Felix Biederman Joins Press Row

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Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen is joined by ”Chapo Trap House” host and Cafe.com political columnist Felix Biederman.

On Monday, Miami brawler turned MMA superstar “Kimbo Slice” Kevin Ferguson passed away at the age of 42 due to heart failure. Following Kimbo's sudden and shocking death, Breen and Biederman eulogize and reflect on Ferguson's unique and unparalleled rise from Youtube streetfighting sensation and porn site bodyguard to one of the biggest draws in MMA history, as far as cable and network TV ratings are concerned. The pair dig into Kimbo's surprising path to infamous and legitimate celebrity, from his backyard fighting days, his infamous encounter with Sean Gannon, the importance of his tenure on “The Ultimate Fighter” and why TUF 10 was ultimately a squandered opportunity for the UFC.

Breen and Biederman also discuss Kimbo's widespread fame and popularity outside of the mixed martial arts bubble, how it informed reactions to his death, the essential racial components to Kimbo as a pop culture symbol and the other idiosyncrasies that made Kimbo an MMA icon while never even approaching the status of a truly elite fighter.

Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.”

The above file can be saved in MP3 format here.

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