SURREY 鈥� flew into Perth, Australia a week early to prepare for the biggest fight of his UFC life.
The Surrey-based MMA athlete will battle home-country favourite Alexander Volkanovski at on Saturday (Feb. 10).
鈥淛BC,鈥� as the affable Kennedy is nicknamed, is 3-0 in Ultimate Fighting Championship action since his first fight for the organization, against Alessandro Ricci at Rogers Arena in Vancouver in August 2016.
Since then, he took down Boston-based Kyle Bochniak in Uniondale, New York last summer, and defeated Brazilian challenger Rony Jason on his home turf a few months before that.
鈥� READ MORE: , from July 2017.
And now, he鈥檚 set to take on Volkanovski in his home and native land. 鈥淚t鈥檚 starting to become a bit of my trademark to go beat these guys in their hometown, and it鈥檚 a nice feather in the cap,鈥� Kennedy told the Now-Leader.
鈥淚 think the UFC appreciates it as well, how willing I am to take these fights that a lot of others won鈥檛. It鈥檚 also not a bad way to see the world 鈥� although fighting at home is still what would be ideal for me next, to help familiarize myself with the Canadian crowd.鈥�
Kennedy has studied Volkanovski since August, when buzz about their fight began to build. The fight was originally supposed to take place in Sydney in November, but got pushed to February.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a very well-rounded fighter,鈥� Kennedy wrote in response to questions sent by Twitter messenger. 鈥淗e鈥檚 versatile everywhere, but I just think I鈥檓 better in every aspect and I鈥檒l have to be sharp in all facets of the game and can鈥檛 get caught sleeping in any of the exchanges on the mat, against the fence or on the feet. The key is to outwork him.鈥�
鈥� READ MORE: , from September 2016.
No question, this will be Kennedy鈥檚 biggest test yet in the UFC octagon.
鈥淢y previous opponents were all probably more dangerous in one aspect only, but lacked the well-roundness that Alex possesses. He鈥檚 going to be someone that will test me everywhere,鈥� Kennedy noted.
With another win, Kennedy will only rise among the ranks of Canadian MMA fighters.
鈥淚 really hope so,鈥� Kennedy responded when asked about the possibility of becoming a 鈥渇an favourite鈥� in Canada. 鈥淲ith my age and the rate I鈥檓 improving, I don鈥檛 see how I won鈥檛 become the go-to fighter for Canadian fans, especially if I keep defending the flag in these foreign countries.鈥�
Locally, Kennedy trains at gyms in 91原创, Pitt Meadows, Surrey, Coquitlam and Abbotsford.
鈥淪o I am a full-blown B.C. athlete,鈥� the 25-year-old noted.
鈥淚 started making more trips down to Vegas for some training there, and that has become a secondary spot for me that I鈥檒l continue to do in the future,鈥� the Fleetwood Park Secondary grad added.
In a 2016 interview with the Now-Leader, Kennedy recalled the details of his first MMA fight, which took place during a charity event at Relate Church on 152nd Street in Surrey.
鈥淚t was 2009, and it was down the street from my house in a church there,鈥� Kennedy said. 鈥淚t was pretty crazy, and I was 16 years old with braces and a head full of hair and fighting a 24-year-old, or something like that, and I won.鈥�
He had little idea about what he was getting himself into that night, Kennedy admitted.
鈥淚 kind of thought I would be fighting with shin guards and headgear and everything, but we showed up and it was small gloves, full MMA, ground and pound and everything, so that was fun,鈥� he remembered with a laugh.
鈥淏ut my parents weren鈥檛 too happy about that. They had to sign a release, and that鈥檚 not what they were expecting going into it.鈥�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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