Tim Kennedy's Blogs
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Kennedy: GSP Should Fight for Fans, Not for Wins
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Tim Kennedy, on “Beatdown,” discussing Georges St. Pierre:
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“If I see another 170 UFC champion either jab his way to a win or hold a guy down for five rounds for a win, I might just pull my hair out. This is about fighting. We’re supposed to go out there and fight. … First, he’s an amazing athlete. Unquestionably the best 170 guy on the planet. Pound-for-pound definitely one of the top two guys. But the potential there -- people flock to him and worship him as a fighter. Imagine what he would be like if four of five wins weren’t by decision, if four of those five wins were by knockout. I think that aura about him would be compounded a thousand times. … He’s one of my teammates. I train at Jackson’s. I love the guy. He’s an amazing fighter. I’m a GSP fan, but we fight for the fans, not for the W. I think more fighters really need to grab on to that and put on a show.” -
Career Advice: Strikeforce ‘Houston’ Edition
Chad Griggs vs. Bobby Lashley: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com
Strikeforce’s event Saturday in Houston saw breakout performances from “Jacare,” “Feijao” and even the spectacularly sideburned Chad Griggs, but it was a night that will be remembered for the jaw-dropping failure of the fighters Strikeforce was pinning hopes on.
All is not lost, however, for the promotion’s would-be stars. They’re just a few months’ worth of tinkering and therapy away from developing as hoped. In an attempt to speed the process along, here is what the night’s less than lucky participants need to work on or flat-out ditch altogether.
King for a Day, Jester for a Lifetime
There isn’t a sane man or woman alive who would argue against the notion that Muhammed Lawal has the talent to become a truly special mixed martial artist. However, talent alone doesn’t cut it in a sport full of supposedly talented athletes making the fistic equivalent of minimum wage.
It was obvious during Lawal’s doomed fight with Cavalcante that he didn’t believe there was any way he could lose. Between the reckless defensive stance, telegraphed body punches and conspicuous absence of any chain wrestling, “King Mo” seemed certain that talent alone would win the day. Instead, he got his first career loss.
The only way Lawal will ever fulfill the potential he squandered Saturday night is by dropping the schtick and getting serious about fighting. That means no more emulating professional boxers he has no chance of ever approximating and a lot more time spent drilling the fundamentals of fighting he left by the wayside. Read more -
Strikeforce Fighters Visit VA Medical Center
By: Loretta Hunt
Tim Kennedy, Bobby Lashley, Muhammed Lawal and K.J. Noons: Esther Lin | Strikeforce
Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, as well as Bobby Lashley, K.J. Noons, Tim Kennedy, and Jason “Mayhem” Miller paid a visit to military veterans and their loved ones at the Fisher House at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center on Tuesday in Houston.
Fisher House provides free lodging and other support for the families of hospitalized veterans receiving treatment for long-term illnesses or injuries.
Lawal, Lashley, Noons, and Kennedy will all compete during Strikeforce’s live telecast on Showtime on Saturday, which begins at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Lawal defends his title against Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante. Read more -
Audio: Kennedy-'Jacare' Conference Call
Strikeforce held a conference call for the media on Thursday to promote its Aug. 21 Houston, Texas, event.
Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Tim Kennedy, K.J. Noons, Jorge Gurgel and CEO Scott Coker participated in the call. Audio from the teleconference is available in the player below.
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Stock Report: Strikeforce Los Angeles
By: Mike Fridley
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos celebrates his win: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Stock Up
Renato “Babalu” Sobral: Fought his smartest fight to date against a dangerous slugger en route to a unanimous decision nod. It wasn’t pretty at times, but a solid game plan of kicking at the legs and body of the defensively challenged Robbie Lawler proved to be a fruitful and effective tactic. His only bad move was challenging Dan Henderson in his post-fight in-cage interview. Following his embarrassing blowout loss to Jake Shields, you can be sure that you’ll see a different Hendo that “Babalu” wants no part of.
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos: Counterpunched his way to a big fight at 170 pounds. Has the Brazilian found a home at welterweight?
Tim Kennedy: Wow. The military sniper showed he is as proficient on the floor as he is with an issued Remington 700. Kennedy’s name is currently an afterthought when thinking of Jake Shields’ (highly likely) successor as Strikeforce middleweight champion, but that could change with another performance like he had on Wednesday.
K.J. Noons: Is there a cleaner puncher in MMA? I think not. Nobody in this sport throws a three-piece and a biscuit like the former Pride talent search winner. Noons has looked a little soft around the middle in his two bouts since returning to the sport, and his cardio has suffered. Still, this is the same man that carved up and simply outclassed Nick Diaz in 2007. If Noons can get his conditioning back to his pre-boxing career level, the San Diego resident can make a case for being one of the best lightweights outside of the UFC. Read more -
Strikeforce: Kennedy-‘Cyborg’ to Clash Sept. 25
By: Brian Knapp
Tim Kennedy will lock horns with hot-and-cold Pride Fighting Championships veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in the featured bout at Strikeforce “Challengers Series 3” on Sept. 25 at the SpiritBank Event Center in Tulsa, Okla.
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Finished only once in his eight-year career, Kennedy (10-2) will carry a two-fight winning streak into the match. The World Extreme Cagefighting and International Fight League veteran last appeared in June, when he stopped form Bodog Fight champion Nick Thompson on second-round punches. Kennedy, 29, also holds notable victories against Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Ryan McGivern. He expects fireworks from Santos.
