Kimbo Slice: From Homeless to Household Name

The first time I saw Kimbo was on YouTube and I must admit, I thought he was just another derelict street thug. To my surprise Mr. Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, is a gentle soul. He has a street edge, yet is soft spoken and polite. And though he was homeless in 1994, he still managed to raise a family of six kids, one of them named Kevlar. It's a befitting name to the child of a street fighter.

However, despite all the interviews and behind the scenes training videos, Kimbo's MMA skills are still questionable. Granted, he's an MMA neophyte and his recent opponents haven't really tested his mettle. Still, for the hardcore MMA fan, questions remain. Can Kimbo stuff a takedown? Will he overpower a submission attempt? Will his unkept beard serve as a buffer or will he fold like a cheap suit if he gets clocked on the chin?

EliteXC is banking that Kimbo knocks out James Thompson, a British brawler who fought in the now defunct Pride FC organization. But what will it prove? Thompson's fighting skills are unrefined, brutish and offer little technique. Thompson's known for "gong and dash", a berserk style of attack where he rushes in with reckless abandon. He's also lost three out of his last four fights.

For Thompson, it's a crap shoot. It's either hit or miss and if he misses, it'll be a quick and easy paycheck for Kimbo. Come Monday, Kimbo's ghetto-fabulous knockout of James Thompson will be the talk at the water cooler. But it'll be no surprise. Thompson won't test Kimbo's mettle. Or will he?

For the CBS audience who's never heard of Fedor or fighters named Silva, it'll hardly matter. They'll get to see fights for free. Kimbo vs. Thompson won't be the best example of MMA, but unlike the last couple of UFC events, I can guarantee these fighters won't run away from each other.