Kevin Ferguson Jr., known as 'Baby Slice,' is stepping closer to continuing his father's legacy at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). He is best known as the son of Kimbo Slice.
Kimbo Slice built his legacy as a well-known leader in the underground fight circuit in Florida. Slice turned his passion into a legitimized profession during the rise of MMA and made his debut in 2007. He would also dabble in boxing, going 7-0 in the sweet science with six wins by knockout.
Slice, who died due to heart failure in 2016, is one of the most recognized figures in modern combat sports, but he was well ahead of his time. The grizzly brawler's true calling card came in bare knuckle. Unfortunately, David Feldman would not found the BKFC until two years after his tragic passing.
Had the promotion been around during his prime, Slice would likely have been a top competitor for years on end. He does not have an official underground fight record, but he was widely regarded as one of the best backyard brawlers of all time.
While Kimbo Slice accomplished some notable things in the MMA world with standout UFC as well as Bellator MMA bouts and several contests on the gloved boxing circuit, many felt like BKFC would have been a perfect fit for him if he was still alive and competing.
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Kimbo Slice first made his name in the world of combat sports through his bare knuckle backyard fighting videos that captivated many on the internet. For Kimbo Slice Jr. to compete in this sport under the bright lights after what his father did for gloveless combat in a more guerilla-style fashion, it makes all the sense in the world to aficiandos of bare fisted combat.
Kimbo Slice did not ever compete in the BKFC, but Baby Slice has a chance to keep his name and legacy alive.
Following a two-year layoff from combat sports, Ferguson returned to make his long-awaited BKFC debut on Sept. 12, according to an announcement by the promotion on social media.
The planned bare knuckle debut of Kimbo Slice’s son fell apart for January’s BKFC card but the son of Kevin Ferguson looks to make his debut in gloveless combat in 2025.
Initial Fight Cancellation and Rebooking
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The aforementioned January booking attempt for Slice Jr. was a planned contest for BKFC KnuckleMania 5 against influencer fighter/ 1-0 BKFC combatant Bryce Hall. The fight did not come to fruition with seemingly no attempt to re-book it without the information being publically available as to why that Ferguson Jr. vs. Hall bout fell out.
Instead, Ferguson was rebooked against BKFC veteran Derek Perez at BKFC 80. Kimbo Slice Jr. would have been Perez’s tenth fight under the BKFC banner.
Kevin Ferguson Jr. is set to compete at BKFC 80 on September 12th against an eight fight BKFC veteran in Derek Perez. Kevin Ferguson Jr, also known to some as Baby Slice, has taken part in six mixed martial arts contest as well as a gloved boxing bout before this looming foray with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Second Cancellation
Kimbo Slice Jr. won’t be making the walk at BKFC 80 tonight. The son of late UFC fighter and street fighting legend Kimbo Slice was supposed to be following in his father’s footsteps in his bare knuckle boxing debut in Hollywood, Florida.
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On fight night, a BKFC official confirmed that Kimbo Slice Jr. vs. Derek Perez is now cancelled.
According to the official, Kimbo Slice Jr. did not weigh in on Thursday night.
After back-to-back cancellations, it is unclear where Kimbo Slice Jr. goes from here. BKFC 80 continues from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, in Hollywood, with a 10-fight line-up.
Background and Career
Kevin Ferguson Jr. is a six-fight MMA veteran, going 3-3 in a four-year span with Bellator. Since his last MMA fight, a decision loss to Kaheem Murray in November 202, Ferguson also made his professional boxing debut with Misfits Boxing, losing by second-round TKO in April 2023.
Although Ferguson did not have much success in MMA or boxing, he might have found a new home with the BFKC. The 33-year-old is cut from the same cloth as his father, who was well ahead of his time as an underground bare-knuckle boxer.
Born in the United States, Slice Jr. represents the Bahamas, where his father was born. He has been following in his footsteps since an early age and got into professional MMA back in 2016 under the Bellator banner.
Being the son of a fighting legend ensures that you won’t have much time to sharpen your skills before being thrown to the wolves and despite starting his career in a high level promotion, Slice Jr. has fared very well. Upon his BKFC debut, the striker holds a 3-3 record as a pro. He’s also taken a boxing match as he looks to focus more on his combat roots of bare-knuckle fighting.
Despite the striking prowess, Slice Jr. holds a majority of his MMA wins via submission, so we know he’s got a well-rounded game.
Hall, who is an investor in BKFC, previously competed in a bare-knuckle fight in 2023 and defeated Gee Perez by TKO.