s going to have his wind and his ground game tested, unless his opponent is an absolute dumb-ass. If anyone opts to stand with this one-dimensional guy and throw strikes, they deserve to get knocked out on national TV.
Imagine if Kimbo has used the time between when he got embarrassed on TV until he shows up at the TUF house to work on his cardio and takedown defense, and learn a little bit about the sport he’s trying to make a living in?
I realize that there isn’t enough time to school Kimbo in something intricate like BJJ, but there is enough time if he’s motivated to pick up a bit of shoot-wrestling style stuffs, body positioning, and leg movements to avoid being taken to the ground and submitted too quickly or easily.
Also if his reported attitude changes and he starts listening to and learning from Bas Rutten, he might make it past the opening round of TUF fights.
I have noticed when I cull together all of the links on this subject graciously provided by others that Dana White almost on the surface is sending a mixed message regarding Kimbo Slice. Sometimes he’s bad-mouthing him, and other times he’s helping him out with a spot on TUF, although most likely he envisions helping the UFC out by cashing in on Kimbo’s marginal popularity. Interesting and conflicting stuff.
In closing I’d add that this is also a good opportunity for some MMA unknown to make a name for himself by seriously injuring Kimbo, particularly on the ground in a leglock or armbar. As previously stated I don’t think Kimbo belongs in the UFC, dissenting opinions not withstanding, but I never want to see any fighter hurt intentionally so another fighter can gain some notoriety.
I hope the ref and the UFC staff take that into account while these guys are training and fighting.
Please don’t misunderstand, neither I nor dbiz is lobbying for Kimbo “belonging in the UFC”, in face I’m pretty sure that he and I both think that he doesn’t and that that will be proved when he loses on TUF. The biggest distinction I’m trying to make, and it seems to be getting lost in translation somewhere, is there is a huge difference between “in the UFC” and “on TUF”. That difference is almost as big as the difference between headlining EliteXC on CBS making 500k, and being on TUF.
in fact* not “in face”
but Freak Show of EliteXC is the same as Freak Show of TUF in this case. I agree that “on TUF” is different than “in the UFC” but at the same time….Junie Browning, his stupid little brother, JT Money, Kimbo, etc.
i think EliteXC was stupid for paying kimbo big $$$ to headline against losers, and i think Kimbo was not stupid for taking that kind of $$$. I think Dana/TUF is stupid for putting Junie, his lil bro, JT Money, etc. on TUF and then paying Junie to compete in UFC when he lost on the show. How can you call Kimbo/EliteXC freakshow and not call TUF seasons of late a freakshow? it cant be just because they pay the fighters more…
HAHAAHAHa Kevin Ferguson HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA nice stuff and the meanmug by Rashad is hilarious as well, thx for the comic relief been a helll of a day…
It is interesting how when selling out the intergrity of MMA and the UFC people are really only concerned with the MONEY being made but UFC and co. Interesting. Sorry but $$ dosn’t add any integrity to this move.
It’s a blatant money grab by the UFC that will not really increase the sports popularity as people familiar with Kinbo are already familiar with MMA.
This is a stain on the sport.. hopefully he just gets his ass kicked.