CBS Conference Call Quotes: Kimbo, Colossus, Bas Rutten, Gary Shaw

Bernard Fernandez: OK, I appreciate it.

Gary Shaw: Thank you.

Operator: We next go to Sharon Robb from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Go ahead please.

Sharon Robb: Kimbo, hello. Mixed martial arts has been around for a very, very long time and finally it’s a very hot sport. I’m curious what your initial attraction was and what took you so long to get involved with it?

Kimbo Slice: My initial attraction — and I’m not saying this because he’s here — was Bas Rutten. (When I saw how he loved the sport and lived, I said then) if I’m going to train with anybody, it has to be that guy. That’s what made the transition for me to cross over to the MMA world and leave street fighting alone.

Operator: We’ll move on to the side of Pedro Gonzalez from Sports Review. Go ahead please.

Pedro Gonzalez: Hi and thanks for giving us the time. Kimbo, I grew up in Cutler Ridge close to Goulds and Perrine (Florida) areas. How much did growing up in a rough area attribute to your toughness?

Kimbo Slice: It doesn’t have a lot to do with it. It comes with (the) neighborhood. I actually went to schools — Cutler Ridge Middle, Bel-Air Elementary, Richmond Middle and also Palmetto Senior High. You know those neighborhoods are pretty rough, (but) it was school. (If it is time to throw down), we’ve got to throw it down.

Pedro Gonzalez: What is your ultimate goal with MMA? Where do you see yourself in five years?

Kimbo Slice: To continue to be fighting. I see myself receiving one of the heavyweight titles whether it’s boxing or MMA and holding on to them.

Pedro Gonzalez: Are you ever scared or nervous when you approach a fight?

Kimbo Slice: No.

Pedro Gonzalez: Who do you think punches harder? You or Mike Tyson?

Kimbo Slice: I don’t know. We have to do a test to find that out.

Pedro Gonzalez: How often do random people in the street cause problems with you or try to challenge you to a fight?

Kimbo Slice: Never. It never happened.

Operator: We now move on to Eddie Goldman from No Holds Barred.

Eddie Goldman: Thank you. Hello, everybody. Kimbo, besides the financial aspects, how is becoming a professional mixed martial arts partnered with EliteXC changed your life? Or has it?

Kimbo Slice: It’s changed my life tremendously. I’ve learned – I guess that I’ve learned — discipline. I’ve learned (commitmentship). I’ve learned to be more loyal to something that I love (besides) my family.

When I’m in training mode, it’s a three-month or for however long (stint). There’s no drugs, there’s no smoking, there’s no drinking and there’s no sex. And that’s some serious (commitmentship) and I’m loyal.

This does mean something to me. I’m fighting for a reason. I’m fighting for my family. I’m fighting for myself. I’m fighting to never go back into the gutter again. I’m fighting to raise my kids up to be in a different environment. There’s a lot I’m fighting for.

I’m not just in there slugging it out you know. It’s a chess game. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve learned to use my brain. I can drink a cup of water and also write something and watch TV and read a book. I can do all. I’m versatile now. You know, I’m no longer one dimensional in my life. I can do a lot of different things now that I’m training.

Eddie Goldman: There was a recent article by a writer on ESPN.com that was very critical of your image and used a lot of epithets about you.

Gary Shaw: Don’t even go there, Eddie, because any article that starts, ‘Although I’ve never spoken with the man and although I’ve never met the man,’ — that alone disqualifies the article and doesn’t warrant a question. And I’m not going to let Kimbo even give an answer.

Eddie Goldman: Well, I just wanted to get his rebuttal to it.

Gary Shaw: There is no rebuttal. Anybody that will write an article that’s speaking third person and without meeting the person is not a journalist.

Eddie Goldman: OK. I’m not disagreeing with you. I just wanted to …

Gary Shaw: OK, well …

Eddie Goldman: … get his take on it.

Gary Shaw: … forget it.

Eddie Goldman: I’ve got a question for James also. James, you’ve been brought into this fight. Kimbo is the big star attraction on the cover of ESPN Magazine and is the main one being …

James Thompson (interrupting): Some people don’t even say hello to me.

Eddie Goldman: I know. I’m sorry about that. (But) how are you going to approach this fight? Do you think you’re being brought in to be knocked out? And obviously you want to win this fight on this big stage and being on CBS. How are you going to approach Kimbo?

James Thompson: You know, obviously, I’m being brought in to – I’m mean I’m a big guy, I’m an exciting fighter, I look big and mean but you know they’re hoping I get knocked on the chin and that’s not over for me. I mean fans will call me “James See You Later.’’

It doesn’t matter to me. That doesn’t bother me at all. It doesn’t bother me because it gives me a chance (to make amends). I mean after my last few fights, I don’t think I really deserve the chance. But to get this chance (is massive) to me. I mean it really is a big thing and I intend to take full advantage of it.

Eddie Goldman: I want to ask also finally Kimbo and James. Do you guys both expect this to be a short fight over in the first round? Kimbo first.

Kimbo Slice: Well, I’m expecting the fight to go to the ground. I’m expecting to do some of my ground game. Man, you don’t understand. I’m more excited about going to the ground than I am standing up right now. You know the last quarter of our training has been ground by ground by ground. I’m really looking forward to that right now.

Eddie Goldman: And James, how do you see it? Do you think it’s actually ending up going to the ground or do you think it’ll be a stand-up battle?

James Thompson: There are so many different elements in it. I wouldn’t even like to predict where the fight’s going to go. All I know is I’m training hard. I’m sure Kimbo’s training hard. You know we both come to fight, we both come to entertain and we both come to give our all. So all I know is it’s going to be one exciting fight.

Operator: We next go to Steve Feitl from Home News Tribune of East Brunswick. Go ahead please.

Steve Feitl: Hi, good afternoon, everybody. My first question is for James. With Kimbo being a relatively young fighter and you know knowing how his skills are developing, does that make it somewhat more difficult to prepare for fighting him?

James Thompson: To a certain extent because you have this – well you know obviously Kimbo’s very aggressive. Obviously. he’s got a good stand-up. You know that’s what we’ve seen. And you can answer with a question mark. All I can do is see what I’ve got to work with and where my game is and fill in the holes I have and fight hard.

Steve Feitl: Kimbo, this is obviously a huge night in the world of mixed martial arts, a big opportunity for mixed martial arts. Do you feel any extra responsibility considering you’re kind of the guy that they’re kind of building this all around as far as EliteXC?

Kimbo Slice: You know I know what I have to do and I never had a problem doing what I have to do.

Operator: Our next question comes to us from Doug Jeffrey. Go ahead please.

Doug Jeffrey: Thank you for your time. I appreciate it very much you guys. James, your walk-ins are very, very intense. What goes through your mind during that time you are walking in to the cage?

James Thompson: Nothing really goes through my mind. It’s just a mixture of adrenaline. It’s there. It’s kind of all those kinds of things mixed in together, which you kind of just go along with. It’s kind of the kind of what comes out of your end. You know I mean that kind of intense amplifier.

Doug Jeffrey: OK. What is your biggest concern with Kimbo?

James Thompson: His beard. I don’t want to get the oval bed rush. You know I mean that’s what I mean. Now I mean obviously he’s an aggressive stand-up fighter. I’ve got holes in my stomach defense. I mean I’ve got to make sure I’m tight and you know I mean I don’t want to be going to war with Kimbo. I mean that’s no secret. Eventually, I want it to go to the floor and see what he’s got there.

Doug Jeffrey: Bas, can you assess Kimbo’s skill level?

Bas Rutten: Well, it’s up there you know. The thing is we fought three fights with a two-minute-and-twelve-second total time. There’s nothing much we can say from that, right? So we got to fight – I foresee everything being really good because the way he is before a fight, he’s very relaxed.

He really likes to fight. He keeps his mind together which is a very difficult thing to do for a fighter because you see a lot of fighters who are really good in the dojo, but then once they bring it to the fight they get stage fright and they lock up there and like only 20 percent comes out. But I don’t see a problem, so I think he’s going to have a great career just as long as there are no injuries — that’s the only thing I wish because that’s what happened with me. Then, I foresee a great career.

Doug Jeffrey: Kimbo, what is your biggest concern with James going in to the fight?

Kimbo Slice: I don’t have one.

Doug Jeffrey: Totally confident and ready to go?

Kimbo Slice: Yes, sir.

Doug Jeffrey: OK, good deal. Thanks for your time, you guys.

Gary Shaw: OK, Doug. Take care, man.

Operator: Your next question comes to us from Jack Encarnacao from The Fight Network. .

Jack Encarnacao: Hi, guys. Thanks for taking the call. I really appreciate it. Gary, how close were you guys to making a Kimbo versus Ken Shamrock fight for the CBS debut?

Gary Shaw: Not really close. Ken is one of our fighters and we absolutely would’ve considered him had he won in England, but the fact is that he didn’t win and I didn’t like the way he lost. I didn’t think it was appropriate for the first CBS telecast.

Jack Encarnacao: How about in James Thompson’s case, who also is coming off a loss like Ken?

Gary Shaw: I think he just walked into (a shot). It was a different type of loss. I mean it was more competitive. I thought he walked into a punch. He fought Brett Rodgers, who we have a lot of respect for, so much respect that he’s on this CBS telecast. Somebody asked before about James coming in to be a sacrificial lamb for Kimbo. Well, a lot of people thought that Brett Rodgers was a sacrificial lamb for James Thompson. I’ve been in the fight game long enough to know that anything can happen on any night. And if you’re not well prepared, then you know you are in a problem. But as Buster Douglas showed when beat Mike Tyson, anything can happen on any night. That’s why the smart people will tune in on May 31st primetime, 9:00 p.m, on CBS.

Jack Encarnacao: Kimbo, why do you think so many people want to see you fight?

Kimbo Slice: Because you’ve got a lot of people out there who love the sport. They love the fact that people who love boxing are transitioning now over to MMA. And they love a battle like back in the days when the Romans just filled their buildings up with millions or hundreds of thousands of people to watch the Roman gladiators go at it. This is the modern day time. Now we’re in the new millennium, this is a new era, and it’s the same thing you know. People love to be entertained. You know man to man. That’s what people love. Luckily for me, I’m one of those gladiators. I love to fight. I love to perform. It’s your move and my move. It’s one on one. You know I can take a punch. Can you take a punch? You know you’re going to put me in a move. I’m going to try to get out and I’m going to slip you in a move. And that’s what it’s about with me.

Jack Encarnacao: Kimbo, do you get a sense that you are bringing new people into the sport that don’t watch right now?

Kimbo Slice: Yes, I’ve been all around and I’m getting that and, you know, that’s good. That’s good that we’re able to be a positive influence on the public; that people are getting more involved. That is a good thing because that means that we are part of — you know James, myself and , everybody on this fight card — we’re going to (show that this really is a) sport. And that’s what it’s about.

Jack Encarnacao: Bas, you’ve been around the sport pretty much longer than anybody else, and I wondered if you have ever seen anything in Japan or even in America like what’s happening with Kimbo? Can you compare it to anything as far as the general interest in this and his story?

Bas Rutten: I would say Bob Sapp in Japan. But then, Bob, I think got more attracted to pro wrestling and then they started doing more and more interviews and TV and he got sidetracked a little bit. In the beginning, let’s not forget that he gave Antonio Nogueira a run for his money, pile driving on his head. But then when they started pulling away because he was so big – I had dinner with Bob Sapp one time and they had to close the restaurant because people were gathering in the front of it. We had to escape from the back.

With Kimbo, it’s the same. Wherever you go, people recognize him. Kids recognize him, all those people. He rams his car into another car you know in front of a church very close to my gym. And the people from the church, they ran out and they go, ‘Oh my God, Kimbo Slice. We were watching you before we went to church on YouTube.’ I will say also that Kimbo is really focused on the training and we have tried to keep him away from the movies for now.

Jack Encarnacao: Kimbo, do you follow all the press about you? Do you ever look at it or do you completely shut it out?

Kimbo Slice: I completely shut it out.

Jack Encarnacao: Except ESPN The Magazine, right?

Kimbo Slice: Yes.

Jack Encarnacao: All right. It’s all good. Thank you, guys.

Operator: Thank you. We’ll now move on to Kevin Garvey from TheGARV.com. Go ahead please.

Kevin Garvey: Hey, guys. Thanks for taking the call. Kimbo, you did a lot of bare knuckle boxing in your day. How are your knuckles, your hands now? Are they in good shape?

Kimbo Slice: My hands are great.

Kevin Garvey: Kimbo, you mentioned that you’d like to possibly be the heavyweight champion in boxing. Do you see a pro boxing match in your future?

Kimbo Slice: It’s going to be up to my promoter and my manager. They’ll work together and decide what is best for the future and my career.

Kevin Garvey: Kimbo, you have a lot of fans but there are some people who feel that you should not be headlining this because of your lack of experience. How would you address that?

Kimbo Slice: They’re right.

Kevin Garvey: They’re right, huh?

Kimbo Slice: Yes.

Kevin Garvey: That’s interesting. Bas, I know that you’re working on the ground game with Kimbo. How would you rate his ground game?

Bas Rutten: Kimbo’s take-down defense is really good actually. There are certain ways to take people down. And we’ve got great (fighters) for takedowns, so you know whatever comes, he’s going to counter with something. And if they go for a takedown, he’s going to reverse them and end up on top. (That’s because) of his size and his power. That’s going to be a great position to be in.

Kevin Garvey: All right, it sounds great, guys. Thanks very much.

Mitch Graham: Guys, we have time for two more questions.

Operator: We’ll go next to Stephen Marrocco from Full Contact Fighter. Go ahead please.

Stephen Marrocco: Kimbo, you seem to be a lot more talkative today (then you were) at the press conference in Los Angeles on CBS Media Day. Were you shy in front of so many cameras?

Kimbo Slice: No.

Stephen Marrocco: Gary, you mentioned that you had to be prepared for whoever won the main event, Kimbo or James Thompson. What is the plan if Kimbo loses?

Gary Shaw: For me to hang myself on TV. (Seriously) I never think of any of my athletes losing on either side. I’m at it promoting an event, so put on a great and a winning experience and the millions of viewers that are going to watch on Saturday, May 31st, (will get) a great show. So I don’t really look forward – well if he loses, what do we do? I don’t even look forward if they win when they do. I take one of them at a time and one side at a time. And that is the truth.

As far as the question about Kimbo headlining a show – headlining a show has nothing to do with experience. It has to do with fighting ability and entertainment value. And Kimbo Slice brings to the arena and to television great fighting ability and great entertainment skills.

And Bas – and I don’t know Bas that well, but I could tell you that many, many people have told me the same thing: If Bas didn‘t believe Kimbo was real and Kimbo couldn’t fight, Bas would not put his name attached to Kimbo and walk down that cage war with Kimbo. And he could – Bas could speak for himself, but I can guarantee you that he’ll back up what I’m saying right now.

Bas Rutten: Yes, I would.

Stephen Marrocco: Gary, if you matched the ratings expectations on Saturday, what do you expect from the other networks in the future?

Gary Shaw: That’s a great question. I believe if we do the ratings that I personally am expecting then I think you’ll see other networks – NBC, Fox, probably go right into mixed martial arts because they’ll see the entertainment value, they’ll see the ratings value, they’ll see the sponsorship money come in. And it’s the new wave sport. It’s here. And I don’t believe anything’s going to stop it as long as we give competitive fights and great entertainment value.

And I think not because it’s a show that I’m promoting, but I believe in the product. And if it’s done right, I believe you’ll see others jump in immediately.

Stephen Marrocco: And if you miss the mark, what do you expect other than a trip to the gallows for yourself?

Gary Shaw: If I miss the mark, I’ll be very disappointed in myself and my leadership. I’ll forever question what went wrong and why it didn’t do the ratings. And the only thing that I could think of on this conference call is maybe we’re just a little ahead of the time. But I don’t expect that to happen. I don’t think CBS is expecting it to happen. And truthfully I’m not prepared for if it doesn’t happen. It’s a very good question. I gave you an answer with maybe not a lot of thought but from my heart.

Stephen Marrocco: Gary, do you have any comment about Carina Damm’s positive test for steroids and do you have a replacement for her on June 27th?

Gary Shaw: Well, she’s obviously suspended from fighting for us. I’m very disappointed in any athlete that takes steroids. That’s one thing that I won’t tolerate as a formal regulator and someone that really cares about the health, welfare and safety of every fighter. There’s just no reason for that, no reason to get an unfair edge. So, yes, we’ll have replacements, and she’ll be suspended maybe even longer than her athletic suspension.

Stephen Marrocco: OK, great. Thank you very much.

Gary Shaw: Thank you very much.

Operator: The last question will come from Alberto Martinez from URDirt.com.

Alberto Martinez: James, how do you feel fighting so close to New York City, which has historical value as far as big events go and do you see the future of New York chasing up for you guys?

James Thompson: Yes, although I am not really following it much where the fight’s taking place. Obviously it’s in America, it’s on CBS. It’s primetime, it’s a massive historical event and the fact it’s kind of near New York or in New York. I hope New York gets a license so they can have actual MMA fights. I’m not going to give it much thought, though.

Alberto Martinez: Kimbo, how close do you feel to being ready to fight Tim Sylvia or Fedor?

Kimbo Slice: I’m willing to fight anybody. I’m willing to take any challengers. I don’t turn anyone down.

Alberto Martinez: Kimbo, do you have a prediction?

Kimbo Slice: He’s going to throw punches. It’s going to go to the ground.

Alberto Martinez: Are you prepared for that, Kimbo, if it goes to the ground?

Kimbo Slice: Yes.

Alberto Martinez: James, how does it feel being a sacrificial lamb in the media actually feel?

James Thompson: The actual title of being a sacrificial lamb is unofficial. I’m not sure what – it doesn’t bother me. This is such a memorable event. I’m all good and I’m all ready to go.

Alberto Martinez: Thank you.

Mitch Graham: All right everyone. Thank you so much for calling in today. Thank you Kimbo, James, and Bas and Gary.

We will have a replay of this call available for one week. The replay information – the number is 719-457-0820 or toll free at 888-203-1112, and the pass code is 4526085. If anybody has any questions or follow up, they can contact Kelli Raftery in New York or myself, Mitch Graham.

I think all of you have our information. And thank you again for calling in today and tune in on May 31 on CBS 9:00 to 11:00. Thanks, everyone.