You have to feel for Tim Kennedy.
The UFC middleweight had been lined up with a huge fight against former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans at UFC 205 that fell through when the New York commission would not clear Evans for an undisclosed medical issue. Kennedy turned up to the early weigh-ins and tipped the scales at 185.6 lbs to earn his show money.
The fight was expected to be rescheduled for UFC 206 in Toronto and Kennedy continued his training camp accordingly. However, the Ontario Athletic Commission also denied Evans a license for the fight leaving Kennedy without an opponent yet again.
There was a lot of premature excitement for the plan b #UFC205 https://t.co/CQU5QIdgr3
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 11, 2016
Another fighter who has had some issues booking fights of late is fan-favourite Donald Cerrone. Cowboy had been booked to fight rising prospect Kelvin Gastelum in New York, but that fight was subsequently removed from the card when Gastelum didn’t show up to the weigh-ins after it had become apparent that he wasn’t going to make the 171 lb limit. Cerrone also weighed in to secure his show money.
With both Cerrone and Kennedy fit and ready to fight, but with no dance partner, some fans thought that maybe, just maybe, they might accept some sort of catchweight contest in order to take part on the historic card. Obviously that would never happen, mainly because the Commission would never allow it, but also because of the following:
No. 1st he is a friend. 2nd I weigh 40 lbs more than him. 3rd I do not want another loss on my record. https://t.co/uqBpzd9Lg6
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
Pure class from Kennedy, but be under no illusion, he still wants to fight in Toronto.
In order to make that happen, he has begun calling out absolutely everybody from former middleweight champion Anderson Silva…
@SpiderAnderson I know it's been a minute since you won a fight. I might be an easy match up. Bad wrestling, horrible striking. #ufc206 ?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
…to former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar…
@BrockLesnar #ufc206 needs you. I won't beat you up too bad. You could even do some hunting in Canada after the fight.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
…while he also asked welterweight Patrick Cote if he’d be up for a fight on home turf. Unfortunately for Kennedy, injury has ruled the Canadian out of a bout that soon.
@patrick_cote hey how is the weather up there(said in Canadian accent)? Wanted to see if you were interested in getting on the Toronto card?
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 22, 2016
Weather suck !! Ass freezing .. thanks for asking but just got elbow surgery so i'm out for a couple months … Bad timing !! https://t.co/jtl9AKiNLn
— . (@patrick_cote) November 22, 2016
