On the heels of a dominant performance against Michael Bisping in April, UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy still doesn’t sound completely comfortable in the weight class. A classic tweener, Kennedy says he’d even be interested in moving to 170.
“Definitely possible,” Kennedy told Joe Rogan Wednesday. “Honestly, had Robbie Lawler beat Johny Hendricks I would cut to fight Robbie.” Kennedy won a unanimous decision victory over Lawler back in 2011, scoring a title shot against then Strikeforce champion Luke Rockhold. “I think I’d have to be faster at 170. Watching these guys whoosh all over the place.”
Unsatisfied with the current model Kennedy feels MMA should expand its number of weight classes to more closely resemble boxing.
“You have 155, 170, 185 and 205. You have four weight classes from 155 to 205. That’s crazy.
“I think I’m kind of between 185 and 170. My shape, my reach, my height. I would love there to be a 180. That would be awesome for me.”
Any notion of competing at light heavyweight has been crushed by training alongside Jon Jones, according to Kennedy.
“I’m 5-foot-11. I have a 73-inch reach. There’s no way I can hang with the 205ers that have 86-inch reaches that are 6-foot-4. I might be as strong as they are, but as Brian Stann calls me, I’m like a squat little hobbit. Angry hobbit, sometimes troll.
“Jon Jones runs around the cage and jabs me to death. I try to athletically explode in and he violates me with something painful.”
Stay or go, Kennedy sees his situation relatively unchanged by switching weight classes, a fight or two away from a title shot either way.
“I think I’m close, either. The next fight, whoever Joe Silva gives me. If it’s Vitor Belfort, [Ronaldo Souza], that puts me right there. I’m No. 6. [If] I beat a No. 2-3 guy, that’s a title fight. I’ll be 4-0 in the UFC just beating a title eliminator. My last two fights have been five-round main events. I’m potentially one fight away.
“Mark Munoz and Gegard Mousasi are fighting. Could I potentially be fighting the winner of that fight? That’s definitely in the realm, too. If that’s the case maybe I am two fights away. If I cut down to 170 I don’t think they’d let me fight for the title. I’d still be one fight away. Maybe two. So no, I don’t think I’d be any closer.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Dana on Nate. Explaining why Nate Diaz was removed from the UFC’s lightweight rankings, Dana White says he ‘doesn’t know how long we’re going to play this game.’
Backstory on Reem’s exit. A Blackzilians prospect explains how Alistair Overeem left the camp after blowing out Guto Inocente’s knee in practice.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas talks UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva, Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana, GLORY, Bellator 120 and more in this week’s live chat.
No shot. Dominick Cruz won’t ask for an immediate title shot, but he still believes he’s the best bantamweight in the world. ‘The quad tore off in the groin area. The quad tore off, basically right by my groin, off my pelvis.’
PPV trouble. Dave Meltzer explains why the UFC is struggling without stars like Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva.
MEDIA STEW
Dana White talks Brown vs. Silva, Anderson returning and Nate Diaz’ ‘turning down fights.’
UFC 172 Fight Motion.
A quick look at Joe Silva’s man cave.
No surgery for Junior dos Santos, Chris Lytle in talks to box Roy Jones Jr.
Matt Brown talks matchup with Erick Silva.
Worse ways to spend a dreary Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
Long watches.
UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva Care/Don’t Care Preview
…
Double Fighting: The New Mode of MMA, 2 vs 2.
TWEETS
Referring to his inner circle?
A good friend told me tonight – It’s better to have quarters than dimes than cents.. Even better is to have dollar coins.
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) May 8, 2014
And so.. I’ll def. take 5 bucks over million penny’s
— Alistair Overeem (@Alistairovereem) May 8, 2014
But what does it mean?
Just posted a photo http://t.co/RJQDymrcWx
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 7, 2014
Not a fan of that Pearson video.
Why would a UFC fighter post a video of him accidentally knocking out his training partner? Shouldn’t be glorifying an accident! #BadExample
— Cathal Pendred (@PendredMMA) May 7, 2014
If you enjoyed the first one.
“Just touch”2 via abletowill http://t.co/GK7gCjB5MS
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) May 8, 2014
meanwhile…
All in http://t.co/ySgCjuwMMr
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) May 7, 2014
Oh, Pat.
BET $100 TO FIRST PERSON WHO CAN GIVE THE RIGHT ANSWERS 1) HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I BEEN OUT COLD KO’D 2) HOW MANY CONCUSSIONS HAVE I HAD GO
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) May 7, 2014
Pretty cool.
please tell me what you think about my spin kick video.We made it a while ago. http://t.co/xsYGXJRZcd
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) May 7, 2014
Congrats.
I am happy to sign my first bout agreement for the @ufc Stay tuned , I will tell Who ,when and where I will fight ! pic.twitter.com/hG1Waspw6L
— Alexis Dufresne (@ADufresneUFC) May 8, 2014
Streak now at two.
Haters gonna hate, but ima do me! @ufc #ufc174 @AmericanTopTeam #thechosenone pic.twitter.com/yIHUpzTOog
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 7, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 7 2014)
Guto Inocente vs. Derrick Lewis at TUF 19 Finale
Yosdenis Cedeno out, Jake Lindsey vs. Jon Tuck at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov
Matt Mitrione vs. Stefan Struve at UFC 175
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Da Headbanger.
Everything You NEED to Know About UFC Fight Night 40 Fox Sports 2 Prelims
For a quick intro, there is a former UFC title challenger with a propensity for violence, young flyweight prospects, submission specialists, and middle of the road middleweights here. Simplest way for me to put it. Here are the details:
Ed Herman (21-10, 1 NC) vs. Rafael Natal (17-5-1), Middleweight
Story Thus Far: Herman is now a 15 fight veteran of the UFC and has faced just about every level of fighter in the process. He is now 33 and a run at the title would seem to be out of the question for the 8 year UFC vet, but he can still serve as a respectable gatekeeper. However, after that many fights I wouldn’t be shocked to see him let go if he loses here which would be his second in a row and third out of four.
Natal stepped up on short notice to face Tim Kennedy at the Fight for the Troops 3 back in November and is likely on more stable ground as he was riding a three fight win streak heading into the fight. The problem is he hasn’t beat anyone casual fans have heard of as Herman would represent his biggest name to date if he emerges victorious.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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