By Greg Beacham, AP Sports Writer
Kimbo Slice, the bearded street fighter who parlayed his internet popularity into a mixed martial arts career and worldwide fame, has died. He was 42.
Slice, whose real name was Kevin Ferguson, was taken to a hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, near his home Monday, Coral Springs Police Sgt. Carla Kmiotek said. Slice’s death was confirmed by Mike Imber, his longtime manager.
Kimbo Slice (R) fights Shane Tilyard (L) (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
“We lost our brother today,” Imber said in a text message to The Associated Press.
The cause of death was still unclear.
Slice was a strip club bouncer who began competing in unsanctioned street fights in 2003. Videos of his savage knockout victories in the bouts became wildly popular online.
He studied MMA and eventually competed in the UFC and Bellator, which staged his last two fights.
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