<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MMAyou.com: First, how are you doing? Ferguson: I’m okay, I’m okay. MMAyou.com: How’s training coming along? Ferguson: Trainings going good, I can’t complain. MMAyou.com: You’re set to face James Thompson next, give us your thoughts on the fight. Ferguson: I can’t really predict anything, I’m not a psychic. I do know I train hard. I’m training with the best in the world; that’s Bas Rutten. All their fighters; Randy Khatami and these guys are preparing me to kick ass and take names and that’s what’s up with me. MMAyou.com: You’ve gotten some criticism in the press from Dana White and Chuck Liddell. Do you have a message for Dana and Chuck? Ferguson: Yeah, I love those guys. They’re great guys. I’m a big fan of the UFC. Chuck is one of my great fighters. I love watching him fight, I love his performances. I love what Dana White’s done for the sport man and if it wasn’t for those guys I wouldn’t be where I am today. I thank God for them and God bless them. MMAyou.com: You’re on the cover of this month’s ESPN Magazine, what does that feel like? Ferguson: I don’t let all that get to me. I mean sure, it’s really big time for me and it’s big for the sport. I thank God that I was in the right place at the right time. I guess I’m coming into the sport with a different style, a different flavor. And I’m hungry for it. I’m hungry for whatever. I don’t turn down no opponent. I’m willing to fight whoever wants to fight me. Being on the cover of ESPN man, it’s great for the sport. It shows that a guy who dedicates himself with great sacrifices and great commitment, and respects the game can do it. You can actually do it and become successful at it. MMAyou.com: That’s awesome. Speaking of your opponents, are you fighting Mike Tyson next? There’s been rumors about it. Ferguson: I don’t know about that dude. We’re gonna keep that one on the hush-hush. MMAyou.com: (laughing) Alright. Is there anyone you’d like to face right now? Ferguson: Nah, I’m just… I don’t want to call anyone out cause to me that’s kind of rude, you know? To just assume you’re gonna kick someone’s ass. You just gotta be prepared for a battle, you know what I‘m sayin? That’s what it’s all about. One on one. Two guys getting in there and it’s a real life chess game. MMAyou.com: Where would you rank yourself in the worldwide heavyweight rankings? Ferguson: I mean I’m… I dunno dude. There’s a lot of great heavyweights out there man. I’m a big fan of all those guys and it’s just so awesome to be in the midst of these guys, amongst them. We’re all from the same walk of life. Everyone starts from somewhere and the ultimate goal is to eventually become king of that cage. To be on top with holding your hand up. And that’s what it’s about, you know? If I was ranking myself, you know, I don’t know. That’s not for me to decide. MMAyou.com: What’s the difference between fighting in the street and fighting in the cage? Ferguson: It’s a big difference. Street fighting you don’t even really need any training for it. Anybody can get in there and throw hands and knock someone out. But like I said what I brought that was different to the street fighting I guess was my style. My style of fighting with no training at all. I had a real unique style and that was with no training. Now I’m receiving training and I wanted to challenge myself. There’s really no comparison. You just can’t compare street fighting to fighting MMA. MMA takes sacrifices, commitments, MMA is a way of life. When you represent the sport even when you’re not fighting, the way you walk around in the street, people will know any minute “That’s that guy who fights MMA”, and that‘s what it‘s about. When you’re a street fighter it doesn’t really even matter. You’re a street fighter. You still smoke your weed, you drink your drink, you have your cocktails often, and you can party and it don’t even matter. But when you’re fighting an MMA fighter you gotta have sacrifices and commitments and dedication to the cause. MMAyou.com: You’re training right now with Bas, who’s a great legend. After seeing him and training with him do you think he should come out of retirement and challenge for some titles? Ferguson: Oh man Bas can still kick ass to this day. I know he can and if he does I pretty much fully support one hundred percent, not that he would need my support, but Bas is the man! And he still hits hard! You know what I’m saying? He can still…. I mean, man! I mean sh**. Sh**! If he comes out of retirement it’s gonna be a problem for a lot of people. MMAyou.com: In closing, is there anything you would like to say to your fans? Ferguson: I thank them all for the love. Keep watching. I always keep my fights entertaining. I thank all my sponsorships. I thank all my trainers; Bas Rutten, Randy Khatami, Shawn Thompkins, for showing me how to throw hands and use my style. These guys have been in my corner since day one of my pro career and I thank God for them. I thank God for my fans. Even the ones with the negative criticism about me, I thank God for them too.</div> Kimbo Slice Responds to Chuck, Dana, and More Kimbo comes off as being really humble and really respectful. I read his article in the magazine and it shed a new light on him I never knew before. I hope he succeeds. He is such a great story and a great human, should be a role model to every urban youth struggling through hard times who try to fight their inner demons.
That was a good article. I can't fault him for his street fighting, hell...you have to work with what your good at and as long as the local authorites were saying ti was ligit due to both fighters agreeing to fight...I say have at it!!! But on the real, he seems like he's a very humble guy and is willing to learn what it takes to fight in the cage without getting a big head.
That was a good article. I can't fault him for his street fighting, hell...you have to work with what your good at and as long as the local authorites were saying ti was ligit due to both fighters agreeing to fight...I say have at it!!! But on the real, he seems like he's a very humble guy and is willing to learn what it takes to fight in the cage without getting a big head.
I have nothing against Kimbo, he seems to be a real student of the sport and since Bas has been vouching for him I give him the benefit of the doubt. Elite XC and Garry shaw however and babying their star product and he won't face any hard challenges until casual fans are over his easy wins and want him to fact a known commodity. that said James Thompson is a big lad who can hit.. can't take a hit but he could get a shot in.
I agree that he hasnt faught anyone. But EliteXC dont have a guy like Arvlowski or Mir to throw at him.
true, true...but it all comes down to being Kimbo being a "Cash-Cow". he's a fighter that already comes self promoted...he already has a fanbase. Like him or love him he helps the sport even more. With all the internet clips floating around he's practicaly a household name to fighting fans. I mean they put him on the cover of ESPN Magazine? Already, before fighting a big name? The last thing they want to do is send im str-8 in without formal training have him get beat (don't get me wrong, I think he's a beast...but still fresh) and lose steam before he makes a legit name for himself in the cage. Thier doing the right thing by promoting him but bring him along at a modest pace....kinda like a young pitcher in a farm system...
UFC didnt pull any punch's with Brock and he got beat, but I still would love to see him fight again.
Which makes you wonder if that's why Kimbo's going a different route. Lesnar Would've really cashed in and kept a larger fanbase if he debuted in UFC with the momentum and confidence of some amature level matches under his belt. That can't be good that to your pyche to go through that right after failing to accomplish another goal (ie; NFL)...it's kinda bad that he couldn't make it on my Vikings team as a DE with 4.5 speed, when Minnesota really needed a pass rusher? ouch....but I'm still a fan though
They are being smart by bringing him along slow, but why is he headlining over more established fighters then? He also doesn't have the luxury of taking it too slow, he's 32-33 yrs old. I do wonder if he'll ever face Antonio 'big foot' Silva, the Elite XC HW champ or will he face Jon Murphy, Brett Rogers or Dave Herman 3 up and comers the org has signed too. p.s. go sign up for my fantasy draft that's in 1.5 hours
He's only headlining because of his name...he has a large fanbase already established so he'll put extra butts in the seats. And when I say bring him along slow I just mean give him more less established opponents until he gets the hang of fighting in the cage as apposed to street fighting. but I agree he is already up in years for a new comer
meanwhile Brock lesnar faced ex-UFC champ Frank Mir in his first fight and is now facing Heath Herring, a 10 yr vet who's faced a who's who of HW's... yow!
kind of.. then again he was to face Mark Coleman, a wrestler with good ground and pound and 43 years old, which should have been an easy win.. he got hurt now Heath Herring is the rumor.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ May 24 2008, 11:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>kind of.. then again he was to face Mark Coleman, a wrestler with good ground and pound and 43 years old, which should have been an easy win.. he got hurt now Heath Herring is the rumor.</div> Should make things interesting though, since Herring has trouble against take-downs. Because of that it's gonna look pretty bad on Lesnar if he can't at least make this respectable
Well Lesnar was doing good against Mir up until the submission. Lesnar was getting pretty much any position he wanted, and Mir was having a hard time defending.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ May 24 2008, 11:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well Lesnar was doing good against Mir up until the submission. Lesnar was getting pretty much any position he wanted, and Mir was having a hard time defending.</div> true, true...for about 2 minutes...lol...but then again, it was his first fight so, that's not bad
yup, lesnar is a load and ankle/leg logs look to be about the only way to submit a brick like that. stand up guys won't be able to keep him from taking them down, best bet would be to go for the take down first. Mir is one of the best HW Jiu-Jitsu guys around IMO, ppl forget how good he was before the accident, but he was fast, strong and agile for a big man.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ May 24 2008, 11:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>yup, lesnar is a load and ankle/leg logs look to be about the only way to submit a brick like that. stand up guys won't be able to keep him from taking them down, best bet would be to go for the take down first. Mir is one of the best HW Jiu-Jitsu guys around IMO, ppl forget how good he was before the accident, but he was fast, strong and agile for a big man.</div> I hear ya man. I am still a fan of Lesnar. I mean 6'5"/285 lbs agile, quick and with that ameture background...woooo....not to mention he just turned 30
I'm rooting for him too, the UFC needs the influx of talent and him and Shane Carwin are that talent.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ May 24 2008, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm rooting for him too, the UFC needs the influx of talent and him and Shane Carwin are that talent.</div> Preach on Pastor Celtic....preach on....lol
