Tim Kennedy (fighter)

Tim Kennedy
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Born	(1979-09-01) September 1, 1979 San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Nationality	American
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
Division	Middleweight Light Heavyweight
Reach	74.0 in (188 cm)
Style	Wrestling, Kickboxing, Jujitsu
Fighting out of	Austin, Texas, U.S.
Team	Jackson's Submission Fighting
Rank	black belt in Ju-Jitsu black belt in Matt Larsen's Modern Army Combative Program
Mixed martial arts record
Total	23
Wins	18
By knockout	6
By submission	8
By decision	4
Losses	5
By knockout	2
By decision	3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Military career
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	2004 – Present
Rank	Sergeant First Class
Unit	7th Special Forces Group
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan, Iraq War

Timothy Fred "Tim" Kennedy (born September 1, 1979) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the UFC's Middleweight division. He has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, the WEC, ShoMMA, HDNet Fights, and represented the Chicago Red Bears in the IFL. Kennedy is one of the few fighters to simultaneously serve in the United States Army National Guard while also fighting professionally. As of September 29, 2014, he is #7 in official UFC middleweight rankings.

Background

Kennedy grew up the second son of three children in a Christian family in Atascadero, California. As a youth, Kennedy's mother placed him in cooking and piano lessons. To offset her influence on him, Kennedy's father enrolled Tim and his brother in shooting schools, boxing lessons, wrestling teams, and Japanese ju-jitsu classes. Kennedy attended Eagle Academy private high school, graduating in 1998. He then attended Columbia College of Missouri, earning a B.A. in criminal justice in 2002. Kennedy began competing in sanctioned mixed martial arts fights while still in college, but after graduation he enlisted in the United States Army, joining the elite Special Forces in 2004. However, he continued to compete in MMA while serving as a Green Beret. When the Army instituted a service-wide Combatives (hand-to-hand fighting) tournament in 2005, Kennedy entered and won the tournament in the Light Heavyweight division. He achieved this goal three years in a row.

Military career

Tim Kennedy joined the Army on January 4, 2004 and completed Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School and the Special Forces Qualification Course. Tim was featured in Dick Couch's book about Green Beret selection called "Chosen Soldier" under the moniker "Tom Kendall". In 2007, he completed Ranger School and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, where he served on Operational Detachments Alpha. During this time he was also a sniper, sniper instructor, and the principal combatives instructor for C Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. Kennedy deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom multiple times. Among Kennedy’s multiple awards are the Army’s Bronze Star Medal with V device, which was awarded for valor under fire. In August 2009, Kennedy transitioned from active duty to the Texas Army National Guard and served in the position of Special Forces Weapons Sergeant. After stepping away from MMA citing issues he has with the way the sport is run, Kennedy alluded on the JRE podcast that he is taking private security work around the world.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Kennedy began training at Dokan School of Martial Arts in Atascadero, California under Terry Kelly and Barry Smith. He began his MMA training in 1999, training with Chuck Liddell, Jake Shields, Gan McGee, and John Hackleman at The Pit in San Luis Obispo.

Kennedy first started fighting in 1996 and had 31 amateur fights, amassing a record of 30-1 before his first professional fight in 2001. In 2003 he entered and won a one-night tournament at Extreme Challenge 50, winning all three of his fights. In 2004 he joined the Army. Kennedy only fought once in 2006. He then fought for the now defunct International Fight League in 2007, and did not fight in 2008 due to Army deployments overseas. During this time he wrote a three part series of "Letters from a Foreign Land" that chronicled his time in combat.

Strikeforce

Kennedy returned to mixed martial arts in 2009 with a win over Nick Thompson at Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg in Kent, Washington. He followed this up with an impressive win over Zak Cummings in the main event of ShoMMA 3.

Kennedy fought Trevor Prangley on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles. Kennedy won the fight via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in the first round.

Since his move to Austin, Texas, Tim has been training at Competitive Training Center and with BJJ black belt Phil Cardella at the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Austin Association.

Kennedy lost a 5-round decision to Ronaldo Souza for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship at Strikeforce: Houston on August 21, 2010. He was expected to face Jason Miller again on March 5, 2011 at Strikeforce 32. However, Miller was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Melvin Manhoef. He won via submission in the first round. He returned in July 2011 to face Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson. He won the bout via unanimous decision. He faced Luke Rockhold on July 14, 2012 for the Strikeforce Middleweight championship at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Kennedy was expected to face Trevor Smith on November 3, 2012 at Strikeforce: Cormier vs. Mir. However, the event was cancelled due to injuries to headliner Frank Mir, as well to co-headliner and middleweight champion Luke Rockhold. This bout eventually took place on January 12, 2013 at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine. Kennedy won via submission in the third round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In January 2013, the Strikeforce organization was closed by its parent company Zuffa. A list of fighters scheduled to be brought over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship was released in mid-January and Kennedy was one of the fighters listed.

Kennedy faced Roger Gracie on July 6, 2013 at UFC 162, he defeated Gracie via unanimous decision after defending Gracie's submission attempts and standing up with Gracie, out striking him.

Kennedy was expected to face Lyoto Machida on November 6, 2013 at UFC Fight For The Troops 3. However, Machida was pulled from the bout in favor of a matchup with Mark Muñoz on October 26, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 30, after Muñoz's original opponent, Michael Bisping was forced out of their bout with an injury. Kennedy instead faced Rafael Natal in the event headliner. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win also earned him his first Knockout of the Night bonus award.

For his third fight with the promotion, Kennedy faced Michael Bisping on April 16, 2014 at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kennedy faced Yoel Romero on September 27, 2014 at UFC 178. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round. Kennedy nearly finished Romero in the final seconds of the second round but Romero was saved by the bell. Yoel Romero, his cornermen, the referee and the UFC cutman have all been criticized for their actions resulting in a 28-second delay after the scheduled start for the third round. Romero later responded to the controversy, stating that Tim Kennedy illegally held his glove during the attack which prevented Romero from being able to block the punches that rocked him. Despite the loss, Kennedy earned a Fight of the Night bonus award.

Personal life

Kennedy has two daughters. Kennedy will be playing himself in the upcoming Indie film, Range 15. He is a co-owner of Ranger Up, a military-based clothing company.

He is a main cast in the ongoing new series "Hunting Hitler" on The History Channel.

Championships and awards

• Extreme Challenge
  • Extreme Challenge Middleweight Tournament winner

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Fight of the Night (One time)
  • Knockout of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
23 matches	18 wins	5 losses
By knockout	6	2
By submission	8	0
By decision	4	3

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	18–5	Yoel Romero	TKO (punches)	UFC 178	September 27, 2014	3	0:38	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Fight of the Night.
Win	18–4	Michael Bisping	Decision (unanimous)	The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy	April 16, 2014	5	5:00	Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Win	17–4	Rafael Natal	KO (punch)	UFC: Fight for the Troops 3	November 6, 2013	1	4:40	Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States	Knockout of the Night.
Win	16–4	Roger Gracie	Decision (unanimous)	UFC 162	July 6, 2013	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	15–4	Trevor Smith	Submission (guillotine choke)	Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine	January 12, 2013	3	1:36	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
Loss	14–4	Luke Rockhold	Decision (unanimous)	Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy	July 14, 2012	5	5:00	Portland, Oregon, United States	For the Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.
Win	14–3	Robbie Lawler	Decision (unanimous)	Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson	July 30, 2011	3	5:00	Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
Win	13–3	Melvin Manhoef	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson	March 5, 2011	1	3:41	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Loss	12–3	Ronaldo Souza	Decision (unanimous)	Strikeforce: Houston	August 21, 2010	5	5:00	Houston, Texas, United States	For the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Championship.
Win	12–2	Trevor Prangley	Submission (rear-naked choke)	Strikeforce: Los Angeles	June 16, 2010	1	3:35	Los Angeles, California, United States
Win	11–2	Zak Cummings	Submission (north-south choke)	Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings	September 25, 2009	2	2:43	Bixby, Oklahoma, United States
Win	10–2	Nick Thompson	Submission (punches)	Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg	June 19, 2009	2	2:37	Kent, Washington, United States
Win	9–2	Elias Rivera	KO (punches)	IFL: World Grand Prix Finals	December 29, 2007	1	2:00	Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Loss	8–2	Jason Miller	Decision (unanimous)	HDNetFIGHTS: Reckless Abandon	December 15, 2007	3	5:00	Dallas, Texas, United States
Win	8–1	Ryan McGivern	Submission (guillotine choke)	IFL: Chicago	June 19, 2007	2	1:25	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	7–1	Dante Rivera	Submission (punches)	IFL: Atlanta	February 23, 2007	2	2:29	Atlanta, Georgia, United States	Light Heavyweight bout.
Win	6–1	Héctor Urbina	KO (punches)	Fight Fest 7	September 23, 2006	1	1:28	Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Win	5–1	Cruz Chacon	TKO (punches)	Extreme Challenge 50	February 23, 2003	2	1:21	Salt Lake City, Utah, United States	Won Extreme Challenge Middleweight Tournament.
Win	4–1	Jason Miller	Decision (unanimous)	Extreme Challenge 50	February 23, 2003	3	5:00	Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win	3–1	Ryan Narte	TKO (punches)	Extreme Challenge 50	February 23, 2003	1	1:22	Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win	2–1	Mack Brewer	TKO (punches)	WEC 5: Halloween Havoc	October 18, 2002	1	1:03	Lemoore, California, United States	Light Heavyweight bout.
Win	1–1	Jody Burke	Submission (forearm choke)	IFC: Warriors Challenge 16	November 9, 2001	1	0:44	Oroville, California, United States
Loss	0–1	Scott Smith	TKO (doctor stoppage)	IFC: Warriors Challenge 15	August 31, 2001	1	2:53	Oroville, California, United States

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

External links

• Professional MMA record for Tim Kennedy from Sherdog
• Tough times as Strikeforce's Tim Kennedy tries to balance MMA and Army careers
• TexasFighting.com: “Cage fighting compared to the military is a breeze.”
• Tim Kennedy Quotes

• UFC Fighter Rankings, ufc.ca; accessed October 27, 2015.
• Strikeforce adds Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith to Nov. 3 Oklahoma Fight Card MMAWeekly.com (September 20, 2012)
• Strikeforce cancels Nov. 3 event in Oklahoma City, plans January return MMAJunkie.com (October 12, 2012)
• Larkin-Souza, Kennedy-Smith added to January Strikeforce card by Matt Erickson (MMAJunkie.com) on November 29, 2012
• Range 15 movie adds William Shatner -- nears 900K funding mark, outsidethewire.armytimes.com, August 11, 2015; accessed October 27, 2015.