"Smack his face into the ambiance!"

On June 23, 2007 MMA fans around the world will witness Kimbo Slice make his MMA debut at CFFC 5 against former world champion boxer Ray Mercer. Kimbo Slice, a Miami, FL-based underground fighter, has made himself an Internet celebrity by appearing in numerous bare-knuckle matchups featured all over the Internet such as YouTube.com. “Merciless” Ray Mercer is a boxer and former WBO Heavyweight Champion and Gold Olympic Medalist.

So who is “The King of Brawlers” Kimbo Slice going to for MMA skills? Kimbo Slice has brushed up on some MMA basics at Miami’s Freestyle Fighting Academy (FFA), where I currently train, and has headed to California to train with a well-known MMA legend. Founder of “The Bas Rutten System,” three-time King of Pancrase, and former UFC HW Champ, Bas “El Guapo” Rutten. Not too bad if you ask me, he’s only one of the greatest MMA legends ever to hit scene. “El Guapo” is a certified Thai Boxing instructor, Pancrase instructor, 5^th degree black belt in Kyokushin Karate, and 2^nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, so Slice made no mistake finding a good teacher.

“El Guapo” has nothing but good things to say about Kimbo’s determination and drive.

Here’s Bas’ post from a thread on Sherdog’s forums:

OK guys, I have to say something here.

I am training Kimbo right now (click for footage), and I have to say that he is one of the BEST fighters I have EVER trained. He really listens to you and does what you say, do you know how hard that it? If he's dead tired, and I tell him five more rounds, he looks at me, but doesn't say anything, he just does it.

I introduced him to the Bas Rutten MMA workout, he was SO tired, he told me that he has never been as tired. Today I was teaching him again, he asked me in the beginning "Are we going to do the Bas Rutten workout?" But he said it in a crazy way, so I asked him "Do you want to do it?". He said "Please, yes!" I asked him why, because all my PROFESSIONAL fighters don't want to do it.
He said "Bas, I want to conquer this thing, I want to do it!" Man, he gets, Lots, and losts of respect!

All the shit that people write about him, I am telling you, and I hope you know I don't lie, he's a trooper! I wish that all my fighters would be like him. Even my wife loves the guy. He is SO respectful and uses NO bad language in front of kids (my two little daughters love him, and they don't like anybody!), I am REALLY, blown away.

He really deserves this, I think this. Can a boxer be a MMA FIGHTER? We all know the answer, but can a street fighter be an MMA fighter? We all KNOW the answer to that!

I would wish that all my fighters were like him, like I said, I can put him through every workout I give him, he WILL do it, no questions asked.

I hope you guys meet Kimbo one day, you will be blown away. I just came back from an MMA event and I brought him there, just see how he is with the fans, it's crazy!

You also know that I would NEVER train an asshole, so trust me, but he's got me, Shawn Tompkins (who trained him longer than I have,) and Randy Kathami (boxing coach for my gym) respect. I REALLY love the guy.

El Guapo says:

Party on and Godspeed!!

Being a Miami native, a current student of the Freestyle Fighting Academy (FFA) and a worshipper of Bas, I wish Kimbo Slice the best of luck!

For more details about CFFC5 and upcoming events, check out our complete summer MMA guide.

Stay classy fans,
The Lianger