Kimbo Slice has died at the age of 42

A fighter who went from rags to riches has passed away. Late last night it was announced that MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died at the age of 42. TMZ first reported that the fighter was hospitalized earlier in the day. American Top Team, Slice’s gym, made a formal announcement on their Twitter page a few minutes after the sudden announcement:

httpss://twitter.com/AmericanTopTeam/status/740013805615218692?

The cause of his death is still unknown. Slice is survived by his six children and longtime girlfriend Antoinette Ray.

Bellator President Scott Coker had the following to say in regards to Kimbo Slice’s death:

We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family.  One of the most popular MMA fighters ever,  Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport. Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man. His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo’s friends, fans, and teammates.

Kimbo Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, was a YouTube sensation in the early 2000’s, highlighted by his intense (and violent) fighting style. The atmosphere in any fight he was involved in was electric. I’m sure nobody will forget his run on The Ultimate Fighter in 2009, which was a huge ratings boost for the UFC. He was a dominant backyard brawler who also had a 7-0 boxing record and a 5-2 MMA record. He was scheduled to headline Bellator 158 on July 16 in London against James Thompson. There has been no announcement of a replacement for the fight.

During Slice’s last few fights, one against Ken Shamrock included, it looked that his fighting career would come to an end. His last fight was at Bellator 149 on February 19^th against Dada 5000. At first a win, the result was later changed to a no-contest by a Texas commission after Slice tested positive for steroids along with high testosterone levels. That should not be the last thing fans think about when it comes to Slice though. The man entertained fans for years at Elite XC, the UFC and Bellator MMA. He inspired many after literally starting from the bottom of the totem pole.

Lets not also forget about his acting career, which really peaked when he was heavily promoted for Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh. Kids were able to see a lighter version of the fighter, which was a welcoming sight. He also starred in The Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption.

From YouTube backyard brawls all the way to sellout crowds, Kimbo Splice’s impact as an entertainer will never be forgotten.