Cause of Kimbo Slice's death revealed

Kimbo Slice. Photo / Getty

A hopsital report has revealed shocking details about the health of MMA fighter Kimbo Slice before his sudden death.

The 42-year-old street-fighting legend, real name Kevin Ferguson, was told he needed a heart transplant just days before he died, according to the report cited by TMZ and the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

It said Slice was admitted to Northwest Medical Centre on June 3 complaining of severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath and nausea. He was told he had a liver mass and congestive heart failure and placed on a ventilator in intensive care.

Plans were being made to transport him to a clinic in Cleveland where he could be placed on an organ donor's list but he died before that could happen, on Tuesday (AEST).

The report, which was given to the Broward County Medical Examiner's office, also noted Slice did not have a history of illicit drug use and trauma and foul play were not suspected in his death.

It explains the Medical Examiner's office's decision not to complete an autopsy. "We were informed of his death and after review of the circumstances, we declined jurisdiction," the office told TMZ. "It is not a medical examiner case ... No medical legal investigation, including toxicology is necessary."

Slice last fought for MMA promotion Bellator in February against Dhafir Harris, known as DaDa 5000. He won by third round TKO but the result was overturned when Slice was found to have elevated testosterone levels and tested positive for the steroid nandrolone.

He was scheduled to headline the Bellator 158 card in London next month against James Thompson, in a rematch of the 2008 fight Slice won by TKO.

He left behind a recent bride and six children. One of his three sons, Kevin "Baby Slice" Ferguson Jr, made his MMA debut in March.