WTF - does this question really need to be asked?
Old school forum member The Garv gave him his bread at an event that Kimbo fought in.
*I’ll BRB.
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I remember several pro fighters wanted to fight Kimbo bare knuckle . Joe Riggs was one but I guess Kimbos team turned him down. I’m sure there were other boxers that wanted a piece of Kimbo but it just didn’t happen
I remember before people finding out his name was Kimbo Slice/Kevin Ferguson, people kept saying his name was Abdullah Byrd, lol. Get em Ferg (Ferguson) was misheard as Get em Byrd.
The myth that was created around his first couple of videos was insane. We had all seen the usual backyard brawl/felony fights type of videos that populated the net back in those days and they went as expected, more guts than skill. Then here comes this monster with head movement, footwork, and throwing combinations while letting his opponent get free hits to his chin!!! Man, there will never be anything like that ever again. The joke was that he was every BJJ blue belt’s worst nightmare, lol.
Then the Gannon fight just took it to another level. All of us here were witness to something going viral at ground-zero whilst it was happening. What an experience!!! Waiting for the play-by-play on that one epic thread from years ago, then waiting in anticipation for the video to be uploaded so we could all see it.
A few years later, I was at a public library and some black kids were watching some Kimbo street-fight videos. You could tell they were in awe of the man. I said they needed to see this one, it was his best fight yet, Kimbo Slice vs. white guy. Sean Gannon, of course and just left them to that video.
Almost felt bad for the guy when Seth Petruzelli knocked him out.
As for Ray, the same Ray that got beat by a 60lbs lighter Jorge Masvidal back in the day? That Ray?
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Yep, watching the Kimbo bare knuckle fights was great. Ufc was awesome but the bare knuckle Kimbo fights were like a breath of fresh air .
Yep, that Ray. You act like there’s shame in losing to a very trained fighter in Masvidal. Ray was tough and seemed intent on fighting again . Maybe he went into mma?
Dada 5000 had his own bare knuckle org and was holding his own events for awhile.
I don’t admit this freely to people but I’m one of those guys that got into MMA because of Kimbo.
I was going down a rabbit hole of watching old boxing videos on ebaumsworld. I don’t think we even had YouTube yet and if we did it was brand spanking new.
I got recommended next kimbo slice vs big D. Wasn’t really into street fight videos but watched it in all its spectacular glory. Then saw another kimbo video and another. Then “kimbo vs cop” which was our man Gannon.
Eventually I heard kimbo was going to fight pro and I got the spectacle of kimbo vs Mercer in mma. I had no idea what mma was and my mind was fucking blown when it ended in a submission. While spinning channels after that I ran into spike tv which was doing all night UFC marathons to hype up a free card coming up. I remember being in high school and getting no sleep every night because I was watching hours of UFC content every night. I was hooked.
Then the free ufc card happened. Some skinny middleweight champion was moving up a weight class to take on a guy with the fastest KO record. I bought into the hype that the little champion was in over his head and watched in shock as anderson silva knocked out James Irvin in a flash. To say I was shocked would be an understatement but I became OBSESSED with this crazy sport.
And it’s all because I started watching free kimbo slice backyard brawls and he transitioned to the cage. Thanks kimbo.
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RIP to another forum OG.
What happened to The Garv?
He just went away like these other forum members.
https://forums.mixedmartialarts.com/t/where-are-these-missing-forum-members/3664704
I’m glad at least he’s alive.
I tried to find Art’s little phone,but it’s taking me awhile.
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LOL. Art was hilarious.
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He was a spectacle and seemed like a down to earth guy.
I’d tell you, but I’d have to watermark it
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Hit the nail on the head, especially the latter part. People love “real” fighters, which is exactly why the Diaz brothers could lose literally every fight and still draw.
Let’s take it back to the porn days.
