Middleweight contender Tim Kennedy, coming off a controversial loss to Yoel Romero in the “stool-gate” bout on Sept. 27, gave a cryptic answer when it came to a return to the cage.
Kennedy (18-5) had a four-fight winning streak snapped at UFC 178. He had Romero nearly finished late in round two, to the point he may have won with a few more seconds and there was question whether Romero would even be able to answer the bell for the third round.
A series of things, stemming from a UFC cut man putting too much Vaseline on Romero, and some stalling by his corner, gave him an extra 30 seconds between rounds to recover. Romero then came back in the third to stop Kennedy.
Kennedy is scheduled for surgery on his right knee, due to a partially torn meniscus, over the next week or two.
However, as reported on UFC Tonight by Ariel Helwani on Wednesday, Kennedy gave no timetable for a return, or even if he would return.
“I’m not sure,” he said, “but that has nothing to do with my knee.”
Kennedy, who has wins over names like Michael Bisping, Roger Gracie, Melvin Manhoef and Robbie Lawler, would have been in the top middleweight tier with a win over Romero. But now, at 35, coming off the loss, the former U.S. Army Green Beret isn’t committing to anything going forward.
When asked if his plans were to take a sabbatical from the sport, or if he would ever fight again, Kennedy replied, “No idea.”