Tim Kennedy is one-part killer and one-part UFC fighter. In addition to his time serving in the armed forces, combating credible ISIS threats, all the while hosting History channel shows, the No. 6-ranked Middleweight contender is also a threat to any mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter looking to move up the ranks in the 185-pound division.
Enter two-time Middleweight title challenger Vitor Belfort.
“The Phenom” hasn’t made a lot of friends in one of UFC’s most dangerous weight classes and it’s because of his past use of the now-banned testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), which Kennedy and others believe helped fuel his blistering three-fight win streak in 2013.
Belfort has since laid off the TRT in favor of something he calls “true revival touch,” and most recently knocked out former Pride FC legend Dan Henderson for the second time in a two-year span.
Kennedy has been vocal in criticizing those who abuse performance-enhancing drugs and desires a tilt with the Brazilian.
The ex-Strikeforce combatant talks with Inside MMA about his plans to meet with ZUFFA matchmakers:
“I’m going to be in Las Vegas next week. I was texting my bosses and asking if I could set up a time to chit-chat. I really want Vitor Belfort. He’s four, I’m six. He doesn’t deserve a title shot; he’s a cheater. I think he has one win where he hasn’t been on steroids. If he thinks he gets to fight Luke Rockhold because he beat him when he was roided out of his brains on testosterone down in Brazil, I think that’s unfair to the sport and it’d be tragic. Let him fight another contender, let him come over and get whooped by me. I would whoop him and he knows that. I’ll beat the breaks off him.”
Strong words from the prolific grappler.
Kennedy hasn’t set foot in the Octagon since his controversial clash with current top contender Yoel Romero at the UFC 178 pay-per-view (PPV) in Sept. 2014. However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been keeping up to date with the latest happenings in UFC.
Kennedy has offered to fight numerous competitors, from Anderson Silva to Henderson, during his down time.
It looks like the 36-year-old jiu-jitsu black belt may get his wish to face Belfort, who reportedly turned down a rematch with “The Spider.”
I’d watch it. How about you guys?