The oldest sign of late mixed martial arts fighter and street brawling legend Kimbo Slice is set to make his professional MMA debut next month.
Kevin Ferguson Jr., who had his first amateur fight in March and defeated his opponent in 83 seconds, will fight on the undercard at Bellator MMA 160 in California on Aug. 26. He told The Associated Press on Monday that he grew up around fighting and always knew he wanted to make it a profession.
“I was always around the fight business and everything, so I saw it and I understood what was going on,” Ferguson said. “I just knew without a doubt that one day, this was what I wanted to do.”
Ferguson said he received Kimbo’s blessing to pursue a career in MMA while he was in college. He did some training in college but admits he was more focused on partying.
“I trained [in MMA] a little bit in college, but not really,” Ferguson said. “I was more focused on having fun and partying a little bit, getting that out of my system early. I trained a little bit, like once a week.”
News of Kimbo’s death last month at age 42 came as a shock to the fighting world. It was later revealed that he was told he needed a heart transplant, which is something his son alluded to.
“I won’t say I adjusted well or it didn’t bother me, but I was talking to him a few days before, so I understood what was going on,” Ferguson said. “It was more of a shock to the world, put it like that. It was still a very big tragedy, but I got through it. I’m still getting through it. I won’t say I’m over it, but I’m working on it, I guess.”
If Ferguson’s punches are anything like his old man’s (see some of Kimbo’s best fights here), he should have plenty of success fighting in Bellator.
