MMA fighter Kimbo Slice dies aged 42

Mixed martial arts fighter Kimbo Slice has died aged 42.

Slice, real name Kevin Ferguson, was admitted to a Florida hospital this morning and later died, CBS News reports. 

The cause of his death is not yet known.

Slice rose to prominence on the back of raw street-fighting videos posted to YouTube in 2003, and made his professional debut in 2007.

Slice had been fighting for promotion company Bellator MMA, and won his most recent bout in Feburary. 

The victory was later overturned when Slice tested positive for a banned anabolic steroid.

Bellator has confirmed Slice's death in a statement.

"We are all shocked and saddened by the devastating untimely loss of Kimbo Slice, a beloved member of the Bellator family," Bellator president Scott Coker said.

"One of the most popular MMA fighters ever, Kimbo was a charismatic, larger-than-life personality that transcended the sport."

Slice also competed as a boxer and wrestler, and boxed in Sydney in 2013 as an undercard before a Daniel Geale-Anthony Mundine bout.

Florida-based training camp American Top Team and former fighter Brendan Schaub have led tributes to the fighter.

This is a breaking news story. More detail will be added shortly.

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