Joe Rigg's close call with Kimbo Slice

[thefirm0]

- JOE RIGGS ON MISAKI AND CLOSE CALL WITH KIMBO
Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - by Tom Hamlin - MMAWeekly.com
Fight fans, take notice: In a small way, Joe Riggs helped create Kimbo Slice.

The year is 2003. Riggs is at least a year away from his UFC debut. He’s fighting for $1,000 a show, good money for him at the time. Slice’s manager, Icy Mike, puts out a challenge to tough guys around the country – come to Florida if you think you can beat up Kimbo Slice. Win, and you get $10,000.

Riggs’ manager at the time, Trevor Lally, jumps at the offer. He emails Mike and says he’s got someone for him. He offers to put up $50,000 of his own money as a show of faith.

Riggs begins training in earnest and mentally preparing for a fight with Slice. But when Mike finds out about Riggs’ credentials, the door is promptly closed.

“I’d of beat the (expletive) out of him,” Riggs told MMAWeekly.com. “It would have been done. No Kimbo. I would have rubbed him out and saved everyone the headaches.”

Or Riggs could have videotaped his street brawls, something he jokingly wishes he did.

Riggs had other things in store for his future, including a two-year stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. There, he met mixed results. He failed to make weight for a title fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 56 then lost the fight decisively. Batting .500 in his four post-Hughes fights, he asked to be released from his UFC contract after a spat with matchmaker Joe Silva.

Other than the requisite scraps of a hotheaded MMA fighter, the closest Riggs got to Slice was a post-UFC 57 brawl with opponent Nick Diaz at the hospital where they stayed.

- JOE RIGGS ON MISAKI AND CLOSE CALL WITH KIMBO - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

i wish that fight did go down. even though if it did we probabaly wouldn't have been treated to tank vs kimbo. he does talk about his upcoming fight with misaki but it's way too long.

[the_dark_angel_4ever]

I've always liked Riggs and I'm really not even sure why lol

[thefirm0]

Originally Posted by the_dark_angel_4ever

I've always liked Riggs and I'm really not even sure why lol

it's the nickname

[the_dark_angel_4ever]

Well I know it's not the "Deisel" tattoo across his stomach. I think those are SO white trash.

No offence to anyone who may have one lol

[Healzyou]

Originally Posted by the_dark_angel_4ever

Well I know it's not the "Deisel" tattoo across his stomach. I think those are SO white trash.

No offence to anyone who may have one lol

I've got Cheeseburger tatoo'd across my stomach in latino gang banger script.

You, sir, are a dick.

[DaTruThHurTs]

Originally Posted by the_dark_angel_4ever

Well I know it's not the "Deisel" tattoo across his stomach. I think those are SO white trash.

No offence to anyone who may have one lol

Hey F-U bro...i have 10% Ethenol tatted across my stomach....its cleaner and better for the environment! You bastard....
Its also my ring nick name...i make sure the anouncer says "and now, fighting out of Tampa, FL by way of NY, NY.... TEEEENNN PEEERRRRCEEENNNTT EEETTHH- AAAANNNNN- OOOOLLLLL" its awesome

[thumper]

errr. A guy that is making 1000 bucks a fight needed a manager????

But yeah I like Riggs too, and I also can't pinpoint why. I always have.

[DonFrye]

I assume this happened back when Riggs was up around 260.

Anyway, Joe beat the legend Herb Dean that year. No way did Kimbo have a shot.

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by DonFrye

I assume this happened back when Riggs was up around 260.

Anyway, Joe beat the legend Herb Dean that year. No way did Kimbo have a shot.

from cagepotato's take on the same story:


rh

[crosshearttat]

Yeah that must have been fat Riggs time. I think Kimbo should drop down to 170.