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Is Kimbo Slice the American MMA version of Bob Sapp?
By Zach Arnold | February 18, 2008
I’ll throw the question out there with some context and then watch the online powder keg explode.
Bob Sapp’s meteoric rise in the world of Japanese MMA & K-1 in the earlier part of this decade was remarkable to watch. Kazuyoshi Ishii did a brilliant job of marketing Sapp and playing off of Japanese stereotypes on foreigners, particularly black people. (Sapp disputes some of this thinking in a recent Total MMA interview).
Sapp was extremely charismatic and had mainstream appeal in the Japanese public. He was also telegenic and knew how to play off of crowds in terms of drawing heat. Conversely, Sapp was criticized by hardcore MMA fans and fighters for not being ‘a real serious fighter’ who was all-show & no-go.
However, there’s no question that the major elephant in the room when discussing Sapp’s success in Japan is the issue of race.
Which brings us to Kimbo Slice and the success he is currently enjoying. Luke Thomas has been one of Kimbo’s staunchest defenders in online MMA circles and he recently continued his defense of Kimbo Slice as a legitimate fighter. In the linked post, Luke addresses the two major claims made by Kimbo’s detractors:
- Kimbo, like Sapp, is not a polished all-around fighter. He’s an entertainer first, fighter second.
- Like Sapp in Japan, Kimbo’s raw appeal is based on him being a very scary black guy who plays up the ultimate image as a backyard & street-fighting brawler.
Given what we saw with the rise and fall of Bob Sapp in Japan, are there any parallels between Sapp’s career and what we are seeing with the rise of Kimbo Slice in the American MMA scene? (And I realize the irony in asking this question, given that Sapp will fight Jan “The Giant” Nortje this weekend at the Tacoma Dome.)
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
One vital difference: Kimbo is a born killer. Sapp is a big baby.
The only thing they really have in common is that they are big black guys who were used by promoters as a freakshow. I guess in a way that could be the American version, but Sapp’s background was far from being a tough guy as much as a big guy who sucked at football.
Kimbo’s background is criminal and being a legit tough guy. If anything Kimbo might turn out to be the Tank Abbott of the MMA boom; the street fighter who just comes out swinging and people love to see go nuts.
It’s an interesting point, but I don’t see a huge amount of paralells apart from their skn colour.
I agree with the above comment that, if anything, Kimbo’s persona is more akin to that of a moder day Tank Abbott than anything else. In the sense that he’s being marketed as coming “off the street into the cage”. They’re pushing the fact that he’s training with some good coaches but that’s necessary in order to be taken seriously in the sport in 2008. The overriding image is still one of a charasmatic street brawler with better than average skills rather than an orthodox MMA fighter.
I think it is an interesting comparison, but I don’t know if it’s entirely accurate.
Yes, it’s certainly true that the marketing of both was based on each being large black men.
I think the big telling difference is that Kimbo is actually a scary ghetto thug, or he’s just doing a really good job of portraying himself that way.
With Sapp, it was clearly an act. I think the telling signs are the numerous comedy shows in Japan that had Sapp laughing and playing with children; his persona outside of the ring was certainly not based on him being a scary ghetto thug like Kimbo.
I don’t fear Kimbo because of his skin color.
I fear the beard. And the chest hair.
Who shaves ONE pec, REALLY?!?
“The only thing they really have in common is that they are big black guys who were used by promoters as a freakshow.”
Come on now. You guys are jumping to grandiose conclusions.