Kimbo vs Petruzelli Fight Under Investigation
Written by Kimbo Slice on October 28th, 2008Kimbo Slice had a sudden flight to celebrity, practically unrivaled in mixed martial arts, but just as quickly as his reputation soared, it’s become stained by his most-recent loss, one so repulsive that it is under scrutiny by a Florida MMA regulatory board.
It took exactly 14 seconds earlier this month for last-minute replacement Seth Petruzelli to knock out Kimbo Slice, dismantle his reputation, and cast doubt upon one of the most popular professional fighters’ legitimacy as a true mixed martial artist.
Slice, 34, who became an underground legend when videos of his street fights circulated around the Internet, suffered a devastating loss to Petruzelli, who was given the fight when Ken Shamrock was deemed unfit for the EliteXC match because of a cut to his eye.
Some in the MMA world believe Slice’s weakness as an incomplete fighter has been exposed, in a very embarrassing fashion.
White said he believed the loss was more than just detrimental for Slice, but also for MMA, which White has worked hard to promote and endorse for the past 10 years.
“Disgusting is the only word for it,” White said of Slice’s fight on EliteXC’s latest card. “It’s embarrassing, and it’s horrible for our sport.”
Jeremy Lappen, head of fight operations for EliteXC, however, said some of the criticism is unfair.
“Kimbo never claimed to be anything he wasn’t. He was a fighter that just participated in only his fourth professional fight,” Lappen said.
Lappen said Kimbo, who has always been humble about his skill-set, deals with both positive and negative implications of his popularity.
“With that great exposure and big drawing power means you have to fight bigger fights,” Lappen said. “It was a little of a double-edged sword.”
Despite Slice’s loss, however, CBS, which broadcast the third fight card of a four-fight contract with EliteXC last Saturday, is benefiting from great ratings.
Saturday’s event attracted 4.56 million viewers, according to CBS’ Kelly Kahl. That number would make it the top-rated show for males ages 18-34, beating out every MLB playoff and college football game that week.
“I think he has an incredible story,” Kahl said of Slice. “It’s kind of an American dream story. He went from a homeless man on the streets to the main event on national TV. The fact he lost the fight, I don’t think it diminishes it at all.”
Kahl said Slice will probably not be the main event on the next fight card, but that doesn’t mean he can’t work his way back up.
“There aren’t any great MMA champions who haven’t endured a loss or two. It happens to the best of them, and in some ways, it makes him more interesting,” Kahl said. “He’s still very early in his career. His notoriety pushed him ahead faster than a typical fighter, but that’s not his fault and he’s still working hard to get better.”
Although CBS and EliteXC still believe Slice will attract fans despite his loss, UFC’s White believes that EliteXC has bigger issues.
In a radio interview Monday, Petruzelli hinted he’d been instructed not to take the fight to the ground. He has since gone back on his statements. EliteXC said although Petruzelli was offered a knockout bonus, the organization never tried to dictate the style of fight.
The Florida State Boxing Commission is investigating the matter.
“We said it didn’t happen, Seth said it didn’t happen, that should’ve been the end of the story,” Lappen said. “When they do all their investigation then hopefully we can put this thing to rest finally.”
Kahl rejected the notion of any impropriety and said he has full confidence the commission will not find any wrongdoing.
9
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i think that fight was a load of shit, it should of not been stopped that wasnt een a knock out, kimbo is a great fighter who has a big future, and dana white is a total retard
22
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I totally agree with you. Bogus descision to stop the fight.The punches were shit. Kimbo slipped and was caught off guard. Thats the problem with having all the rules and ref calls. I dont know how they can even call it fighting anymore. Hogwash
25
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Fuck dana white, fuck his wife and fuck his childrens too. Kimbo is one of the best upcoming fighters out there. Dana should get his ass over to holland so i can beat his ass. 200 000 dollar of my money against his. no rules. last man standing wins. tell the pussy bitch ass i said that.
30
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dana white is pretty much correct when it comes to kimbo.kimbo looks pretty tough and imposing except when he gets beat down like a bitch.if he trains correctly who knows,but it is called MIXED martial arts,not go out in the ring and act like fucking brutus from popeye!
8
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hey;dana white fuck you asshole kimbo is one of the greatest fighters,he can beat any fighter from the ufc . PUERTO RICO loves KIMBO ONCE AGAIN DANA FUCK YOU
24
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Kimbo is a fierce fighter yes….but is he a mixed martial artist……not a hope.You have to realize that you cant learn to be a proficient mma fighter in less than a year…Bas ruten or not.
Renzo Gracie 1/3 his size would choke him out in less than 2 mins
Nothing Against Kimbo He is A great Stand up fighter but im sorry here he is out of his league….
28
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Put a fork in this monster. He is done! At his age, by the time he learns the ground game he’ll be too old and we know already that UFC won’t take him. He should have trained alot harder instead of depending on his, “phenom”, reputation. Send his ass back to the streets for a lifetime of,”I could have been a contender.”
12
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Kimbo is a massive man but that does not mean much in the cage. You can’t excpect to be a mma champion with only stand up skills. If people think Mike Tyson spoke of going into the mma and there is not many people out there with the punching power of Mike but he reconsidered because you can’t make it to the top of an elite sport with only one weapon. It also takes a long time to build up a ground game to compete at a professional leval. As to some of the statements made here about rules etc. This is not Rome and the gladiators fight to death. It is a violent sport with the best trained men and even now women who want to prove they are champions but not killers. Kimbo is simply out of his league here and could very easily get hurt in ways that he might never recover from.
12
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Kimbo is a massive man but that does not mean much in the cage. You can’t excpect to be a mma champion with only stand up skills. If people think Mike Tyson spoke of going into the mma and there is not many people out there with the punching power of Mike but he reconsidered because you can’t make it to the top of an elite sport with only one weapon. It also takes a long time to build up a ground game to compete at a professional leval. As to some of the statements made here about rules etc. This is not Rome and the gladiators fight to death. It is a violent sport with the best trained men and even now women who want to prove they are champions but not killers. Kimbo is simply out of his league here and could very easily get hurt in ways that he might never recover from.
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kimbo sliped and was caught of guard and when u luk at it he was tryn to get and the ref was all over him rite wen he fell. those punchis wernt shit. peterzelli is a sucka and hit like an eighty year old man. dana whit is a dumass and doesnt have half the balls to fight kimbo kus he knows his mouth will get shut. no one in the ufc can beet kimbo. i love the ufc but dana ur a bitch and u should stop talkin shit and get kimbo a contract for the ufc and watch him shine with the training. dana ur still the man
30
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KIMBO SLICE IS A HOE!!!!!!!!!!!
HE HAS NO MMA GAME AT ALL
YOU WAIT TILL -TUF10- STARTS YOU
WILL ALL SEE JUST HOW BAD HE IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK KIMBO!!!!!!!!!!!
25
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I hope KIMBO hit the gym and has been training all this time and laid off the pipe and the ho’s. I hate to see him slip away