TUF 10 Finale thought 3: Now Kimbo Slice is over-rated

Can we please stop patting Kimbo Slice on the back for his vast improvement, growth and maturation as a mixed martial artist?

Yes, his bout with UFC vet Houston Alexander went the distance, which was about fourteen minutes longer than I predicted it would. And Slice showed considerable and shocking restraint – or nervousness – as he watched Alexander play ring-around-the-rosy with him in the opening round. Yes, he did take Alexander down a couple of times with some huge slams. Yes, he took Alexander’s back and got mount (although, like a virgin at a whorehouse, he seemed not to know what to do once he was there). And yes, he did put himself into position for a rear-naked choke, although he couldn’t finish it. It was enough to earn him the unanimous-decision victory and vindicate himself after being manhandled by Roy Nelson in his one Ultimate Fighter bout.

But let’s put this in perspective. He was fighting Houston “We have a problem” Alexander, a 9-5 brawler with zero ground game of his own whose KO wins over Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara were erased by two knockout losses and one submission loss. Shown the door by the UFC, he was brought back just to slug it out with Slice and he looked nervous and wobbly even before the first round started. If anything, Alexander ripped defeat from the jaws of victory and Slice was the beneficiary.