Turns Out Kimbo Can’t Bench 264: “Big Country” Smothers and Crucifies UFC’S Latest Fad Fighter

Posted on | September 30, 2009 | No Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

Kimbo went down in a blaze of belly on Wednesday’s much hyped episode of The Ultimate Fighter 10 “Heavyweights.” Ironically, two flash points of the episode may have foretold the end to come. The first was when the biggest guy to be found on Rampage’s training staff tested Slice’s “lay and pray” defense. This great strategy almost immediately made Jackson hesitant to let Kimbo work with the guy too long, even though Kimbo’s supposed to be preparing for an even bulkier Roy Nelson. Rampage is living up to his billing as a train wreck of a coach. The second flash point is when big boy Roy called his shot at poolside before the fight, predicting he would win the fight by crucifix and unanswered strikes.

Despite a couple nice exchanges featuring mostly glancing blows, Kimbo’s striking could not overcome Nelson’s resume of experience and overwhelming weight advantage. Rampage should go the extra mile and fly in a Sumo wrestler to train with the next guy who has to fight Roy. Nelson literally came in just a pound under the maximum 265 pound heavyweight limit.

While much had been made about his ego being as big as his waist line in previous episodes, I’ve interviewed Roy personally. He reminds me of one of the best heavyweight wrestlers I had the pleasure of being on the same team with in high school. The guy’s name was Mike Feeley, and you could just about count on him like clockwork to win the big match where everyone was depending on him. Yet, he didn’t have near the traditionally sculpted physique as some of the best wrestlers he beat. He always had that edge of being underestimated by most of the heavies he surprised and beat handily. Roy’s a much bigger guy than Mike was in his best years, and Roy makes his weight look like his secret MMA weapon by foregoing full mount for a fat-smothering side-mount position.

Kimbo had no chance with his lack of a ground game, which everyone seemed to understand going into this one. At the same time, Kimbo had his chance early to come right at Roy Nelson like a bull and bang it out with him. Instead, the two pawed at each other, and Roy knew Kimbo was apprehensive about getting taken down. After all, Kimbo’s biggest blow in the first frame seemed to be a booming leg kick. Roy landed some good jabs and closed out the round with the aforementioned Crucifix position in full effect. Ref Herb Dean told Kimbo to work and looked like he might stop it there, but there were less than 25 seconds to go, and Kimbo waded through it and looked haggard at round’s end.

By the start of round 2 Kimbo Slice fans were having to re-assess their favorite fighter’s potential level. We didn’t see the blockbuster fight we were hoping for out of him, and when he tried to bring that fight in the early stage of round two he lost his balance and wound up on his back again. That’s the last place you want to be against Roy Nelson. Kimbo thought he could cross the Atlantic wearing only a pair of half-inflated water wings. He didn’t get far from shore before Nelson drowned him in experience and pitter-patter punches Dana White compared to those his youngest daughter dishes out on him. Yet, the fight’s aftermath and “next time on TUF…” preview still seems to position Kimbo for a resurgence at some point on the show with another chance to fight before the curtain on the season goes down.

What’s most promising about this loss for Kimbo is the way he’s taking it and the way it could influence Rampage to step it up a notch next time out knowing Kimbo is not so invincible. Treated and guided properly, Kimbo could be a much better fighter on so many levels. It’s great that he’s so humble, too.

Also on this episode we find out that Marcus Jones is a flower child who is Rampage’s weakest link in waiting. Next weeks hints seem to indicate Jones might have to step aside because of some kind of episode or injury. Something tells me–if these first three episodes are any indication–that Dana White and the UFC are about to run into a brick wall for talent. It’s going to get harder and harder to make great fights, because the best of the best just demolish these prospects that come in with no gas, no tools to sharpen and hone, and no idea what they’re getting into. Roy Nelson made it look easy, and with the experience gap the big belly boy wonder might be on his way to winning the whole thing against this lackluster lineup we’ve seen so far. Hopefully someone comes out of the woodwork soon to change my mind.

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