Kimbo has come a long way... PLUS the Fight Video

Zeke's Chaingun · 06-24-2007, 01:54 PM

Regardless of what you think about the fight, about Mercer, about Kimbo himself, etc, it is clear that Kimbo has come a very long way.

What we know is that Bas Rutten and the people Kimbo has been training with all think that Kimbo is a very good student, a very hard worker, and a very good guy. Top that off with the fight and how he performed, I don't see how anyone can say that Kimbo has not come a long way.

However...

I think a lot of the Kimbo hate is coming primarily from people who feel that others believe that he is the next big thing. A lot of the members on this board always seem to hate on anything when other people start to hype or believe in hype. It's a silly reason to hate on Kimbo just because other people are buying into hype but it happens. In fact, these forums are FILLED with people who hate on anything that's hyped up.

Is Kimbo the next big thing? No, not in my opinion. Not unless he continues to train MMA with a good team every day, and he must get at least 6 fights under his belt before he is allowed to fight someone ranked in the Top 30. Kimbo's curse is that he is a big name already. People know who he is. Therefore to sell his fights people will want to see Kimbo in with a name opponant and I do not feel he is ready for that yet.

Kimbo is very powerful, he has a good chin, good striking, and probably at this point has good endurance. His grappling game isn't that great yet. The most telling thing in the fight with Mercer was Kimbo's inability to keep Mercer on his back. His weight placement and ground control was pretty weak IMO. Perhaps it was in part due to the fact that he was running at 100 MPH and he needed to "chill dawg". Once he got on top he should have worked on securing his position better. Instead Mercer was able to get back to his feet without too much difficulty and the second time Mercer was down he was able to roll Kimbo-even if he did walk into the guillotine.

I give props to Kimbo for being aware enough to not only sink in the guillotine but to pull guard as well, but if he was in that position against anyone with even a journeyman ground game he would have been in trouble.

So Kimbo has come a long way and I give him big props. I hope that he continues to train and to focus on his ground game, I hope with more ring experience he is able to keep his cool and not blow past positional advantage, and I hope that he doesn't move too fast with his opponants in MMA. IMO he actually needs to hand pick opponants for awhile, a year to 18 months. Get in around 6 more fights with guys who have a weaker ground game and gradually move up with each fight. Kimbo has the name but if he is thrown in too deep too soon he will lose that name when exposed by a heavyweight with credentials. Like any rising star, Kimbo need to be BUILT.

Keep training Kimbo! Working with a solid wrestling coach and BJJ coach will go a LONG way. I think if he is built right in 2 years he could be on the big stage.

Here is the fight. BTW, if this isn't allowed then take it down or let me know and I'll get rid of it immediatly.

tommywiss420 · 06-24-2007, 02:02 PM

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz.....sorry i only got about 4-5 lines into your post. I think I get the jist of it tho. I will admit that I think Kimbo is a joke and he has no place in MMA. But, I did watch the fight and he was very impressive from what I saw. Way better than the other Kimbo fight that I saw. (Sean Gannon) I also thought that he would be fighting at super HWT, had no idea he was only 240. Shoot, why not let him and Lesnar go at it next. Tell me that wouldnt be a huge draw!

OmnipotentLobst · 06-24-2007, 02:03 PM

Kimbo is a joke. The fact that people can be fans of his and of MMA goes to show how much ground this sport has to cover.

repetitio · 06-24-2007, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

Regardless of what you think about the fight, about Mercer, about Kimbo himself, etc, it is clear that Kimbo has come a very long way.

What we know is that Bas Rutten and the people Kimbo has been training with all think that Kimbo is a very good student, a very hard worker, and a very good guy. Top that off with the fight and how he performed, I don't see how anyone can say that Kimbo has not come a long way.

However...

I think a lot of the Kimbo hate is coming primarily from people who feel that others believe that he is the next big thing. A lot of the members on this board always seem to hate on anything when other people start to hype or believe in hype. It's a silly reason to hate on Kimbo just because other people are buying into hype but it happens. In fact, these forums are FILLED with people who hate on anything that's hyped up.

Is Kimbo the next big thing? No, not in my opinion. Not unless he continues to train MMA with a good team every day, and he must get at least 6 fights under his belt before he is allowed to fight someone ranked in the Top 30. Kimbo's curse is that he is a big name already. People know who he is. Therefore to sell his fights people will want to see Kimbo in with a name opponant and I do not feel he is ready for that yet.

Kimbo is very powerful, he has a good chin, good striking, and probably at this point has good endurance. His grappling game isn't that great yet. The most telling thing in the fight with Mercer was Kimbo's inability to keep Mercer on his back. His weight placement and ground control was pretty weak IMO. Perhaps it was in part due to the fact that he was running at 100 MPH and he needed to "chill dawg". Once he got on top he should have worked on securing his position better. Instead Mercer was able to get back to his feet without too much difficulty and the second time Mercer was down he was able to roll Kimbo-even if he did walk into the guillotine.

I give props to Kimbo for being aware enough to not only sink in the guillotine but to pull guard as well, but if he was in that position against anyone with even a journeyman ground game he would have been in trouble.

So Kimbo has come a long way and I give him big props. I hope that he continues to train and to focus on his ground game, I hope with more ring experience he is able to keep his cool and not blow past positional advantage, and I hope that he doesn't move too fast with his opponants in MMA. IMO he actually needs to hand pick opponants for awhile, a year to 18 months. Get in around 6 more fights with guys who have a weaker ground game and gradually move up with each fight. Kimbo has the name but if he is thrown in too deep too soon he will lose that name when exposed by a heavyweight with credentials. Like any rising star, Kimbo need to be BUILT.

Keep training Kimbo! Working with a solid wrestling coach and BJJ coach will go a LONG way. I think if he is built right in 2 years he could be on the big stage.

He defeated a 46 yr old Mercer who seemed unprepared for anything but standup.

Granted he has talent I don't think he will be a contender in 2 yrs because the sport continues to grow. Let's see Kimbo against Brad Imes or someone with sub defense.

Zeke's Chaingun · 06-24-2007, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by repetitio

He defeated a 46 yr old Mercer who seemed unprepared for anything but standup.

Granted he has talent I don't think he will be a contender in 2 yrs because the sport continues to grow. Let's see Kimbo against Brad Imes or someone with sub defense.

I think Imes would beat Kimbo at this point. And Lesner would kill Kimbo. He is too strong with takedowns and I don't see anything from Kimbo at this point that shows me he could keep Lesner off of him or to survive on bottom. As I said, he's got a long way to go.

Kimbo's primary focus should be on developing a takedown defense, and BJJ. He needs experience against lesser opponants, ones he can beat in order to practice and get comfortable with MMA. Mercer is not a legit gauge on testing his ground game, but it was a good first fight for Kimbo in that he got the feeling of the flow.

Zeke's Chaingun · 06-24-2007, 02:23 PM

Since Kimbo already has a big name (at least far bigger than most people who make a MMA Debut) he has a drawing power. Because he has drawing power he could be a star and command big bucks, but not if he get's stroked by real MMArtists. If he takes this sport REAL SERIOUSLY and trains with a real team, a top team like Greg Jackson's, ATT, AKA, Miletich, etc then he could become a force. I am basing this on Bas's assessment of him and his work ethic, his athletic ability, his power, his chin, and his good standup. (Notice I didn't say "great"-but that too could develope).

Chubz · 06-24-2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

I think Imes would beat Kimbo at this point. And Lesner would kill Kimbo. He is too strong with takedowns and I don't see anything from Kimbo at this point that shows me he could keep Lesner off of him or to survive on bottom. As I said, he's got a long way to go.

Kimbo's primary focus should be on developing a takedown defense, and BJJ. He needs experience against lesser opponants, ones he can beat in order to practice and get comfortable with MMA. Mercer is not a legit gauge on testing his ground game, but it was a good first fight for Kimbo in that he got the feeling of the flow.

Yeah I agree about your comment on Lesnar.. it would be an awesome fight, but I think Lesnar would come out victorious.

repetitio · 06-24-2007, 02:46 PM

Kimbo should enter an MMA tournament somewhere and clean house; that would give him experience.

Raver416 · 06-24-2007, 02:53 PM

Kimbo was awesome in his debut. I think he'll even beat Tank Abbott next (and then everyone else will whine about how Tank was too old anyways)

Zeke's Chaingun · 06-24-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raver416

Kimbo was awesome in his debut. I think he'll even beat Tank Abbott next (and then everyone else will whine about how Tank was too old anyways)

Yes they will, but that's the nature of the beast. Like it or not, Kimbo has star power. People will like him. He's a HUGE black guy with a big bushy beard that came from the streets. Like it or not, people will eat that story and his image right on up, and they already are. He will sell. Because of this edge he has on almost every amatuer/pro at his weight that's not in a big show, he is someone that needs to be built so he can be a big time draw. Therefore it would not be wise to have him exposed to a higher level of opponants just yet.