5 Defining Moments: Jeremy Kennedy

A product of Fleetwood’s vibrant community, Jeremy Kennedy, a Canadian mixed martial artist, has carved a path for himself in the Bellator MMA featherweight division. With a rich history that includes stints in the Professional Fighters League and Ultimate Fighting Championship, his journey stands as a testament to his adaptability and drive for competition. “JBC” now stands at the precipice of glory as he gears up for the most significant bout of his career: a showdown with Patricio Freire for the featherweight championship in the Bellator 302 co-main event.

Ahead of Kennedy’s clash with “Pitbull” at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, a look at five of the many moments that have sculpted him into the formidable contender he is today:

1. A First Taste of Championship Gold

Kennedy racked up six straight victories with five finishes after making his professional debut in June 2013. Competing under the Battlefield Fight League banner, he got his maiden shot at championship gold against Mario Pereira at BFL 34. Through five hard rounds, the Canadian displayed his dominance over Pereira, scoring a unanimous decision victory to lay hands on the organization’s featherweight crown.

2. Triple-Threat UFC Run

Banking on his unblemished 8-0 record, “JBC” punched his ticket to the UFC and made his promotional debut against Alessandro Ricci at UFC on Fox 21. He won the three-round contest by unanimous decision and went on to secure two more victories congruently against Rony Mariano Bezerra and Kyle Bochniak in 2017 before succumbing to his first career loss at the hands of the future featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 221.

3. Negotiation Deadlocks and Navigating Adversity

Kennedy faced a crossroads in his career following the culmination of his UFC tenure, hindered by prolonged negotiation stalemates. He was compelled to make a crucial decision, ultimately opting to sign with the Brave Combat Federation. His inaugural bout was scheduled against Danyel Pilo on Aug. 18, 2018, and he won the fight via knockout in the first round. Following that, he was slated to confront Marcos Galvao at PFL 8, competing for the alternate spot in the 2018 Professional Fighters League featherweight tournament. However, an erroneous interpretation during contract negotiations with Brave Combat Federation threw a wrench in his plans. Under the impression that he retained the liberty to participate in events hosted by other entities, Kennedy’s trajectory encountered a hurdle. Brave officials contacted the PFL to retract Kennedy’s participation. As the story developed, Brave revealed that Kennedy had signed a bout agreement to fight Marat Magomedov at BCF 18 on Nov. 16, 2018. The fight was later scheduled for BCF 21 on Dec. 28, 2018, when “JBC” walked away with a TKO victory in the third round.

4. Triumphs and Trials

In 2019, Kennedy embarked on a new chapter, joining the ranks of PFL and competing in the organization’s featherweight tournament. His first fight under the PFL banner underwent an unforeseen twist when his initial opponent, Alexandre Bezerra, missed weight, resulting in a substitution with Luis Rafael Laurentino. Unfortunately for Kennedy, he lost the bout by head kick and punches a mere 23 seconds into the first round. Undeterred, he showcased his resilience in the subsequent bouts, scoring a unanimous decision over Steven Siler and avenging his loss against Laurentino via TKO. The tournament journey was prematurely halted by a first-round submission defeat at the hands of Daniel Pineda. However, it later came to light that Pineda tested positive for a banned substance, and the result was overturned to no contest.

5. Road to Gold and Three-Star Run

Following a 1-1 record in Bellator MMA, Kennedy solidified his path to championship opportunity, commencing with a decisive unanimous decision win over Emmanuel Sanchez. Following that, he picked up two victories over Aaron Pico and Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 286 and Bellator 291. Armed with the backing of a solid resume, Kennedy now sets his sights on the summit of his career—an opportunity to vie for Bellator featherweight gold.