As the -600 favorite to win, it should come as no surprise that Kimbo Slice did win the EliteXC network TV debut.  Kimbo Slice has long been an Internet sensation thanks to YouTube, now he's likely to become a household name.

Kimbo beat British born James Thompson (+400). 

This was the toughest challenge ever for Kimbo as Thompson got the best of him throughout much of round one.  For the first time in his heavyweight career, Kimbo Slice has gone past the first round.  Kimbo was in major trouble in the second round, down and getting pounded.  This was unfamiliar territory for the former street brawler.  Thompson easily won the second round after Kimbo came out swinging at the start.

In the end, Kimbo managed to win at the top of the third round (38 seconds) by way of technical knockout.  Great fight.  Question was whether this was ended prematurely. Kimbo Slice improved to 3-0.  It was a controversial decision.

Kimbo is a Miami, Florida-based street fighter turned mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He first appeared in several filmed underground fights which have spread primarily on the Internet. Kimbo has since left street fighting behind and is now putting his efforts towards becoming a professional mixed martial arts fighter. Rolling Stone called Slice "The King of the Web Brawlers".

Kimbo Slice left this fight with an MMA record of 4-1.

Most online gambling establishments only permitted a maximum of $500 for the EliteXC event.  Anyone who bet the max would have won just shy of $100.

His biggest appeal, according to Dan Arritt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer.  Simply put, might be a knack for toppling large men with one powerful blow.

"He's the closest I've come to Mike Tyson," said Gary Shaw, who promoted the former heavyweight boxing champion and now does the same for Elite Extreme Combat, an MMA organization based in Los Angeles. "He has an on-off switch," Shaw said. "If it's off, he can baby-sit your kids, everything's great. If you flip that switch on, it's a problem."

"Being a heavyweight fighter is my life," said Kimbo in a segment leading up to the main event.

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Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com

Originally published May 31, 2008 11:11 pm EST