Kimbo Slice Signs For Bellator

Yep, believe it or not Kimbo Slice is back in the MMA business as he’s just become Bellator’s latest signing.

Kimbo last fought in the cage at UFC 113 back in May of 2010, losing by second round TKO to Matt Mitrione which prompted his release from the promotion.

After that the former YouTube backyard brawling sensation decided to try his hand at boxing and compiled a 7-0 record, six by knockout, though the standard of competition left a lot to be desired.

He hasn’t been back in the ring since January of 2013 however and will turn 42 years of age at the start of February, so it’s a little surprising to see him putting his MMA gloves back on again now.

Bellator CEO Scott Coker will no doubt be hoping to rekindle some of the interest that surrounded Kimbo in his heyday and lead to record ratings both for the Elite XC promotion and later for the UFC via ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality show.

That was a long time ago though and there’s been very little buzz surrounding the brawler in recent years.

Still, despite it being clear by the end of his last run in the sport that he was just an aging brawler with a limited skill-set who was struggling with injuries, the sad fact is that the novelty value of his return may still draw more eyeballs than some of Bellator’s far more skilled homegrown talent.

Over the years I've watched the UFC develop into the powerhouse it is today, organizations like PRIDE, Strikeforce and WEC rise and fall, and Bellator emerge as a new force on the MMA landscape. Throughout it all I've remained captivated by the sport and I'm excited to cover what comes next here on MMA Insight.