TRIUMPH UNITED recently had the chance to catch up with the newest addition to the team, Kimbo Slice. Training with MMA icon Bas Rutten at his EliteMMA gym in Thousand Oaks, California and prepping for his fight November 10th against Mike Bourke, we wanted to catch a little glimpse into the man they call Kimbo.
TRIUMPH UNITED: So how has the transition been for you, going into MMA?
Kimbo Slice: Man, shit's going great. I can't complain. You know, out here in Cali with Bas, you know what I'm sayin’? Best shit ever.
T*U: Could you have asked for a better mentor than Bas Rutten?
Kimbo: Nah, you got Bas Rutten, one of the best trainers. One of the best fighters in MMA, you know what I'm sayin’? That's the best trainer that I could have asked for. Between him and Randy Khatami and Shawn Tompkins, you know, along with my buddy Alex Schonauer, they're just transforming me, you know? Making me into an ultimate MMA fighter. You know, coming straight from the streets, not knowing shit in there, you know what I'm sayin’, and then being introduced to the best guys in the business. I can't ask for anything better.
T*U: So speaking of your fighting experience, you didn't have any formal background training before your jump to MMA?
Kimbo: Nah dude, no formal background training, aside from knowledge of being a street fighter, coming from the streets, not knowing shit. Then now, I'm being transitioned into an elite MMA fighter, I'm ready for whatever. Anything that comes my way, you know, they gotta be prepared to bring it man.
T*U: Now, your first fight, with Ray Mercer, not a whole lot of people got to see it. Are you excited with your new deal with EliteXC, now that you get to show your skills to a broader fanbase?
Kimbo: Yeah, you know, EliteXC being on Showtime, everyone's gonna get a chance to see it. Unlike PPV you know, you gotta see who's got it so you can watch it and try to get to someone's house or to some bar. But with Showtime, that's the household deal. Everybody and anybody who has a TV has got Showtime and they're gonna get a chance to see it. To see what the hard work, the sacrifice and the dedication will do for ya. You know what I'm sayin’?
T*U: Truth. Now, everybody and their old lady know about your stand up skills. Are you excited to be able to showcase what you're doing with Bas, that your ground game is also there, that you have a takedown defense, that…
Kimbo: Yeah, yeah man, I got the best guy in the business! I GOT BAS RUTTEN TRAINING ME! RANDY KHATAMI! SHAWN TOMPKINS! ALEX SCHONAUER! They the Four Horsemen...and then you got me. I'm the little fat thumb on the hand. And then you fold those fingers together and you got a complete fist, you know what I'm sayin’? Us five together we make a complete, solid unit. And I'm coming and I'm bringing these haymakers with me. On everything that I love, man. I'm coming to fight whoever, whenever, for whatever.
T*U: What's your ultimate goal here?
Kimbo: I'm gonna be honest with you man, I still got a little street mentality to me. You know, but I'm an educated thug, you know what I'm sayin’? You know, I'm on a paper chase. I'm chasing them dollar signs, you know. And if fighting that person is gonna bring me more money, then let's do it. The people, my guys on the management team, they set it up and I'm ready to bring it. Man, I'll fight whoever.
T*U: How long do you plan to be in the game? Do you see yourself stepping away from the sport eventually to become like a spokesperson, kinda an MMA representative?
Kimbo: I'm not sure how long I got, man. As long as the people and fans still love me. I love them, you know what I'm sayin’? As long as they enjoy seeing me bang and beat someone down and shed blood on the situation, I'll keep doing what I do. Until maybe one of my sons come up and kick my ass, then I'll retire.
T*U: Now, for everyone who just knows you as the guy from the internet, the badass street fighter who just swings concrete, what do you think is gonna surprise them the most in this upcoming EliteXC show?
Kimbo: The fact that they gonna realize that this cat Kimbo is for real. It wasn't just a one time thing. They gonna see that I mean business. I did my first fight on PPV and you know we packed the house, you know what I'm sayin’. The PPV numbers did good and now they see that I'm doing something on Showtime and that I’m coming to bring the noise.
T*U: This ain't a game to you. It's legit.
Kimbo: Nah man, I'm for real at this. I got the best guys in my corner and I couldn't ask for better guys to work with. They push me to the limit. When I feel like quitting, they literally beat me down and it's hard to get a person that's willing to beat me down. I got more respect for these guys than anything.
T*U: Now with all the fame and everyone loving you, there's always gonna be the haters. But man, if they hatin’, that means they watchin’.
Kimbo: If they ain't hatin’ man, then we gotta find reasons to make them hate us. Just like the ones that love us, we gotta have the ones that gonna hate us. It all works itself out.
T*U: Anything to say to them?
Kimbo: Hey, I ain't got nothing but love for ya. If you hatin’, then watch the fight and hope I get beat down. But bet against me so we can take your money too!
T*U: You excited?
Kimbo: Yeah man, ain't nothing but excitement here. I don't regret anything. I like my transition. I like my new life I got going as an MMA fighter. It's the best. I'm bringing my kids up in it and they gonna have a beautiful future.
T*U: Anyone you wanna thank before we let you go to go make that chedda?
Kimbo: Yeah, gotta thank my training partners, you know what I'm sayin’? Reality Kings, Sublime Directory, Elite MMA and of course my boy Hans, you know! Triumph United! You know what I'm sayin’! I'm rocking their gear hard. It’s the best shit ever. The clothes feel good, and look forward to seeing me in their gear from now on.
T*U: And if you look good, you fight good.
Kimbo: Hey, damn right, that's what I'm sayin’!
The boys at T*U just wanna thank Kimbo again for takin’ some time outta his busy sked, cuz you now Bas is workin’ his ass overtime for that tilt next month. Gettin’ a chance to talk to Kimbo, a guy that is more articulate and has more class than most in the biz realize, was a real trip.
