BOSTON—Two UFC heavyweights fighting each other on Sunday agree that ISIS messes with the wrong guy by threatening Green Beret mixed-martial artist Tim Kennedy.
UFC heavyweight Matt Mitrione shared a message for ISIS with Breitbart Sports: “Try. C’mom. I don’t live my life in fear of anybody, especially ISIS, or anybody that has a different set of ideologies than I do.”
The former NFL defensive lineman spoke to Breitbart Sports about UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy’s discussion with the FBI about a “credible” threat against him involving ISIS. Kennedy noted on social media that he welcomed ISIS coming after him but labeled such a scenario unlikely because they “prefer unarmed women, children, and journalists.”
“Tim’s response was exactly what I expected from someone like Tim,” Travis Browne, Mitrione’s opponent at this Sunday’s Fox Sports 1 card in Boston, told Breitbart Sports. “He’s a character man.”
Kennedy fought in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 7th Special Forces Group after he began his mixed-martial arts career. The Army recognized him with a Bronze Star with valor for bravery under fire. He currently serves as a sergeant first class in the Texas National Guard.
“Tim Kennedy is a proven warrior,” Mitrione said of his fellow UFC fighter. “He is a gladiator of the modern age. And that dude believes in our country and believes in our rights and believes in the rights of everybody in the world. And that’s why he does what he does.”
What Tim Kennedy does is juggle his ongoing military career as a reservist in the Texas Army National Guard with his avocation of mixed-martial arts. And he does it with great success. The 18-5 Kennedy owns victories over Robbie Lawler, Jason “Mayhem” Miler, Michael Bisping, and Melvin Manhoef. Kennedy last competed in September 2014, when he suffered a controversial loss to Yoel Romero. The UFC lists him as the #7 middleweight in the promotion.
“I support Tim Kennedy 100 percent,” Mitrione tells Breitbart Sports. “If someone’s gonna try to kill him, come kill me, too.”
Breitbart Sports inquired with UFC media liaisons whether the FBI spoke to the promotion about the threats and whether they involve merely the fighter or the promotion that he fights for as well. The communications officials for the company were unaware but promised to look into the matter.
“I hope ISIS knows what there in for when they’re dealing with that guy,” Browne reflected. “He’s all kinds of crazy that guy is—in a good way.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.