View Full Version : MMA fighter wins battle to stay in Army
LongWire
08-18-2009, 04:12
Kennedy gets his wish~
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/army_kennedy_081709w/
By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Aug 17, 2009 9:18:37 EDT
In a fortuitous turn of events, Staff Sgt. Tim Kennedy will now be able to stay in the Army while he pursues a professional career in mixed martial arts.
Kennedy, a Special Forces soldier who has turned down invitations to fight in top MMA circuits in order to deploy, tried for two years to secure permission from his commanders to stay in uniform and fight professionally.
Each time, the answer was no.
So he decided to pursue MMA, going on terminal leave July 10.
But on July 30, he received a call from a warrant officer who was calling on behalf of Lt. Col. Douglas O’Connell, the G-3 for the Texas Army National Guard.
The officer wanted to know what he could do to get Kennedy to Texas.
Officials from the New Jersey Guard also called.
On Aug. 4, the same day his active Army enlistment was to end, Kennedy signed papers to become a member of the Texas Guard and 19th Special Forces Group, which has a company in Texas.
“I’m excited to be a part of the Texas Army National Guard,” said Kennedy, who spent his active Army career with 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C. “My whole objective was to fight and stay, serving in Special Forces. They exactly gave that to me.”
Texas edged out New Jersey because its Special Forces unit, C Company, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, allowed Kennedy to stay in his 18B military occupational specialty, he said.
Kennedy is not the only soldier heavily involved in combatives, or MMA, but by all accounts, he is among the best and toughest MMA fighters in the Army.
Soldiers who train in MMA have sometimes struggled for acceptance in certain parts of the Army because the sport is perceived as brutal, almost-no-holds-barred fighting. However, MMA has in recent years moved into the mainstream, largely because of the popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world’s leading MMA organization.
The Texas Guard “aggressively” recruits Special Forces-qualified soldiers, said O’Connell, who himself wears a Green Beret.
“For us to get a guy who’s already Special Forces qualified, whether it’s a Tim Kennedy guy or somebody else, that’s a huge win for us,” he said. “Each one of those guys is tremendously valuable because of the training and experience they have.”
O’Connell, who also is commander of 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment, the Guard’s only airborne infantry battalion, said he read about Kennedy’s decision to leave the Army and asked soldiers in the Texas-based Special Forces unit to reach out to Kennedy.
“Before I ever talked to him, our full-time Special Forces [noncommissioned officers] already figured out who he was, they figured out which unit he was assigned to and they knew his reputation,” O’Connell said about Kennedy. “So before I ever talked to him, I knew that he had the reputation and the background of being an outstanding soldier … and I knew he was just the kind of guy we’d want to have in the Texas Guard.”
In his new capacity, Kennedy said he will be a spokesman for the Texas Guard and his new unit, help with recruiting, and work with some of the state’s units to develop combat marksmanship and combatives courses.
“The things I’m going to be doing when I’m not training [for a MMA fight] is shooting and showing other people how to shoot, and fighting and showing other people how to fight,” Kennedy said. “What better job is there?”
On Sept. 25, Kennedy will fight Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos in the second of three contracted fights with Strikeforce. In the first fight, on June 19, Kennedy beat Nick “The Goat” Thompson. It was Kennedy’s first professional MMA fight in 18 months.
After the September fight, Kennedy will move to Texas, where he will be based in Austin but live in the Dallas area.
“I’m sure you can imagine how stoked I am,” Kennedy said. “Two dang years I’ve been trying to do this and a lieutenant colonel picks up the phone and says, ‘Let’s make this happen,’ and it happens. I’m just so excited that this is going to work out and I get to stay in Special Forces, which is a dream come true.”
“I’m sure you can imagine how stoked I am,” Kennedy said. “Two dang years I’ve been trying to do this and a lieutenant colonel picks up the phone and says, ‘Let’s make this happen,’ and it happens. I’m just so excited that this is going to work out and I get to stay in Special Forces, which is a dream come true.”
Welcome to Texas!
Who says common sense is dead? It's certainly not in Texas. ;)
Richard's $.02 :munchin
TOMAHAWK9521
08-18-2009, 09:01
Who says common sense is dead? It's certainly not in Texas. ;)
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Figures Texas would grab him. :mad:
Well, Richard, common sense is at least forbidden in the Colorado guard. With HQ/5/19 and B/5/19 in CO, you'd have thought maybe the Ground Forces Commander and/or State CSM (both former 5/19th guys) would have made a play for him before TX did. "Recruiting? Bah!"
I spent most of my time in C/5/19 when it was in Ft. Collins so I guess I'm little bit proud of the acquisition of their high-profile recruit. But still........Texas, U SUCK! Nyah! :p
Texas is indeed fortunate in that they are getting, by all acounts, a dedicated soldier and a damn good fighter. I have seen several of his fights on the tube and he always comes to the cage prepared. He is also very articulate and conducts himself as a professional. It is refreshing to see a young fighter with a very promising and lucrative future within MMA put service to his country and SF brethren up there with his career as a fighter. A true class act.
I spent most of my time in C/5/19 when it was in Ft. Collins so I guess I'm little bit proud of the acquisition of their high-profile recruit. But still........Texas, U SUCK! Nyah! :p
For lack of a better response, :D.
Who says common sense is dead?
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Well, they haven't found a body...yet.
Glad everything worked out for this Soldier!
Kennedy went through the graduation ceremony with my son. I had the opportunity to meet his dad who is I believe a retired leo from California. The whole family was a pleasure to talk to.
I've watched several of Kennedy's fights and he is truly a humble fighter without all the trash talking etc. I wish him best of luck in the future.
uboat509
08-19-2009, 20:56
I've met Tim a number of times and we have a few mutual friends. I just can't understand why the Army couldn't see what an awesome recruiting tool he could be. He is, as has been noted, a very humble guy but get him in the octagon he is a natural killer. That's just the kind of thing that appeals to just the kind of people we would like to recruit. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though. This is the Army that thought that "Army of One" was a good recruiting idea.
SFC W
In all fairness to the Army, the no professional fighting policy is a USSOCOM thing. In the Guard, they can not restrict your choice of professions as long as it is legal.
x/S
Defion69
08-21-2009, 17:24
For lack of a better response, :D.
Typical Colorado response eh? ;)
Tim is indeed a smart soldier, person, fighter and will be an asset to TX!
LongWire
09-25-2009, 05:14
Sorry can't include the text.....fucking overseas with bad connection!!!!!
Army Times
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/09/army_tim_kennedy_092409w/
Here's another with text:
http://www.411mania.com/MMA/news/117251/Strikeforce-To-Air-On-The-Armed-Forces-Network.htm
Strikeforce To Air On The Armed Forces Network
Posted by Larry Csonka on 09.24.2009
Starting with Friday night’s Strikeforce Challengers event…
Strikeforce announced today that starting with Friday night's Strikeforce Challengers event, that their events will air on the American Forces Network. The deal calls for all STRIKEFORCE events for the remainder of 2009 to be distributed on AFN including the Nov. 7 M-1 Global co-promotion of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Brett Rogers, airing live on CBS Television Network. The debut offering, this Friday's Strikeforce Challengers event on SHOWTIME, features American military hero Tim Kennedy, the 29-year-old Special Forces soldier who has served tours of duty in Middle East, versus undefeated middleweight Zak Cummings in the main event from Tulsa, Okla. Strikeforce's Scott Coker had the following to say on the deal…
"We are proud to be able to bring live Strikeforce events to the men and women of The United States Armed Forces. These are people that have dedicated their lives to protecting our country so it's great to be able to give something back to them. And the timing couldn't be better. Having Army Ranger Tim Kennedy headline a terrific Challengers event is the perfect start."
A thrilled Tim Kennedy commented…
"This is freaking fantastic news. Right now, the Special Forces group that I recently left are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan . Every single friend of mine is over there and I was planning on emailing every one of them the results of my fight right after it finished on Friday, but instead they get to watch it. I'll be emailing everyone tonight and telling them and letting them know.
"It [MMA] attracts the same kind of people: Intense, excited, aggressive, athletic type people. Also, the skills that guys use in MMA are skills that guys use to stay alive in combat. Boxing, wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, that's stuff that soldiers use to survive. Some of the Special Forces guys train in that stuff everyday. And for them to get to watch some of the guys that are the best in the world at it is exciting."
Dozer523
09-25-2009, 05:46
I I just can't understand why the Army couldn't see what an awesome recruiting tool he could be. He is, as has been noted, a very humble guy but get him in the octagon he is a natural killer. That's just the kind of thing that appeals to just the kind of people we would like to recruit. I guess I shouldn't be surprised though. This is the Army that thought that "Army of One" was a good recruiting idea. SFC W
We saw how well signing a professional football player (that needed a waiver for assault) because he'd make an 'awesome recruiting tool", went.
I'm not sure we really want" Natural Killers". Wasn't there a movie by that title?
IMO If he wants to Soldier, great. If he wants to use the Military as pony ride for his civilian career, he doesn't belong here. "Service" should be prefaced with "selfless".
Maybe we can slap a Go Army sticker on his tights. (There is that whole 'men in tights" thing . . . EU!)
Finally, "A thrilled Tim Kennedy commented…
"This is freaking fantastic news. Right now, the Special Forces group that I recently left are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan . Every single friend of mine is over there and I was planning on emailing every one of them the results of my fight right after it finished on Friday, but instead they get to watch it. I'll be emailing everyone tonight and telling them and letting them know.
Aside from the fact that I'm an old, cynical, out-of-touch, hate-filled, grouch with no friends (except RL -- and look where that's gotten me) does this sound a little "It's All About Me".
OBTW IMHO Hand to Hand Combat starts at the maximum effective range of an M-4.
Now that the ARNG has this guy, we'll need an AD Army guy, too - this is becoming like the Armed Forces recruiting campaign in NASCAR. ;)
Richard's $.02 :munchin
greenberetTFS
09-25-2009, 12:30
Aside from the fact that I'm an old, cynical, out-of-touch, hate-filled, grouch with no friends (except RL -- and look where that's gotten me) does this sound a little "It's All About Me".
Not true Dozer,RL isn't the only guy that loves you,I do too................:lifter:lifter:lifter
Big Teddy :munchin
blue02hd
09-25-2009, 14:16
I'll be rooting for him tonight. Had a chance to chat with one of his old teammates this morning, and he was as excited as anyone could be to promote Kennedy and encourage me to catch the fight. I promised I would and I grabbed some Blue Moons to help me focus.
Exactly WHY did the big Army not support this guy is a loss to me. (Yes I understand the regulations, but I would argue that in this case it would have been the best option for all around.)
Go Kennedy Go!
longrange1947
09-25-2009, 14:23
Not true Dozer,RL isn't the only guy that loves you,I do too................
Big Teddy :munchin
OK, this is getting a touch too touchy feelly for me. :eek: :D
We saw how well signing a professional football player (that needed a waiver for assault) because he'd make an 'awesome recruiting tool", went.
I'm not sure we really want" Natural Killers". Wasn't there a movie by that title?
IMO If he wants to Soldier, great. If he wants to use the Military as pony ride for his civilian career, he doesn't belong here. "Service" should be prefaced with "selfless".
Maybe we can slap a Go Army sticker on his tights. (There is that whole 'men in tights" thing . . . EU!)
Finally, "A thrilled Tim Kennedy commented…
"This is freaking fantastic news. Right now, the Special Forces group that I recently left are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan . Every single friend of mine is over there and I was planning on emailing every one of them the results of my fight right after it finished on Friday, but instead they get to watch it. I'll be emailing everyone tonight and telling them and letting them know.
Aside from the fact that I'm an old, cynical, out-of-touch, hate-filled, grouch with no friends (except RL -- and look where that's gotten me) does this sound a little "It's All About Me".
OBTW IMHO Hand to Hand Combat starts at the maximum effective range of an M-4.
So a person can't have a civilian job and "serve" ? Putting your primary career on hold to deploy (in many cases for less money) not "selfless" enough ?
Just want to make sure I understand...
Loadsmasher
09-26-2009, 15:09
Anyone who didn't get to watch the fight here's a link:
http://mixedmartialartvideos.com/tim-kennedy-vs-zak-cummings-video-strikeforce-challengers/
***SPOILERS BELOW***
Kennedy looked like a surgeon last night. He absolutely dismantled Cummings during the first round. You can tell he had a thought out game plan and stuck to it. Cummings was very outmatched especially on the ground. Kennedy didn't so much control the ground game it was more like he exploited every opportunity to punish Cummings regardless of what he tried.
At the end of the fight Cummings didn't look that bad, but a friend who saw him later in the night said he looked like his face got worked over by a baseball bat.
And his pre-event interview wasn't too shabby either.
frostfire
09-26-2009, 18:02
Anyone who didn't get to watch the fight here's a link:
Thank you loadmasher. I was watching this during cello practice...after the first few minutes, the cello was abandoned :D Great technical match. I never got to learn North South choke and escape, but now I do.
He also comes across as a humble, wise and graceful fellow. Three elements that win my heart and mind each and every time. I look up to anyone with such qualities. Perhaps someone who knows him can invite him to this site?
I gather such qualities from the way he treated (after the fight....kneeling before Cummings as if he thanked him for his time and "effort") and spoke of his opponent, and his words:
Some would regard Kennedy as a war hero, but when asked if he considered himself one, Kennedy paused a few seconds before saying, “I don’t consider myself a hero; in fact, I don’t know what that is. But I think everyone can be one and that there are heroes in every walk of life.
“I’m asked to do a lot of public speaking, but I’ve been shying away from that recently, mostly because I know there is a lot more for me to do. I’ve had as many opportunities as any and came out well. There are some things that happened to me in combat and in life that I’m not real proud of, but it’s how you respond that really matters.
“If there are some who feel I’m a role model, then that’s something I’ll take very seriously. I know I have been an influence on some, but I usually tell them all the same thing, ‘Every day you are faced with decisions to make when no one is looking. You need to weigh the options and avoid the little mistakes.’
“I do not want to embarrass or let anybody down, in or out of the cage, especially my family and friends. I have very strong morals. I’m a born-again believer and I take responsibility in the way I live.
“Obviously, discipline is a major factor and now that I am going full-time in MMA, I need to execute it like I did in the military. I really want to see how far I can go with this. There may be some setbacks and I may not win them all, but the end result will be that I am setting myself up for success.’’
SSG Kennedy, best wishes with life and career both in military and civilian worlds.
Dozer523
09-27-2009, 22:32
Not true Dozer,RL isn't the only guy that loves you,I do too...
Big Teddy :munchin If it was anyone but you, Teddy, I'd probably throw up!:D
uboat509
09-27-2009, 23:12
Anyone who didn't get to watch the fight here's a link:
http://mixedmartialartvideos.com/tim-kennedy-vs-zak-cummings-video-strikeforce-challengers/
***SPOILERS BELOW***
Kennedy looked like a surgeon last night. He absolutely dismantled Cummings during the first round. You can tell he had a thought out game plan and stuck to it. Cummings was very outmatched especially on the ground. Kennedy didn't so much control the ground game it was more like he exploited every opportunity to punish Cummings regardless of what he tried.
At the end of the fight Cummings didn't look that bad, but a friend who saw him later in the night said he looked like his face got worked over by a baseball bat.
And his pre-event interview wasn't too shabby either.
Tim is destined for big things in the MMA world. The guy just gets better and better. I would like to see how he does against a better striker than those he has faced so far but I really think he will do well no matter what.
SFC W
greenberetTFS
09-30-2009, 13:53
OK, this is getting a touch too touchy feelly for me.
LR,
I'm straight,believe me,been married 50 years now......:rolleyes::eek::p It's just that Dozer cracks me up with his posts most of the time.......... His humor sometimes is on the dark side,but even you must admit his posts are really funny..........
Big Teddy :munchin
uboat509
06-21-2010, 09:09
Tim fought again last week in Strikeforce. He stopped a formidable fighter in Trevor Prangley (http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Trevor-Prangley-4789)with a rear naked choke 3:35 into the first round. Prangley managed a couple of hip tosses on Tim but couldn't do anything once he got Tim down nor could he keep him down. The head of Strikeforce is now eyeing Tim for the Middleweight tournement to crown the new belt-holder should Jake Shields move to the UFC. Either way, Tim's next fight should be against a top competitor, like Jacare or Hendo.