Is kimbo slice the most influential figure in combat sport through the "internet era"?

trident said:
McNugget clearly is.

Kimbo missed his moment, should have gone into pro wrestling since he was mostly image driven. Sure he was knocking bums out at backyard bbc s but he couldn't compete at pro fighting levels.

Def loved by fans and a stand up dude by most accounts. RIP
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He's still responsible for 2 of the top 5 most watched MMA events aired in America.


1. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson— 7.281 million viewers (Aired from 11:27 PM to 11:40 PM)

2. UFC on Spike TV (10/10/2006): Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock— 6.524 million viewers (Aired from 9:42 PM to 9:45 PM)

3. EliteXC on CBS (10/4/08): Seth Petruzelli vs. Kimbo Slice— 6.451 million viewers (Aired from 11:08 PM to 11:08 PM)

4. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith— 5.867 million viewers (Aired from 10.39 PM to 10:57 PM)

5. UFC on Spike TV (9/8/2007): Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson— 5.811 million viewers (Aired from 11:29 PM to 12:03 AM)
 
dissectingaorticaneurysm said:
He's still responsible for 2 of the top 5 most watched MMA events aired in America.


1. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson— 7.281 million viewers (Aired from 11:27 PM to 11:40 PM)

2. UFC on Spike TV (10/10/2006): Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock— 6.524 million viewers (Aired from 9:42 PM to 9:45 PM)

3. EliteXC on CBS (10/4/08): Seth Petruzelli vs. Kimbo Slice— 6.451 million viewers (Aired from 11:08 PM to 11:08 PM)

4. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith— 5.867 million viewers (Aired from 10.39 PM to 10:57 PM)

5. UFC on Spike TV (9/8/2007): Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson— 5.811 million viewers (Aired from 11:29 PM to 12:03 AM)
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My point exactly: what numbers would he have pulled as a pro wrestler? At least he could have sustained a career doing that. He was "exposed" repeatedly in his MMA career. He just didnt have it. But that is because he was in the wrong format. His numbers are "image driven" not talent. All those numbers tell you is there was an audience for the man but he chose the profession he wasnt good at. Had he jumped into the scripted testosterone fueled neon combat of McMahon, he would have excelled.
 
Obviously the answer is yes.

For me and a lot of people he was a main gateway into MMA. Watching Kimbo vids in middle school was essential. Not sure why Sherdog tries to downplay this, Kimbo touched a demographic a lot of those guys couldn't.
 
I'm still tryin' to get the hang of this whole interwebs thing...
 


if it wasn't for kimbo we wouldn't get hillarious fights like this. honestly the guy was 10x more entertaining than jon jones or colby covington could dream of being even though they have all the skills
 
No but his impact is often minimized by MMA fans.

He one of the greatest draws in the sport's history.
 
dissectingaorticaneurysm said:
He's still responsible for 2 of the top 5 most watched MMA events aired in America.


1. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson— 7.281 million viewers (Aired from 11:27 PM to 11:40 PM)

2. UFC on Spike TV (10/10/2006): Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock— 6.524 million viewers (Aired from 9:42 PM to 9:45 PM)

3. EliteXC on CBS (10/4/08): Seth Petruzelli vs. Kimbo Slice— 6.451 million viewers (Aired from 11:08 PM to 11:08 PM)

4. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith— 5.867 million viewers (Aired from 10.39 PM to 10:57 PM)

5. UFC on Spike TV (9/8/2007): Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson— 5.811 million viewers (Aired from 11:29 PM to 12:03 AM)
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As a side note - notice, kids, the dates on those fights?

That's why people who have been following the sport for a while refer to the golden era as being long ago.
 
this is my new account said:
No. He had his moment but not 1 person thought he was actually world class elite? Just a street thug that KO'D Other non professionals
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He obviously wasn't world class, but he was more than "just a street thug" (translation=black guy who scares you). Even Dana said he had great work ethic when they gave him a chance on the ultimate fighter. He opened doors for himself, and then made the most of those opportunities; that deserves some respect.

and remember: Kimbo>Houston>Keith>Chuck>Overeem>Verdum>Fedor&Cain
 
There's definitely an argument to be made IMO... I was watching Kimbo Slice and Sean Gannon videos long before I was watching MMA (or even knew what it was)... for whatever that's worth. Maybe the excitement of seeing those guys slug it out in backyards conditioned me to enjoy MMA later on. RIP KIMBO
 
dissectingaorticaneurysm said:
He's still responsible for 2 of the top 5 most watched MMA events aired in America.


1. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson— 7.281 million viewers (Aired from 11:27 PM to 11:40 PM)

2. UFC on Spike TV (10/10/2006): Tito Ortiz vs. Ken Shamrock— 6.524 million viewers (Aired from 9:42 PM to 9:45 PM)

3. EliteXC on CBS (10/4/08): Seth Petruzelli vs. Kimbo Slice— 6.451 million viewers (Aired from 11:08 PM to 11:08 PM)

4. EliteXC on CBS (5/31/2008): Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith— 5.867 million viewers (Aired from 10.39 PM to 10:57 PM)

5. UFC on Spike TV (9/8/2007): Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson— 5.811 million viewers (Aired from 11:29 PM to 12:03 AM)
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Elitexc be crushing McNuggets
 
I don’t know if he’s the most ever, but he certainly had millions tuning in that probably had never watched an mma fight in their life.

I remember around the time of Anderson and Rampage peaking, people all dropped what they were doing to watch Kimbo vs Tank/Thompson/Seth. Put respect on that name
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RustyShacleford said:
He obviously wasn't world class, but he was more than "just a street thug" (translation=black guy who scares you). Even Dana said he had great work ethic when they gave him a chance on the ultimate fighter. He opened doors for himself, and then made the most of those opportunities; that deserves some respect.

and remember: Kimbo>Houston>Keith>Chuck>Overeem>Verdum>Fedor&Cain
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Yeah he was a success story, IIRC he actually got into uni on an academic scholarship at one point. Was really just using fighting to improve his family's life. Was also cool to see that 15 years after UFC 1 there were still bangers out there with no formal training or experience who could compete with 'legit' fighters.
CTE_Fan said:


if it wasn't for kimbo we wouldn't get hillarious fights like this. honestly the guy was 10x more entertaining than jon jones or colby covington could dream of being even though they have all the skills
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The good ol days! Guys would take a moment before their pron browsing to watch the latest Kimbo fight. Adrian with the windmill arm punching charge.

Jorge Masvidal banged some big guy up with crisp striking in another in the series. Big guy had dropped first opponent with one punch just a minute before as a warmup. Starts one minute in
 
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He has the record for most watched for free TV. That's influential. I don't know if it is the most, but he's up there. CBS wanted to be in the Kimbo business and not so much the UFC business. That said plenty.
 
Xaero said:
I remembered when my non UFC trained friends think that Kimbo could beat a Prime Chuck with that look in his eyes.

People quickly forgot about Kimbo when he lost to that last minute replacement LHW fighter, Seth Mozarella, or something.
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He was also promised money if he did not take the fight to the ground.
 
SuperNerd said:
No but his impact is often minimized by MMA fans.

He one of the greatest draws in the sport's history.
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That says a lot about the fans and what kind of fights they really prefers..
 
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