Kimbo Slice Passes Away At 42
It’s with a heavy heart that I report MMA fighter Kimbo Slice passed away on Monday after he was hospitalized near his home in Coral Springs, Florida. He was 42.
While the official cause of death has not been released, multiple sources are citing heart failure as his cause of death.
https://twitter.com/MMA_Nick/status/740002976157306880
Bellator president Scott Coker released a statement saying they are devastated by Kimbo’s untimely passing.
Via ESPN:
“We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family,” Bellator president Scott Coker said in a statement, calling Slice “a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport.”
“Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man,” Coker said. “His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo’s friends, fans, and teammates.”
Slice, birth name Kevin Ferguson, was a former backyard brawler and Internet sensation. He was born in the Bahamas in 1974 but made his home in the Miami area.
He was signed to Bellator MMA and scheduled to headline Bellator 158 on July 16 in London against James Thompson.
He last fought at Bellator 149 on Feb. 19 in Houston. Slice (5-2) defeated Dhafir Harris, aka Dada5000, in a three-round decision. The result was later changed to a no-contest by the Texas commission, after Slice tested positive for anabolic steroids and an elevated testosterone ratio.
My extend my thoughts and prayers to Kimbo’s family and friends during this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Kimbo Slice.
