MMA'S ODD COUPLE: Felix 'Fedor' Unger and Oscar 'Kimbo' Madison

Two of MMA’s big name heavyweights choose opposite paths at the same crossroads

By Ron ‘The Yacman’ Yacovetti

Now, a closer look at these two and what they seem to be doing with their futures.

THE WHO:

Kevin Ferguson aka ‘Kimbo Slice’: A heavyweight who holds the record for the most viewers of any one MMA fighter’s bout (CBS Primetime I, May 2008). Famous from his backyard brawls on YouTube, Slice is unproven as a mixed martial artist and has been trying to live up to his hype, which transcends the MMA community. Slice is a man in his 30’s with athletic potential, yet much like an adult school student going for an equivalency degree, he chases after something most others in his field, achieved earlier on.

Fedor Emelianenko aka ‘The Last Emperor ‘: Regarded by most MMA enthusiasts as the best heavyweight cage-fighter in the world (by some the best pound for pound fighter as well). Fedor is and has been a man who is battle tested and proven, but has little hype outside of the hardcore MMA community. Emelianenko is a well-rounded mixed martial artist who exemplifies being a polished fighter. Unfortunately for him, he hasn’t gained fame beyond his ability via the internet…or as I like to call it, pulling a Dane Cook.

COMMON GROUND:

Both Slice and Fedor would benefit from mainstream notoriety. Both men recently found themselves with two viable choices to continue their MMA careers, as their given promotions (EliteXC and Affliction) sank beneath the tide of MMA hopefuls.

THE CHOICES:

Strikeforce or The UFC.

Strikeforce comes with all the bells and whistles that make any fighter looking for exposure a happy camper. Showtime’s continued support of MMA is a major plus for the sport and especially, Strikeforce. As most know, this deal was inherited as EliteXC (Kimbo’s launching pad) went bankrupt. Should CBS add itself to the media outlet list for Strikeforce, the deal gets a whole lot sweeter.

The UFC, like it or not, is the prime brand of mixed martial arts. If not for Dana and the gang, Scott Coker would still be promoting fights longer than them, but it would most likely be only in the realm of kickboxing. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is not flawless or without room to improve, but it is responsible for putting MMA on the map. And, with its outlets on Spike TV and a successfully established following on PPV, exposure is also a very alluring characteristic to signing with them.

LOGIC WOULD SUGGEST:

The best heavyweight in the world signs a multi-fight deal with the biggest promotion in the world while the most hyped heavyweight signs with the number two promotion, as he continues to pad his record during his quest to improve.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

Kimbo Slice makes the wise choice in what is truly a win-win for the UFC as well, signing with them as a contender on The Ultimate Fighter Season 10. There is NO downside to this deal. None.

If Kimbo shines, he earns his MMA kudos and respect as a legitimate cage-fighter. And this is even if he does not win the show. If he merely looks good, shows improvement and pulls out a few key wins, both The UFC and Kimbo gain a lot. If he gets his ass handed to him, Dana has already said that Kimbo is “sh*t”, so an “I told you so” gets the promotion off the hook for having him.

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