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Tim Kennedy (fighter)

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Tim Kennedy
File:Tim Kennedy Veteran.jpg
Born (1979-09-01) September 1, 1979 (age 45)
San Luis Obispo, California
NationalityUnited States American
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st)
StyleBoxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out ofFort Bragg, North Carolina
TeamThe Pit
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins12
By knockout5
By submission6
By decision1
Losses2
Draws0

Timothy Fred Kennedy (born September 1, 1979) is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who currently fights for the MMA promotion Strikeforce. He is one of the only fighters to simultaneously serve full time in the United States Army while fighting professionally.

Biography

Kennedy grew up the second son of three children in a Christian family in San Luis Obispo, 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 jiu jitsu classes.[1] Kennedy attended Eagle Academy private high school, graduating in 1998. He then attended Columbia College of Missouri earning a BA in Criminal Justice in 2002. Kennedy began competing in sanctioned mixed martial arts fights while still in college, but after graduation he joined the United States Army, enlisting in 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 enlisted in The United States Army on January 4, 2004 and attended Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, 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". He was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group,[2] where he served on Operational Detachment Alpha’s and with the elite Commander’s Inextremis Force (CIF) for 4 years. During this time he was also a sniper, sniper instructor, the principle 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[3]. Among Kennedy’s multiple awards is the Army’s Bronze Star medal, which was awarded for valor under fire[4].

Mixed martial arts

Kennedy began training at Dokan School of Martial Arts in Atascadero, California under Terry Kelly, and Barry Smith. He began his MMA training in 1994, training with Chuck Liddell, Jake Shields, Gan McGee, and John Hackleman at The Pit in San Luis Obispo.[5] Kennedy first started fighting in 1996 and had 31 amateur fights, amassing a record of 30-1[citation needed] before his first professional fight in 2001. In 2003 he entered and won a one-night tournament at Extreme Challenge 50, winning all his three 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, but 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.[6][7][8] He returned to mixed martial arts in 2009 with a win over Nick Thompson at ShoMMA: Strikeforce Challengers in Kent, Washington. He followed this up with an impressive win over Zak Cummings in the main event of ShoMMA 3.

Kennedy most recently faced Trevor Prangley on June 16, 2010 at Strikeforce: Los Angeles.[9] He 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 [10].

Kennedy is expected to face Ronaldo Souza for the vacant Strikeforce Middleweight Chamionship at Strikeforce: Houston on August 13, 2010.

Personal life

Tim Kennedy lives in Austin, Texas (he was formerly in Fort Bragg, North Carolina) and is married to his wife, Ginger. He has two daughters.

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches 12 wins 2 losses
By knockout 5 1
By submission 6 0
By decision 1 1
Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Brazil Ronaldo Souza Strikeforce: Houston August 21, 2010 Houston, Texas, USA For Strikeforce Middleweight Championship
Win 12-2 South Africa Trevor Prangley Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Strikeforce: Los Angeles June 16, 2010 1 3:35 Los Angeles, California, USA
Win 11-2 United States Zak Cummings Submission (North/South Choke) ShoMMA 3: Kennedy vs. Cummings September 25, 2009 2 2:43 Bixby, Oklahoma, USA
Win 10-2 United States Nick Thompson Submission (Punches) ShoMMA 2: Villasenor vs. Cyborg June 19, 2009 2 2:37 Kent, Washington, USA
Win 9-2 United States Elias Rivera KO (Punches) IFL World Grand Prix Finals December 29, 2007 1 2:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
Loss 8-2 United States Jason Miller Decision (Unanimous) HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon December 15, 2007 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, USA
Win 8-1 United States Ryan McGivern Submission (Guillotine Choke) IFL Chicago June 19, 2007 2 1:25 Chicago, Illinois, USA
Win 7-1 United States Dante Rivera Submission (Punches) IFL Atlanta February 23, 2007 2 2:29 Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Win 6-1 United States Hector Urbina KO (Punch) Fight Fest 7 September 23, 2006 1 1:28 Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Win 5-1 Mexico Cruz Chacon TKO (Punches) Extreme Challenge 50 February 23, 2003 2 1:21 Salt Lake City, Utah
Win 4-1 United States Jason Miller Decision (Unanimous) Extreme Challenge 50 February 23, 2003 3 5:00 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Win 3-1 United States Ryan Narte TKO (Punch) Extreme Challenge 50 February 23, 2003 1 1:22 Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Win 2-1 United States Mack Brewer TKO (Punches) WEC 5: Halloween Fury October 18, 2002 1 1:03 Lemoore, California, USA
Win 1-1 United States Jody Burke Submission (Forearm Choke) IFC Warriors Challenge 16 November 9, 2001 1 0:44 Oroville, California, USA
Loss 0-1 United States Scott Smith TKO (Cut) IFC Warriors Challenge 15 August 31, 2001 1 2:53 Oroville, California, USA

References

  1. ^ Morgan, Adam. "Tim Kennedy: Full Time Soldier, Full Time Fighter". Five Ounces of Pain. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  2. ^ "TIM KENNEDY - SOMEONE YOU SHOULD KNOW". Blackfive.net. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  3. ^ Malone, Kieran. "After returning from Afghanistan, Strikeforce's Tim Kennedy returns to MMA action Friday". Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  4. ^ Snowden, Jonathan. "Tim Kennedy: Army Strong". Total-MMA.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  5. ^ Chiappetta, Mike. "Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy Restarts MMA Career With Strikeforce". MMAFanhouse.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  6. ^ Kennedy, Tim. "I am Deployed Again, Part I". RangerUp.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Tim. "I Am Deployed Again, Part II". RangerUp.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  8. ^ Kennedy, Tim. "Tim Kennedy Deployed, Part 3". RangerUp.com. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  9. ^ "Kennedy vs. Prangley at "Strikeforce: Los Angeles" on June 16". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2010-05-26.
  10. ^ http://militarytimes.com/blogs/afteraction/2010/05/27/details-of-tim-kennedys-next-fight-announced/
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