Joe Rogan once said Kimbo Slice would have killed in bare knuckle boxing.
Of course, the former UFC fighter and street fighting legend never got the chance to fight in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) as it was past his time.
Kevin Ferguson AKA ‘Kimbo Slice‘ died in 2016 (age 42) from heart failure, leaving behind a son to carry his name.
‘Kimbo Slice Jr.’ will look to make his father proud when he steps into the Squared Circle for the first time in his fighting career.
Kimbo Slice Jr. set for BKFC debut against bare knuckle veteran
Kevin Ferguson Jr. signed to the BKFC last year and was supposed to make his promotional debut against TikTok star and one-time bare knuckle boxer Bryce Hall at Knuckle Mania 5 in January.
However, Slice Jr. had to withdraw from the bout because of his conflicting schedule as a law enforcement officer.
Several months later, Slice Jr. has been booked to fight on the same card as former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero’s BKFC debut.
On Monday, the promotion announced Slice Jr. will take on Derek Perez at BKFC 80 on Sept. 12 in Hollywood, Florida.
Perez has eight fights under the BKFC banner, having won his last two by TKO in 2025. Perez has a 4-4 record in BKFC and a 3-9 record in pro MMA.
Slice Jr. went 3-3 with one no-contest in Bellator, where he spent the entirety of his MMA career. The 33-year-old is coming off a TKO loss to OJ Rose at Misfits Boxing in Apr. 2023.
Slice Jr. hasn’t fought since.
Kimbo Slice was notorious for his backyard street fights
Years before he won his UFC debut in 2009, Kimbo Slice was spilling blood on the streets of Dade County, Miami.
Slice became an Internet sensation in the 2000’s for knocking out opponents in backyard fights, often leaving them badly beaten and bloody.
Most of Slice’s fights were bare knuckle. The late fighter didn’t pick up the gloves until he started training MMA in 2005, under the legendary Bas Rutten.
Slice won his first four pro MMA fights by finish in 2007-8.