Kimbo Slice and the Biggest Flops in MMA History

Call them the Waterworld contingent.

They are the fighters who had big budgets, big lights, big billing and, most importantly, big expectations.

Followed, of course, by the big flop.

They could have been contenders. But now they're just the most prominent members of a rather enormous group of people who tried, but for one reason or another, just never made it.

Dishonorable Mention No. 1: Fedor Emelianenko, the Strikeforce Years

Like watching the Saved By The Bell gang matriculate to college, Emelianenko's 1-3 run in Strikeforce is proof that some sequels are better left unmade.

Dishonorable Mention No. 2: Entire Gracie Family After Renzo

Jiu-jitsu world champions, yes. MMA stalwarts, no.

No. 10: Gabriel Gonzaga

The BJJ black belt started his career 8-1, capped off by the Head Kick Heard Round the World on Mirko Cro Cop. And that's where the wave crested.

Eight fights and five losses later, the much-ballyhooed Napao was out of the UFC.

No. 9: Mark Hunt

The heavy-hitting Hunt was once considered the next big thing (literally) at heavyweight. Consecutive wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Filipovic will do that.

Too bad for Hunt, then, that he went on to lose six straight after starting his career with a 5-1 mark. On the bright side, he is now 1-1 in the UFC. He'll have a chance to take another step toward redemption when he faces Ben Rothwell at UFC 135.

No. 8: Houston Alexander

The Assassin caught the MMA world's attention after vicious knockouts of Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara. He then lost five of his next six and is now trying to rebuild his name in the sport's minor leagues.

No. 7: Rameau Thierry Sokodjou

Put it this way: When Lyoto Machida submitted Sokodjou in the Cameroonian fighter's UFC debut, most people were surprised.

(Photo credit: MMEHFighter.com)

No. 6: Vitor Belfort

I know, I know. He's not done yet. He could even get another shot at Anderson Silva.

It's a fair point. But it's equally fair to state that Belfort has fallen far short of expectations, especially in big moments. His nickname is "The Phenom," after all.

No. 5: Brandon Vera

Back in 2006, Vera stormed into the UFC with victories over the likes of Frank Mir and Assuerio Silva. The Truth was 8-0 and seemingly destined for the heavyweight title.

Then he lost to Tim Sylvia. Then Fabricio Werdum. A win over Reese Andy was followed by a loss to Keith Jardine. And so it goes.

Before you could say "Ryan Leaf," Vera was 11-6 and cut from the UFC. Only Thiago Silva's hot urine saved Vera from Octagon banishment. We'll see if he can claw up another few inches against Eliot Marshall this October.

(Photo credit: Cagepotato.com)

No. 4: Phillipe Nover

Sometimes we all swing and miss.

Dana White certainly did when he said Nover reminded him of a young GSP after Nover won his second fight on season eight of The Ultimate Fighter.

Since that proclamation, Nover won one more time, then lost three straight to get his UFC walking papers. His last fight, a win, came in something called the Hoosier Fight Club.

No. 3: Mark Kerr

Mark Kerr had a couple of credentials coming into the UFC.

He was a D-1 national wrestling champion at 190 pounds. The runner-up that year? Some guy named Randy Couture.

He also got into MMA along the way. He tested those waters in part by entering the Vale Tudo World Championships, which he won.

From there, it was on to the UFC, where he won the UFC 14 and 15 heavyweight tournaments. Kerr was one of the first great all-around MMA talents, with absolutely barbaric ground-and-pound. Quite simply, the man looked unstoppable.

And now for the part of his career that lands him here.

After signing with Pride, Kerr advanced his overall record to 12-0. Kazuyuki Fujita, of all people, handed Kerr his first loss in 2000. And he was never the same.

After losing to The Head, Kerr went on to drop an astonishing 10 of his next 13 fights. He hasn't fought professionally since Muhammad Lawal knocked him out in 25 seconds in 2009.

No. 2: Kirill Sidelnikov

Remember this guy, nicknamed "Baby Fedor"?

Exactly.

No. 1: Kimbo Slice

But wait, you say. How can someone that hardcore MMA fans simply knew was going to fail be considered a flop?

Because most people are not hardcore MMA fans. And yet, most people have heard of Kimbo Slice.

Like it or not, the man was dubbed the Tiger Woods of MMA. Like it or not, he was given a LOT of money to fight. Like it or not, he became—to many, many people—the face of the sport when he headlined that EliteXC card on CBS.

You know what happened next. Slice flopped around in the public eye for a while like a dying mackerel, then cashed out and faded away. To give credit where it's due: Slice put work in. He viewed the sport as more than his personal ATM and attempted to make a real go of it. He even beat fellow flop Houston Alexander.

Still, at the end of the day, he's the biggest flop in MMA history. And, for my money, it's not even close.