Top 5 inspiring rags to riches tales in MMA

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17:  MMA Heavyweight Sensation Kimbo Slice is seen during the Workout/Media Day with Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano at the Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center on September 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Kimbo Slice worked as a bouncer and driver before entering professional MMA

#4 Kimbo Slice

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17:  MMA Heavyweight Sensation Kimbo Slice is seen during the Workout/Media Day with Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano at the Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center on September 17, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.  (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
Slice passed away in 2016 at the age of 42

It’s a far cry to think that this “street fighter” made his name by releasing videos of him involved in illegal human cock-like fights that streamed on the internet in 2003, to be the timeless legend he is now. This part of his legacy is perhaps the most important, and it is the part that paved the way for his cult like status before his untimely death at 42.

For Slice, it was simply about loving to fight, but that changed into a professional career which brought money and fame when he was slotted into EliteXC in 2007. In his main event fight in 2008 against James Thompson, Kimbo’s name came to the fore after the bout record of 4.85 million viewers, which at the time was the most watched MMA event in US history.

Slice has been all round the block competing on the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights season and the promotion itself, Bellator and of course as a boxer. He has sustained his cult status throughout his career through plenty of different avenues and still exists to this day.

Quick Links

App download animated image Get the free App now