C'mon now. Really...

What is so hard to understand about Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson?

Kimbo has very little back ground in the sports fighting world. There is no amateur boxing to speak of. I haven't seen any martial arts competition experience. He was never an amateur wrestler. All I have seen, before entering mma, are wins over nobody oposition with what looked like modified boxing rules.

Kimbo is still appealing. He is athletic, and appears to work hard. He has his own, pirate like, look as well. It is not his fault people are willing to buy what he can sell.

James Thompson is bigger and stronger. Thompson also has 22 mma fights, compared to 3 for Slice(if you count Mercer). How many times do people at such an experience disadvantage face off, with the inexperienced fighter being the overwhelming favorite?

Why is it such a big deal that Kimbo struggled, and nearly lost to Thompson? That Kimbo is so hyped? He has an appeal that causes even non fight fans to pay attention. That he gets payed more than more establised veterans? This is not fair, but neither is life. If people are paying to see him then why shouldn't he benefit?

If you like mma, Kimbo brings more attention to the sport. If he can't succeed, he proves that not just anyone can do it and will quickly fade away. If he suceeds, he is an awsome talent that brings more attention to the sport.

...what's the problem?

 

Speed and strength.

 

He appears slow to you?

 

I apologize, quebecwarrior. I must be easily impressed. I don't think he'll be giving Belfort a run for his money; but Slice looks faster than Sylvia, Couture, Coleman, others that are currently better than he is.

 

Butterbean is around 350 lbs, has 17 mma fights, 88 lower level professional boxing matches, and numerous tough man wins. I believe that would make Butterbean a much bigger, more experienced fighter that has proved himself to be at a higher level than Kimbo.

I have never claimed Kimbo to be the next best thing. I don't feel he is deserving of fights with Couture or Fedor. I'm just trying to say if people are willing to pay to see this limited experienced fighter, then why not let them? Does he deserve title shots? No. Does he deserve the attention? Getting attention is different that getting a title shot. It is not based on reward for accomplishment. Attention has its own rules. Attention comes from interest, and people find Kimbo interesting.

I said before that Butterbean has proven himself to be a higer level mma fighter than Kimbo at the moment. When you compare those accomplishments to someone who's had like 8 modified boxing rules fights against fighters with less credentials than many of Butterbean's professional boxing opponents, one unofficial mma fight, and now 3 mma fights with someone like Butterbean's; it doesn't seem like much. I do have to admit that if a fighter with such limited experience is already a notch below someone with such an extensive background does at least say something positive about the guy.