Chuck Liddel jumps on the Kimbo hate bandwagon

**jsampras3** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 12:12am

Chuck Liddell irked by Kimbo’s popularity

MonkeyScrotumCleaningTv.
Apr 1, 8:42 pm EDT

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (21-5), arguably MMA’s biggest star just as the sport began its march toward the mainstream, is appalled by Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (2-0) and says a checkered past of beating up a “bunch of guys on the street” is the only reason for his popularity.

Liddell talked about EliteXC’s prized heavyweight in a recent interview with our friend Mark Gilbert of The Sun.

According to Liddell, Ferguson is training and learning MMA, but he “hasn’t done anything” to earn the praise he receives.

“Kimbo’s one of those guys who doesn’t have any ground game,” Liddell told The Sun. “He’s training and he’s learning but he’s been built up as such a big star, and that’s the thing that bothers me.

“People talk about him like he’s the next great thing when he really hasn’t done anything. He’s been built up because of the Internet and him beating a bunch of guys on the street.”

Ferguson’s initial fame came from underground fight videos posted on YouTube and other video-sharing websites. Based in Miami, the 34-year-old almost always dominated his opponents in the bare-knuckle fights. (Ferguson, though, was eventually stopped by Boston police officer Sean Gannon, who was later signed by the UFC with a mere 1-0 professional record.)

“I could make some impressive knockout videos too if you let me walk outside and just punch people and knock them out—“hey you, come fight!” Liddell told The Sun. “F*** we can make a highlight reel tomorrow and go round beating people up and talking about it. We could just go up to people and start dropping them. Wow!”

Liddell is currently slated to face Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 85, an event that takes place June 7 in London. After winning seven consecutive fights, Liddell suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time in his career, losing his belt to Quinton Jackson in the process. He rebounded for a victory over Wanderlei Silva in December.

Ferguson, meanwhile, is slated to headline the first EliteXC-CBS event on May 31. The organization hasn’t announced an opponent, but James Thompson appears to be the leading candidate.

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Ok I'm the first guy to say that Kimbo has idiot fans that overhype him ridiculously. But i don't understand all the hate on this guy. I mean Chuck admits that he's learning and training MMA. It's not his fault he's EliteXC's biggest draw. He also didn't exactly go around KOing random people, but I'll admit the internet fights were pretty stupid.

Chuck Liddel criticizing Kimbo's "ground game?" Chuck has insane takedown defense, but all of a sudden Chuck Liddel is a BJJ black belt or something?

I really don't get why so many people seem to hate Kimbo so much. Every interview he does he says over and over he's still a small fry in MMA, and he's just trying to train hard and fight whoever they throw in front of him. I don't see why Chuck Liddel needs to be doing interviews taking shots at Kimbo. Kimbo isn't even in the UFC. Why should Chuck care how much hype Kimbo gets?

On another note, James Thompson vs Kimbo? Poor James Thompson lol. He has no chin and likes to try to brawl with people, as evidenced by him getting KTFO at street certified. Should be fun to watch though.

**KayRoc** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 12:16am

I wanna see Kimbo against an actual MMA fighter. He has just fought uber scrub brawlers...

**drizzt777** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:02am

Arguably the best thing about Kimbo's personality is his humility. He does admit he needs to get more experience but I think personally he's on his way. As for pure, raw fighting and punching ability the man ain't scared of anyone they put in front of him and he sees it as a personal challenge I think to rise to the top. He's on his way.

Yes, he can be overhyped but unlike many he's not afraid to take a hit, he's not scared to fight anyone and he's doing what he loves. I agree, I see no reason to hate on him. He's going to do good at MMA given the chance and the fact he went out and got training under qualified MMA instructor like Bas Rutten then I say that he's doing it right by trying to get away from bare knuckle fighting and taking his game to a whole new level in the actual ring.

Kudos to you Kimbo and good luck!

**ShrekBJJ** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:09am

Originally Posted by jsampras3

Chuck Liddel criticizing Kimbo's "ground game?" Chuck has insane takedown defense, but all of a sudden Chuck Liddel is a BJJ black belt or something?

I really don't get why so many people seem to hate Kimbo so much. Every interview he does he says over and over he's still a small fry in MMA, and he's just trying to train hard and fight whoever they throw in front of him. I don't see why Chuck Liddel needs to be doing interviews taking shots at Kimbo. Kimbo isn't even in the UFC. Why should Chuck care how much hype Kimbo gets?

On another note, James Thompson vs Kimbo? Poor James Thompson lol. He has no chin and likes to try to brawl with people, as evidenced by him getting KTFO at street certified. Should be fun to watch though.

Chuck's a purple belt and a former D1 wrestler. He has a ground game.

I think Chuck sees the push being given to Kimbo and thinks it is bringing the sport into disrepute. OK he now trains with a good camp but he's get's his notoreity from illegal fights and that's not teh sort of association we want with MMA. Until Kimbo fights a MMA player with strong ground skills he's going to be viewed as a freakshow cashing in on illegal boxing fights.

I see their protecting their investment by putting him in with Thompson. Ah well

***JohnnyCache*** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:10am

He's a purple. That's a couple years ahead of Kimbo.

**Kambei Shimada** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:22am

The thing is Kimbo is'nt exactly good for the sport of MMA.

MMA has enough stigma attached to it already and many people have been working hard to distance the sport from any association with street brawling.

(For this reason I dont think Dana will ever sign Kimbo to the UFC.)

Besides knocking out a bunch of nobodys and out of shape ageing fighters is not a big deal and should'nt be treated as such.IMO

Kimbo has'nt fought a quality opponent yet and until he does we dont really know how good he is.

I would like to see him up aginst one of these guys:
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Fedor Emelianenko, Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia , Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Filipovic,Heath Herring

***JohnnyCache*** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:29am

You might if he wins a few more fights.

That's EXACTLY what chuck is griping about - that everybody thinks this guy wins a couple of what are basically bar fights and he should get a shot at a belt.

**jsampras3** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:43am

Wow I didn't know Chuck was a purple belt. Point taken. But one point of my own is apparently law enforcement people saw the videos and determined that Kimbos fights did not constitute crimes. So it's not like Kimbo is this arch criminal beating up random ppl.

But seriously, how does Kimbo getting pushed by EliteXC affect Chuck Liddel in any way? It doesn't take any money from him. It doesn't take away any fights or promotion from Chuck. All it does is bring more fans to MMA, fans who might also contribute to Chuck's bottom line as well. Chuck is probably still the #1 draw in MMA even after his 2 losses before beating Wanderlei, and makes tons more money than Kimbo. I'm not entirely sure what his beef is.

Why could he just say something like "Kimbo seems like a good guy. Congrats to him on his success, but I don't think it's good for MMA to have a street brawler be one of the most promoted fighters. . . etc etc" Was it necessary to go on a multi-paragraph hate rant against Kimbo?

**jsampras3** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 4:47am

Originally Posted by JohnnyCache

That's EXACTLY what chuck is griping about - that everybody thinks this guy wins a couple of what are basically bar fights and he should get a shot at a belt.

It's not Chuck's belt. Kimbo would not be taking Chuck's title shot. It's not even in Chuck's org or weight class. In fact, Kimbo isn't even GETTING a title shot in EliteXC yet.

So unless Chuck Liddel wants to be next in line for the EliteXC heavyweight belt, why does he care if Kimbo gets a shot or not?

**Odacon** · Posted On: 4/03/2008 5:53am

If Kimbo himself went around and said he was hot **** and the next best thing, then I could see a problem, but he has always insisted that he is a beginner at mma. Either Chuck hasn't bothered to read/listen/watch and Kimbo interviews, or he's just being Dana's propaganda puppet again.