6 Best Second Generation Fighters In MMA Right Now
Will these guys follow in the footsteps of their fathers?
Though there is room for debate, many people attribute the first UFC event in November of 1993 as the birth of mixed martial arts as a sport in the west. With less than 27 years since the popularisation of MMA, there simply hasn't been much time for the children of established fighters to make waves in the sport.
Unlike both professional wrestling and boxing, which have over a century of documented history and have since produced countless second, and now even third and fourth generation superstars, MMA is still in its embryonic stages and instances of children taking up the mantle and putting on the 4oz gloves to fight are pretty rare.
But it's not completely unheard of.
Ken Shamrock's son Ryan stepped in the cage in 2009 to become one of the first second-generation fighters in the history of the sport, compiling a 1-2 record and retiring three years later. However, these fighters have already reached the major MMA organisations, and are looking to continue on the family legacy as the best second-generation fighters in the sport.
6. Baby Slice (3-2-1)
The first in a series of fighters featured on this list that are currently signed to Bellator, Kevin Ferguson Jr. AKA Baby Slice is the son of the late street fighting sensation turned professional boxer/fighter Kimbo Slice.
Kimbo earned his reputation by showcasing his skills in a number of backyard brawls that would become some of the earliest viral fight videos on the internet before transitioning to MMA in 2007. Kimbo would appear in both the UFC and Bellator, amassing a 5-2-1 record before his untimely death.
Tragically, the pair had both been earmarked to fight on the Bellator London card in 2016 prior to Kimbo's passing.
Despite making his pro debut in a major MMA promotion, Baby Slice has shown during his short career that he is more than capable of coping with the pressure that comes with the bright lights, currently holding a 3-2 record. However, his most recent fight was ruled a no-contest due to Slice landing some illegal strikes to the back of his opponent's head.
Despite a mixed start to his MMA career, Baby Slice has shown potential during his visits to the cage but only time will tell if he possesses the vaunted knockout power of his father and can progress to the upper echelons of the sport.