Na een korte zoektocht heeft Tim Kennedy een nieuwe tegenstander gevonden voor de main event van UFC Fight for the Troops 3. Rafael Natal zal het tegen de Strikeforce veteraan opnemen op 6 november, aldus UFC.com. Kennedy zat zonder tegenstander nadat Lyoto Machida de plek innam van de geblesseerde Michael Bisping op UFC Fight Night 30 tegen Mark Munoz.
Kennedy liet via Twitter weten niet blij te zijn met de ontwikkeling en het feit dat hij zonder tegenstander zat. Wat volgde was een reeks aan tweets met uitdagingen van de Amerikaan aan verschillende vechters van John Dodson tot Alistair Overeem, de ene uitdaging wat sterker dan de ander.
Eerst vroeg hij het nog vriendelijk:
Dear @ufc middleweights, I have lost another opponent. Would someone please step up & fight me at Fight For The Troops 3. Pretty please! TK
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Mr. @RichFranklin I'm not sure if you have plans Nov 6th? I just got stood up on for a date, and now need someone else to step in… đ
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
I want @lyotomachidafw to know that he broke my heart…. đ
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Maar kort daarna veranderde de toon, zoals hij aankondigde in een gesprek met Greg Jackson.
My current conversation with coach @GJfightmaster pic.twitter.com/0WqDGwzvq0
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Hey @ChrisCamozzi I think you have bad hair, and should fight me in defense if your stylist. (My best attempt at picking a fight)
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Hey @CungLe185 You vs me main-event at @ufc Fight For The Troops 3. I would also like to point out that you are old. Tk
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
I have serious doubts that @CungLe185 is a good driver.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
â@TimKennedyMMA: I have serious doubts that Cung is a good driver.â You might be right Tim. Good thing I won't be the worse driver in China
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) September 28, 2013
Yo @mousasi_mma I'm not exactly sure where Leiden is, but I want to put you in a "Dutch oven". (See what I did there). Let's fight over it.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
All @ufc fighters, This is the dude that you are all too scared to fight. pic.twitter.com/iIYwqcY09D
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Mr. @wandfc Don't fight Chael Sonnen. He has better wrestling than me, and a better chin. I am a way easier fight. You vs Me Nov 6th @ufc
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Mr. @wandfc Don't fight Chael Sonnen. He has better wrestling than me, and a better chin. I am a way easier fight. You vs Me Nov 6th @ufc
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Hey @mark_munoz I'm super mad you took Lyoto from me. You cut me deeper than you could ever know… (It's hurts so bad) Tim
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
News flash!!! @nickdiaz209 I stole your pot, and bicycle. If you want them back you have to come out of retirement and fight me @ufc Nov 6th
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Opportunity knocks @rafaelsaponatal you always win, but no one knows who you are. When I'm done with you, neither will you(Tough guy voice)
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Screw it…. Hey @Philippou185UFC want to get back in there asap? I promise not to wrestle if you promise not to punch me?!?!
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Mr @ShogunRua Australia is a long flight how bout you/me in kentucky & we go at 195lbs. You don't need training camp since you don't train
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
I wanted to point out to Mr. @thalesleites that my last 3 opponents were from Brazil & they "fell through"perhaps you would actually show up
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Hey @RichFranklin aka "American Fighter" I want your nickname. It's cool & clever. I'll fight you for it! Tim (aka future American Fighter)
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
I think @ShogunRua dresses like a Brooklyn pimp (not the classy kind). I should give him a lesson in style and fighting. @ufc FFTT 3 Nov 6th
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 28, 2013
Hey @Alistairovereem You vs me (catch weight) Nov 6th at @ufc Fight For The Troops 3. Winner gets a lifetime supply of horse meat. Tim k
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 29, 2013
Watching The Hobbit & giggling at the similarities to @HectorLombard & some of the characters (but buff) in the movie. Fight me @ufc Nov 6?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 29, 2013
Dear @ufc It has been 24hrs since I learned my opponent was stolen. I will begin executing 1 unicorn a day till a replacement is found.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 29, 2013
Dear @ufc I'm saddened by my own acts but this unicorns blood is on your hands as well as mine. You have 24 more hours till the next 1 dies
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 30, 2013
I have an offer for @EdHermanufc (as a ginger). If you fight me on Nov 6 @ufc Fight For The Troops. I will ensure you get a soul.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 30, 2013
This is me picking a fight with @JohnDodsonMMA still trying to get an opponent for @ufc FFTT 3. Catch weight?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) September 30, 2013
Uiteindelijk hoefde er maar ÊÊn vechter ‘ja’ te zeggen. Hoewel Chris Camozzi ook wel wat voelde voor een gevecht met Kennedy, kreeg de Braziliaanse Rafael Natal het gevecht. “Sapo” won zijn laatste drie gevechten in de UFC en maakte won in zijn laatste gevecht voor het eerst een bonus van de UFC. Tegen TUF 17-deelnemer Tor Troeng kreeg hij 50.000 dollar voor het winnen van de ‘Fight for the Night’ bonus, bovenop de winstpremie die hij ook kreeg voor de winst via unanimous decision.
Tim Kennedy maakte begin dit jaar de overstap vanaf Strikeforce en won in zijn debuut van Roger Gracie. Kennedy won hiermee zijn tweede gevecht op een rij nadat hij op de laatste Strikeforce card van Anthony Smith won. Kennedy is een voormalig Navy SEAL en was ook actief in Irak en Afghanistan.
UFC Fight for the Troops 3, of UFC Fight Night 31 zoals het ook wel wordt genoemd, zal op 6 november op Fort Campbell in Kentucky plaatsvinden. Naast Kennedy vechten ook voormalig soldaten Liz Carmouche en Colton Smith op de main card. De volledige card ziet er op dit moment als volgt uit:
Main card (vanaf 01.00 uur):
Tim Kennedy vs. Rafael Natal
Liz Carmouche vs. Alexis Davis
Ronny Markes vs. Yoel Romero
Rustam Khabilov vs. Jorge Masvidal
Michael Chiesa vs. Colton Smith
Prelims op FOX Sports 1 (vanaf 23.00 uur):
Bobby Green vs. James Krause
Francisco Rivera vs. George Roop
Dennis Bermudez vs. Steven Siler
Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie
Prelims op Facebook/YouTube/UFC.com (vanaf 21.30 uur):
Chris Camozzi vs. Lorenz Larkin
Yves Edwards vs. Yancy Medeiros
Seth Baczynski vs. Neil Magny
Derek Brunson vs. Brian Houston
