Kimbo: Why are we surprised?

Heading into his bout with Ken Shamrock, Kimbo was on track to score another win over a paper opponent with an even more paper like chin. Beating Ken Shamrock was supposed to help pad Kimbo's record and help his reputation as a KO artist.

If you watched the event put on by Elite XC, you now that did not happen. 6 seconds into the fight, Seth Petruzelli put Kimbo on the mat with a stiff right jab, (yes, jab) and then pounded him out for another 8 seconds before the referee stepped in to save the "Internet Sensation."

There are many casual fans out there who are now scratching their collective heads, wondering how the incomparable Kimbo could lose. To those individuals I say, "How can you possibly be surprised?" For one, it was inevitable. Everyone loses! Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, and BJ Penn all lost. With that being said, Kimbo Slice is no Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, or BJ Penn. Second point, when Shamrock fell off the card and was replaced by Petruzelli, Kimbo actually got a legit opponent. With that being said, the possibility of Kimbo losing increased significantly. And in what was to be expected, Kimbo was exposed for what he is, a novice MMA fighter with 3 wins against weak competition (Sorry Pride fans, James Thompson is not a legit fighter).

I will not go as far as some "journalists" who say that Kimbo is not a legit MMA fighter. The guy goes out there and fights and is trained by Bas Rutten. Being trained by Bas gives legitimacy to just about anybody. Kimbo also seems to be fairly down to earth and has no delusions about where he is at in the sport in terms of ability. All in all, Kimbo seems to be a decent guy that works hard to be better. Unfortunately, the business of Kimbo Slice is a lucrative one, and we fans in the know must have him shoved down our throats as the new phenom on the block. It's a sad day when a 3-1 novice can out draw a man who arguably has never lost legitimately against top competition in Fedor Emelianenko.

-R