Kimbo Slice knocked out UFC legend in 43 seconds to prove he was more than a backyard brawler
01/07/2025 02:01 PM
Kimbo Slice silenced his detractors including UFC CEO Dana White by sleeping one of the UFC’s pioneers.
Kimbo Slice’s path from a backyard brawler in Florida, to appearing on one of fighting’s biggest platforms, is one of MMA’s most remarkable success stories. He attracted the attention of millions of viewers online as a street brawler who earned some wicked finishes in backyard scraps.
After a long career in street fighting, which included the development of eventual UFC stars like Jorge Masvidal, Slice made his professional MMA debut in 2007. He finished Bo Cantrell in just 19 seconds in a stunning finish to his first EliteXC bout.
Following the win over Cantrell, Slice faced a steep upgrade in competition against Tank Abbott at EliteXC: Street Certified in Feb. 2008. Few believed he would perform similarly to his debut against the veteran Abbott, despite the latter being well past his physical prime.
It took mere seconds for Slice to demolish Abbott, sending the crowd into a wild frenzy.
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Kimbo Slice flattened Tank Abbott in under a minute
Slice vs. Abbott was a wild brawl for as long as it lasted. Both heavyweights opted to fight in a phone booth in the center of the cage with both Slice and Abbott sustaining heavy damage.
But Slice got the last laugh against Abbott, who called him out following his pro debut. A crisp jab-straight combination just 43 seconds into the fight sent Abbott collapsing to the canvas face-first.
Slice’s win earned the attention of White and the UFC brass, who invited him as a surprise addition months later on The Ultimate Fighter 10. While he went 0-1 during his time on TUF 10 (TKO loss to Roy Nelson), he was the most discussed personality on the show and helped attract a new audience to the UFC’s brand.
Despite falling short on TUF 10, Slice got his UFC shot on the TUF: Heavyweights Finale in Dec. 2009. He defeated Houston Alexander by unanimous decision before losing to fellow TUF 10 member Matt Mitrione at UFC 113.
Kimbo Slice’s new documentary explores his extraordinary story and life
After parting ways with the UFC following the Mitrione loss, Slice signed with Bellator, defeating another UFC legend Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138 following a five-year absence. He ended his longstanding feud with Dada 5000 by TKO at Bellator 149 before the fight was overturned to a no-contest after Slice tested positive for multiple banned substances.
Slice passed away due to a heart condition in 2016 at 42 years old. His death sent shockwaves across MMA, including the UFC, after his transcendent accomplishments in and out of the cage.
Slice’s son, Kevin Ferguson Jr., was supposed to return to fighting later this month at Bare Knuckle FC: Knuckle Mania 5 before withdrawing due to injury. ‘Dark Side of the Cage’, an ongoing documentary series produced by VICE TV, will highlight Slice’s life story in a Wednesday, January 8th episode.
Years after his death, Slice’s impact on combat sports continues to be felt by those who compete in the cage and fight for survival outside of it. While the UFC has since had bigger box office stars like Conor McGregor, Slice was one of the promotion’s early must-watch personalities.
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