Report: ‘Kimbo Slice' Needed Heart Transplant, Died of Heart Failure
Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson was hospitalized three days before his death and diagnosed with heart failure.
The Sun-Sentinal reported that Ferguson was admitted to the hospital complaining of severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath and nausea on June 3. After tests, doctors found diagnosed Ferguson with a liver mass and congestive heart failure. His family was a informed that the 42-year-old needed a heart transplant. Citing the Broward County’s medical examiner’s office, Ferguson was placed on a ventilator in intensive care and passed away on Monday, June 6.
Ferguson's death came without warning to most. He was scheduled to headline Bellator 158 on July 16 in London in a rematch against James Thompson.
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“Kimbo Slice” became famous for his backyard brawl videos on YouTube in the early 2000s, which launched a legitimate fighting career. He was signed by Elite XC and made his professional debut in November 2007.
After suffering his first career loss to Seth Petruzelli in 2008, Ferguson appeared on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. He fought twice in the UFC, defeating Houston Alexander and losing to Matt Mitrione. He was released from the organization after the Mitrione loss.
He found a new home in the Bellator MMA promotion and debuted under the Bellator banner in June 2015, defeating Ken Shamrock. He last fought at Bellator 149 in February, defeating Dhafir “DaDa 5000” Harris.