Two minutes into what is likely the most watched Mixed Martial Arts program on cable TV, and I’ve seen more characterization in a fighter than what I’ve seen in professional wrestling in the last five years.

Kimbo Slice:  YouTube hero, street fighter, cartoon character extraordinaire.

Kimbo Slice talking about only being at rest only after making a decision to shave his beard; talking about reflection, being alone and prayer; talking word-play on enemy and inner me.

Thirty seconds of Kimbo with a word-play about enemy and inner me.

Can you dig it?

Talk about turning perceptions, talk about turning expectations on its head.

Two minutes later, we’re realizing that Roy Nelson is really Kimbo Slice. We’re learning, through the words of Rashad Evans, that Nelson has no manager, secures his own sponsors and trains on his own. We learn that the former IFL Champion is willing to learn, but only after he trusts.

And trust isn’t something that comes easy.

Kimbo Slice is ripped, dangerous and sports a mean looking busy beard. Roy Nelson is the big guy who trains unorthodoxly, who has tons of experience, who relies on MMA for a career.

It’s five minutes into the show, and Rashad brings the Dean of Mean, Keith Jardine, into the gym, and uses it to attempt to rile up Rampage Jackson. It is, after all, the purpose of the show not to just build up the eventual winner of the Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, but also the fight between the captains – Rampage and Rashad.

Even if that fight isn’t going to happen any time soon.

Even if playing the role of Mr. T is more important short term for Jackson, and dropping out of a major league fight in his home town of Memphis, Tennessee – regrettably, he has said – and out showing another claimant to the world’s toughest man are other things that just float by in the gym, in the Ultimate Fighter environment.

Yeah, there are MMA hardcores who despise professional wrestling, and professional wrestling hardcores who lavish MMA with praise for updating the concept and displaying what combat sports (worked or real) should be all about.

Like it or not, TUF on Spike just provided a ten minute display of hyping fights, creating believable characters and making the viewer want to see some competition.

Rampage is, after all, the babyface of the show. He’s stoic, insightful and serious, despite his immense charisma and ultimate understanding of the world of professional wrestling. Rampage made his name in Japan, in a world and an industry where professional wrestling and MMA have been intertwined for the past four decades, if you know of the name Antonio Inoki. Rampage has been known to carry the chains and project the character that was the Junkyard Dog (Sylvester Ritter.)

Rashad is a product of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He won TUF. He reached the top of the food chain as the Light Heavyweight Champion. Rashad comes across as an instigator and a natural for the guy you want to see get shut up. As a man growing to love his career, and loving more to rile up his peers. Rashad, we know from experience, has the talent and the passion and the prime of his career all looking at bigger and better things.

But he’s not showing the level of respect a competitor should have. And while one can wonder if the magic of TV and situations skewed for entertainment purposes are at play here, we can see the dynamics of the superfight building.

Rashad vs Rampage.

With the complexities of characters swelling to overcome the expectations of their records, and that’s what making a great big fight into a fight you don’t want to miss is all about.

Halfway through the show, we’re seeing the UFC in a microcosm.

Dana White appears, just in time for the weigh-ins.

It makes the competition more sports-oriented. More serious. And yet Dana White’s there with the voice over when we learn that Kimbo Slice is weighing in over 230 pounds, and Roy Nelson, whom White said looks like he’s hit every buffet in Vegas, comes in at 264.

Which actually adds a few more dimensions to the fight.

First, Kimbo isn’t exactly a big man. He’s an average Heavyweight, between the 205 – 265 range. Strangely enough, he’s halfway between. Average and Kimbo? Who would have thought!?! But there’s an interesting point with Roy Nelson coming in at 264. Call it coincidence, and call it something a little too close for comfort considering the weight limit.

But isn’t it more than a little curious that Roy Nelson toed right up to the line, and maximized his bulk, and pretty much had to know what his weight is, pretty much has to know that he needs to control his bulk, and pretty much needs to be always in the know of that situation, considering it’s his career, and another few pounds he’d be throwing money at his opponent?

Is Roy Nelson out of shape, or in the fighting shape he wants to be?

The fight?

The fight was hyped beyond belief for the past week: on the internet, on Spike, in the rumblings of the pundits and the office coolers and the millions who watched Kimbo last year, and watched him two weeks ago in the opening.

First round was mostly feeling out, stalling and evenly matched.

And then, after about two minutes, Big Country got a clinch at the cage, and I could see his strategy playing out: wear down the Internet sensation.

At 1:30 left, Nelson drove Kimbo into the fence, nearly driving Kimbo’s bald head into a post.

With 30 seconds left, Roy Nelson had Kimbo smothered by his prodigious gut, and was popping him repeatedly on the exposed top of the skull – the only bit of Slice’s flesh showing, surrounded by pasty white gut and black/gold shorts.

Second Round came with both wary.

Kimbo throwing before the thirty second mark. Nelson takes him down, decisively but not with grace. At that point, Roy is working methodically, but Kimbo seems to be defending, albeit without a sense of urgency.

Punches to the top of the skull again.

Twenty one of them?!?

And Herb Dean, one of the UFC’s notable referees, finally makes the call. The punches weren’t strong at all, but Kimbo Slice is hardly defending. I momentarily questioned the end of the first round, and I do agree with Dana White: Roy did just enough to win the fight.

“Can I have a double Whopper with cheese?”

Yeah, this wasn’t a fight that called for even a cheap steak at a local restaurant, just a fast-food meal.

But despite the dynamics – the fat guy versus the shredded one, racial overtones, experienced MMA versus hype – it just didn’t feel like a big deal. And then the UFC pulled out a pro wrestling angle, and it looks like Kimbo Slice, with the blessing (half-heartedly at best) of Dana White, may just get another chance in another fight.

Talk about turning hype on its ear and creating something where nothing was exposed.

Funny thing is…. I’m ready to see what happens next.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Look for a review of SHIMMER Volume 23 for something almost completely different next time.