Kimbo Slice coming to The Ultimate Fighter
by Zak Woods on Jun 2, 2009 9:29 AM EDT
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According to Kevin Iole, Kimbo Slice will compete in the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter
I think it is fair to say that the next season of Spike's reality show just became 'must see T.V.' and I am sure that NBC executives are kicking themselves for not thinking of this.
The tenth incarnation of Spike's hit reality show may be all about the Benjamen's with the facade of fighter development thrown out the window.
First the was the announcement that Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson would be coaches (clearly the UFC making good on the marketing gold of their UFC 96 stare down). Some were livid at the UFC's decision, feeling that Jackson should fight Machida later this fall. Now with the reveal of Kimbo Slice's presence in this upcoming season that decision makes more sense from a marketing standpoint.
The tenth season may now be classified as mega hype machine bordering on Japanese freak show (is Jose Canseco entering the show as well). Clearly the UFC is trying to get the maximum bang out of their buck.
There is also news that the contestants won't have to fight to get into the house as they have in the past several seasons. Pessimists will instantly point to this as proof of EliteXC style protectionism for Kimbo Slice.
Some will charge the UFC with hypocrisy for all the negative comments White made about Slice and how he was awful for the sport. Yet White stuck too his word that Kimbo would have to compete in TUF to get a chance to fight in the UFC
For all the flak that Kimbo Slice gets (much of it deserved) he is still a media gold mine. His story and background was enough to carry ProElite onto primetime network television
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I gained more respect for Kimbo here. He’s not taking the easy way anymore. He apparently is serious about being a mixed martial artist and competing on the highest level. Plus, he’s leaving his family behind to spend time claustrophobic house in order to prove he’s legit. It’s admirable.
See...
the fact that he doesn’t have to fight to get into the house causes me pause. They probably were afraid he would lose, even with the thin ranks of HW’s.
Did he even try out? My sources tell me no, at least not at the public try out.
He is getting in on his reputation. I bet he will be the last preliminary bout just in case he loses.
Which is ok but Idk if I have new respect for Slice. After all Strikeforce essentially said “adios”
watchkalibrun.com
I see what the UFC is doing here and I agree whole-heartedly that the qualifying rounds were eliminated to protect Slice and other possible “celebrity” entrants. I also believe that is why Chris Tuscherer was immediately given a UFC contract, instead of a spot on the show. He was clearly going to be the ringer, and would tear through someone like Kimbo with little or no effort.
I also expect this not be the last surprise concerning TUF 10. In fact, I would not be surprised to see a few NFL washouts, and possibly Bobby Lashley, also in this field of sixteen. Which makes it more interesting from a personality standpoint since not only are you throwing 16 alpha males into one house but now some of those alpha males are current, or former, millionaires.
This season will be more personality driven than the current one, which is almost entirely fight-driven. This is the closest I think you’ll see Zuffa go for the spectacle aspect of MMA, which isn’t too bad. There’s not 7’3", no fatties, no one in “cartoon” masks, and no ex-baseball players who didn’t even train for a fight. So, again, it’s a spectacle but it doesn’t cross the line into circus territory…yet.
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