Kimbo Slice, a fighter who first rose to fame on YouTube and became an institution in mixed martial arts, has died at 42 of undisclosed causes, ESPN reports. Slice, whose real name was Kevin Ferguson, had been hospitalized in Florida on Monday.
Before he started fighting, he was homeless and worked as a bouncer for a porn company and a bodyguard, according to CNN. His bare-knuckle backyard brawls made his star rise, but the MMA world didn't always appreciate his rougher style.
But his third fight as a pro became the first MMA fight to air on primetime network television, and he competed on the UFC series The Ultimate Fighter, and fought for the UFC twice. Overall, he had a 5-2 record and didn't win a title, but became a major personality in the sport.
He had last fought on February 19, and was set to headline Bellator 150 in London this July. In his last fight, he tested positive for anabolic steroids and elevated testosterone, and his victory was later changed to a no contest. His two fights for Bellator broke ratings records on Spike TV. Bellator MMA promoter Scott Coker confirmed his death in a statement:
"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family. One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was 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. 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."
The news was met with grief from his mixed martial arts colleagues and fans:
According to the Associated Press, there is no police investigation into his death, and there is no suspicion of foul play. Slice is survived by his six children; one of his sons, Kevin Ferguson, Jr., just started fighting in mixed martial arts.
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