Kimbo’s Cousin Tries to End the Hate

Kimbo’s cousin, Olympic Judo fighter Rhadi Ferguson has asked that people stop criticizing Kimbo and try to appreciate the popularity he’s brought to the sport of MMA, for better or for worse.

But he’s also asked that people stop asking why he doesn’t train with Kimbo, being a world-renowned strength trainer and Judo coach:

Please, no more questions about why Kimbo Slice is not training with Rhadi Ferguson.  I’m sure that Kevin has some excellent reasons of why he hasn’t returned many of my phone calls and why we talked earlier but cannot speak now. I’m sure he is receiving some excellent advice about his martial arts career and I can assure you that he is at no loss for money right now.

Please, no more questions about why Kimbo Slice is not training with Rhadi Ferguson.  I’m sure that Kevin has some excellent reasons of why he hasn’t returned many of my phone calls and why we talked earlier but cannot speak now. I’m sure he is receiving some excellent advice about his martial arts career and I can assure you that he is at no loss for money right now. My family has spoken to me, I’m sure some of them have spoken to him and I’m figuring that we’ll cross paths sooner or later. Until now, I wish him and his family the best and I would love for him to have a long and prosperous career in Mixed Martial Arts. He certainly has done a great deal in terms of popularizing the sport whether you agree with his fighting skills or not it is a FACT that Kevin Ferguson has single handedly increased the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts in less than one year. He has done more for the sport than many people recognize. He has been on Late-Night television, ESPN, and prime time television. And whether he has won or lost or fought tough people or tomato cans it doesn’t matter. The end result is that more people have become exposed to mixed martial arts. He literally took a demographic of people (African Americans and the WHOLE Island of the Bahamas) and introduced them to a sport which most of them would not have even cared about. This grew the market place, this helped MMA and this was good for the sport.  Jake Shields, Seth Petruzelli and many Gina Carano would not be household names if it were not for Kimbo Slice. Let’s get that point straight right now.

So, although many in the sport are critical of him and his skills, the bottom line is this…. Kevin Ferguson is a fighter. He fights who they tell him to fight. He trains who he is told to train with and he does what he is supposed to do. And that IS NOT HIS fault. Don’t hate of Kevin because he’s trying to make a living for his family.  Mixed Martial Arts is only a couple of steps removed from Professional Wrestling. The game is still the same. You have to have a sellable and likeable character and right now Kimbo Slice is it.  He’s sellable and he’s likeable.