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.

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…

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 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.

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.

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.