3 Kimbo Slice moments that had everybody watching

Even taking into account the tendency toward hyperbole that emerges when a public figure passes, it would be difficult to exaggerate the story of Kimbo Slice.

A popular street fighter, Slice was one of YouTube's earliest viral stars and he turned that notoriety into a lucrative professional mixed martial arts career.

Simply put, he looked the part of an absolute badass. Anybody who saw him fight, fan or not, had to at least be intrigued by what this man could be capable of when thrown in the cage with permission to do as much damage as possible.

Ponder this: It would be a stretch to put Slice on a list of the 1000 best fighters to ever compete in MMA, and yet he's unquestionably one of the most famous.

In only eight professional fights, he redefined what it meant to be a star in modern MMA.

Here are three Slice fights that didn't just move the needle, they nearly snapped it off the gauge.

Slice brings MMA to national television

Years before the UFC struck a deal with FOX, it was a promotion called Elite Xtreme Combat that became the first to appear on national television.

When the mass media corporation CBS decided to dip its toes into the waters of MMA, they put together an "Elite XC: Primetime" card that aired May 31, 2008.

And it was Slice who was chosen to headline that event.

That's right, on a card that featured future UFC welterweight champion Robbie Lawler and future Hollywood actress Gina Carano, it was an internet sensation with a 2-0 record that CBS wanted as the face of mainstream MMA.

Six-and-a-half million people tuned in to watch Slice defeat James Thompson in the main event, an MMA viewing record that stood for over three years.

See the gruesome finish to the fight below:

The highest-rated episode of "The Ultimate Fighter" ever

UFC president Dana White viewed Slice as a curiosity, insisting that the only way he'd ever fight in the Octagon is if he went through "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show.

That challenge was met by Slice in 2008 when he became a cast member on "TUF 10." His presence was met with skepticism by his housemates, though they eventually embraced him for his positive attitude and enthusiasm in training.

Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to get ready for a fight with Roy Nelson as the two were picked to scrap on the third episode of the show. Nelson was the most experienced fighter in the house and he would go on to win the tournament that year.

The match between the two was heavily hyped, despite the obvious skill disparity.

Keep in mind, at this point Slice had been in four MMA contests and he was coming off of a first-round knockout loss to TUF alum Seth Petruzelli.

It didn't matter.

Kimbo lost to Nelson in an episode that drew 5.3 million viewers, a series record that hasn't come close to being touched in 23 seasons.

Slice and Dada 5000 take center ring in the Bellator circus

For better or for worse, any talk of Slice's legacy would not be complete without discussing his final fight against Dhafir "Dada 5000" Harris.

The Bellator 149 meeting between the two street-fighting legends has been relentlessly picked apart, but if there was ever a fight that summed up the once-in-a-lifetime appeal of Slice, it was this three-round slopfest in Houston on Feb. 19.

Every second of the fight was ugly and yet also completely engrossing. There were plenty of memorable moments, none more so than the dreadful finish:

Both men gave everything they had that night, and Bellator was rewarded for putting on the grisly display. The main event drew 2.5 million viewers, a promotional record.

In second place? Slice's fight with Ken Shamrock from the previous June.