MMA fighter Kimbo Slice dies at age 42
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Professional mixed martial artist Kimbo Slice, 42, has died, Bellator MMA confirmed to ESPN.
"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating and untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," Bellator president Scott Coker said in a statement, calling Slice "a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport."
"Outside of the cage he was a friendly, gentle giant and a devoted family man," Coker said. "His loss leaves us all with extremely heavy hearts, and our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ferguson family and all of Kimbo's friends, fans, and teammates."
There was no word on the cause of Slice's death.
Police in Florida said Slice has been taken to a hospital, though the reason why wasn't immediately clear.
Coral Springs Police Sgt. Carla Kmiotek said Monday night that a local hospital told the department the fighter, whose real name is Kevin Ferguson, was a patient.
She says officers were dispatched to his home with the expectation that a crowd would gather there.
Kmiotek couldn't provide any details about his condition or why he was hospitalized but said there's no active police investigation. She said no foul play is suspected.
Slice was a former backyard brawler and Internet sensation. He was born in the Bahamas in 1974 but made his home in the Miami area.
A hospital representative couldn't immediately be reached by The Associated Press.
Slice rose to fame through fighting videos that made him an internet sensation.
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