*This story has been updated with quotes
Surrey’s Jeremy Kennedy remains undefeated in the UFC octagon.
On Saturday (July 22), the Fleetwood-raised MMA athlete took down fellow featherweight Kyle Bochniak in a unanimous decision during a UFC on Fox 25 event, held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., the former home of the NHL’s New York Islanders.
“JBC,” as the affable Kennedy is nicknamed, is now 3-0 in UFC action since his first fight for the organization in Vancouver last summer.With that win, @JeremyKennedyWC stays undefeated! #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/xbUXJgkbkl
— UFC (@ufc) July 22, 2017
Kennedy was sparring with Bochniak on Twitter weeks before a real-life fight between the two UFC-ers was announced.
In a post-fight interview, Kennedy talked about why he prefers fighting in Canada, and how he wants to battle Gray Maynard next.
Last August at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Kennedy scored a unanimous decision over fellow Canadian newcomer Alessandro Ricci, and in February he defeated local favourite Rony Jason at an event in Fortaleza, Brazil.
“I feel like because of my age, I’m only 24, there’s an opening for me to be the face of Canadian MMA." @JeremyKennedyWC #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/RXhzSTh0kt
— UFC (@ufc) July 22, 2017
.@JeremyKennedyWC explains why he wants to fight @GrayMaynard next. Full video: https://t.co/kCq724q1hQ #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/8ZjefVK0op
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 22, 2017
On Monday (July 24), when the Now-Leader caught up with him by cellphone, Kennedy was in Osoyoos.
“I just got up here with family,” he said. “We landed last night (on a flight from Uniondale), I unpacked my suitcase, packed it back up and drove up here for a little vacation.”
Kennedy is pleased with his performance in New York State.
“With a domination like that, when you’re ahead by that much, you always want the finish, but I can’t be upset with myself for a win, and sometimes I’m critical of myself that way, after every fight, but as long as I keep getting the W, I can’t be too hard on myself,” he said. “But there are definitely some things I want to do better next time.”
He’d like another UFC fight by year’s end.
“I’m thinking November or December, if I could pick a date, but whatever they give me, I’ll be ready. I’m healthy, no injuries after the fight, so I’m ready to go.”
Kennedy’s next fight will be the fourth of his four-fight contract with the UFC.
“I’ve fought three, and they usually want to resign you before your last fight on the contract, so hopefully we can renegotiate another four-fight deal here,” he explained.
“I’m thinking I’ve done enough to extend my career with (the UFC),” Kennedy added. “I think the biggest thing going for me right now is my age (24). The performances I’m putting on – yeah, I’m winning the fights pretty decisively, but they also want to see me grow, and with my age I have so much room to grow compared to a lot of other guys they have. Guys who are coming in and they’re undefeated, most of them are in their late 20s or early 30s, where I’m 24 and I’m young in the fight game, even though I have lots of experience (both in the UFC and as an amateur).”