Timothy Fred Kennedy is an American
mixed martial artistMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
who currently fights for the MMA promotion
StrikeforceStrikeforce is a U.S.-based mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization based in San Jose, California. It is headed by CEO Scott Coker and owned by Zuffa, LLC...
. He is one of the only fighters to simultaneously serve full time in the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
while fighting professionally.
Biography
Kennedy grew up the second son of three children in a
ChristianChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
family in
San Luis Obispo, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. 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,
boxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
lessons,
wrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
teams, and Japanese jujitsu classes. 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
CombativesCombatives is a United States Army term for hand-to-hand combat training and techniques.-History:Militaries have long taught unarmed combat, both as physical conditioning and as a supplement to armed combat. Among the samurai of Japan, such combatives were known as Bujutsu...
(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 ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on January 4, 2004 and attended Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, Basic Airborne Course 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, where he served on Operational Detachment Alpha’s. During this time he was also a sniper, sniper instructor, 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 is the Army’s Bronze Star medal, which was awarded for valor under fire.
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 1994, training with
Chuck LiddellCharles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
,
Jake ShieldsJake Shields is an American mixed martial artist who is currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the last Rumble on the Rock 175 lb champion. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also the former Shooto Middleweight Champion and is the former...
,
Gan McGeeGan McGee is an American mixed martial artist who is best remembered for his appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He holds notable wins over Pedro Rizzo and Paul Buentello-Career:...
, and John Hackleman at
The PitThe Pit is a professional mixed martial arts association and training camp that operates in Arroyo Grande, California. Founded in 1986, its fighters have competed in various promotions all which have been trained by Justin Jeffrey Lucas, who has trained fighters such as Chuck Liddell.-History:The...
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 his three fights. In 2004 he joined the Army. Kennedy only fought once in 2006. He then fought for the now defunct
International Fight LeagueThe International Fight League was an American mixed martial arts promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. It was founded on January 7, 2006 and closed on July 31, 2008...
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.
Strikeforce
Kennedy returned to mixed martial arts in 2009 with a win over
Nick ThompsonNicholas Delton Thompson is a retired American mixed martial artist. He retired with a professional mixed martial arts record of 38-14-1. He has fought professionally on both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bodog Fight shows...
at
Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. CyborgStrikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The second Challengers event took place on June 19, 2009, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.-Background:...
in Kent, Washington. He followed this up with an impressive win over Zak Cummings in the main event of ShoMMA 3.
Kennedy fought
Trevor PrangleyTrevor Prangley is a South African mixed martial artist who currently fights for Strikeforce. He has previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and competes in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions...
on June 16, 2010 at
Strikeforce: Los AngelesStrikeforce: Los Angeles, also referred to as Strikeforce Live was a mixed martial arts held by Strikeforce. The event took place on June 16, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.-Background:...
. He won the fight via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in the first round.
Since his move to
Austin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Tim has been training at Competitive Training Center and with BJJ black belt
Phil CardellaPhil Ryan Cardella is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights as a lightweight in the World Extreme Cagefighting organization...
at the
Relson GracieRelson "Campeão" Gracie is a retired professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter and martial arts personality. He is a member of the legendary Gracie family.Relson currently lives in Hawaii where he still teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at his academy in Honolulu. There are many Relson Gracie affiliated...
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.
Kennedy 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.
Kennedy returned in July 2011 to face
Robbie LawlerRobert Glen "Robbie" Lawler is an American mixed martial artist Lawler was the EliteXC middleweight champion before EliteXC filed for bankruptcy. Lawler has recently signed with Strikeforce. He is a member of Team Hughes fighting out of H.I.T...
at
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. HendersonStrikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...
. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Kennedy will fight
Luke RockholdLuke Rockhold is an American mixed martial artist. He is the current Strikeforce Middleweight Champion.Rockhold holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Dave Camarillo.-Early Life:...
for the Strikeforce middleweight championship on January 7th in
Las VegasLas Vegas may refer to:* Las Vegas Valley, consisting of Las Vegas and surrounding areas** Las Vegas, Nevada, the city** Las Vegas Strip, the resort destination and location of many of the largest hotel and casino resorts in the world...
.
Personal life
Kennedy has a daughter named Julia with entrepreneur Joanna Perney Anderson. He also fathered Sabrina with female mixed martial artist Casey Noland.
Mixed martial arts record
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–3
|
Robbie LawlerRobert Glen "Robbie" Lawler is an American mixed martial artist Lawler was the EliteXC middleweight champion before EliteXC filed for bankruptcy. Lawler has recently signed with Strikeforce. He is a member of Team Hughes fighting out of H.I.T...
| Decision (unanimous)
|
Strikeforce: Fedor vs. HendersonStrikeforce / M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. The event took place on July 30, 2011 at Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.-Background:...
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|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|
Hoffman Estates, IllinoisHoffman Estates is a northwestern suburb of Chicago in Illinois. The village is located primarily in Cook County with a small section in Kane County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 49,495 and estimated to be 52,520 in 2003...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–3
|
Melvin ManhoefMelvin Manhoef is a Dutch-Surinamese Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist, trained by Mike Passenier and fighting out of Mike's Gym in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In kickboxing, he is the current It's Showtime 85MAX World Champion, and in MMA he was the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight World champion...
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
Strikeforce: Feijao vs. HendersonStrikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson, also known as Strikeforce: Columbus, was a mixed martial arts event held by Strikeforce. It took place on March 5, 2011 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, United States...
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|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:41
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Columbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 12–3
|
Ronaldo Souza
| Decision (unanimous)
| Strikeforce: Houston
|
|align=center| 5
|align=center| 5:00
|
Houston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–2
|
Trevor PrangleyTrevor Prangley is a South African mixed martial artist who currently fights for Strikeforce. He has previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and competes in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions...
| Submission (rear-naked choke)
|
Strikeforce: Los AngelesStrikeforce: Los Angeles, also referred to as Strikeforce Live was a mixed martial arts held by Strikeforce. The event took place on June 16, 2010 at Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:35
|
Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–2
|
Zak CummingsZak Cummings is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Cummings has mostly fought in his home state of Missouri.- Background:...
| Submission (north-south choke)
|
Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. CummingsStrikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The third Challengers episode took place on September 25, 2009, at the SpiritBank Event Center in Bixby, Oklahoma.-Background:...
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|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:43
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Bixby, OklahomaBixby is a city in Tulsa and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 13,336 at the 2000 census and 20,884 in the 2010 census. It is nicknamed "The Garden Spot of Oklahoma" for its rich agrarian heritage...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–2
|
Nick ThompsonNicholas Delton Thompson is a retired American mixed martial artist. He retired with a professional mixed martial arts record of 38-14-1. He has fought professionally on both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bodog Fight shows...
| Submission (punches)
|
Strikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. CyborgStrikeforce Challengers: Villasenor vs. Cyborg was a mixed martial arts event held by the Strikeforce. The second Challengers event took place on June 19, 2009, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:37
|
Kent, WashingtonKent is a city located in King County, Washington, United States, and is the third largest city in King County and the sixth largest in the state. An outlying suburb of Seattle, Kent is also the corporate home for companies such as REI and Oberto Sausage...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–2
|
Elias Rivera
| KO (punches)
| IFL World Grand Prix Finals
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:00
|
Uncasville, ConnecticutUncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut. The area traditionally known as Uncasville is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Loss
|align=center| 8–2
|
Jason Miller
| Decision (unanimous)
| HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|
Dallas, TexasDallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–1
|
Ryan McGivernRyan McGivern is an American mixed martial artist. He was formally a fighter for the Quad City Silverbacks of the International Fight League.-Biography:When not in the ring, McGivern works for the U.S...
| Submission (guillotine choke)
| IFL Chicago
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:25
|Chicago, Illinois,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–1
|
Dante RiveraDante Rivera is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a cast member of SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 making it to the quarterfinals where he was defeated by Jesse Taylor....
| Submission (punches)
| IFL Atlanta
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 2:29
|
Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–1
|
Hector Urbina
| KO (punches)
| Fight Fest 7
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:28
|
Cleveland, OhioCleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–1
|
Cruz Chacon
| TKO (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 50
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:21
|
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–1
|
Jason Miller
| Decision (unanimous)
| Extreme Challenge 50
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
|
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–1
|
Ryan Narte
| TKO (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 50
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:22
|
Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–1
|
Mack Brewer
| TKO (punches)
|
WEC 5WEC 5: Halloween Fury was a mixed martial arts event held on October 18th, 2002 at The Palace Casino in Lemoore, California. WEC 5s main event was a title fight between Cole Escovedo and Philip Perez.- Results :...
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|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:03
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Lemoore, CaliforniaLemoore is a city in Kings County, California, United States. Lemoore is located west-southwest of Hanford, at an elevation of 230 feet . It is part of the Hanford–Corcoran Metropolitan Statistical Area...
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United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–1
|
Jody Burke
| Submission (forearm choke)
| IFC Warriors Challenge 16
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:44
|
Oroville, CaliforniaOroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 0–1
|
Scott SmithBryan Scott Smith, , is an American mixed martial artist previously fighting at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship making his debut at UFC 59. He also fought for EliteXC before it folded and currently fights for Strikeforce...
| TKO (cut)
| IFC Warriors Challenge 15
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:53
|
Oroville, CaliforniaOroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
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United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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External links