Kennedy Nzechukwu

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Kennedy Nzechukwu
BornKennedy Ikenna Nzechukwu[1]
(1992-06-13) June 13, 1992 (age 29)
Imo State, Nigeria
Other namesAfrican Savage
NationalityNigerian
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
DivisionLight Heavyweight (2017–present)
Heavyweight (2015–2016)
Reach83.0 in (211 cm)[2]
Fighting out ofDallas, Texas, United States
TeamFortis MMA (2015–present)[3]
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins9
By knockout6
By decision3
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Kennedy Ikenna Nzechukwu[1] (born June 13, 1992) is a Nigerian mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background[]

Nzechukwu moved from Nigeria to the United States with his family in 2010.[4] He started training mixed martial arts when his mother brought him to Fortis MMA in 2015 to learn some discipline.[4] He attended college, but dropped out in order to pursue a career in mixed martial arts [3] after his mother was diagnosed with ALS.[5]

Mixed martial arts career[]

Early career[]

After his amateur career, Nzechukwu turned professional, racking two straight victories in the Xtreme Knockout organization. He was then invited to compete in the Dana White's Contender Series. His bout took place on August 22, 2017, at Dana White's Contender Series 7 against Anton Berzin. He won the bout via split decision but did not receive a contract to the UFC.[6]

He then returned to the regional circuit and notched two knockout victories in XKO and Legacy Fighting Alliance.[7]

Dana White's Contender Series[]

Nzechukwu was then invited a second time to Dana White's Contender Series, this time facing Dennis Bryant at Dana White's Contender Series 16 on August 7, 2018. He won the bout via first-round knockout and received a contract to the UFC.[8]

Ultimate Fighting Championship[]

Nzechukwu made his UFC debut against Paul Craig on 30 March 2019 at UFC on ESPN 2.[9] He lost the fight via triangle choke in the third round.[10]

Nzechukwu faced Darko Stošić on August 3, 2019, at UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler.[11] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]

Nzechukwu faced Carlos Ulberg on March 6, 2021, at UFC 259.[13] Ulberg started strong, hurting Nzechukwu badly with strikes and kicks, but quickly became exhausted, resulting in Nzechukwu winning the fight via knockout in round two.[14] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[15]

Nzechukwu faced Danilo Marques, replacing Ed Herman on June 26, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 190.[16] After largely being controlled for most of the bout, he rallied and won the fight via TKO in the third round.[17] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[18]

Nzechukwu was scheduled to face Da Un Jung on October 16, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 195.[19] However, the bout was postponed to UFC Fight Night 197 on November 13, 2021, for unknown reasons.[20] Nzechukwu lost the fight via knockout in round one.[21]

Nzechukwu, as a replacement for Ihor Potieria, faced Nicolae Negumereanu on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272.[22] He lost the fight via split decision.[23] 8 out of 15 media scores gave it to Nzechukwu, while 6 scored it a draw, with only one giving it to Negumereanu.[24]

Championships and accomplishments[]

Mixed martial arts[]

Mixed martial arts record[]

Professional record breakdown
12 matches 9 wins 3 losses
By knockout 6 1
By submission 0 1
By decision 3 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 9–3 Nicolae Negumereanu Decision (split) UFC 272 March 5, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Nzechukwu was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated eye pokes.
Loss 9–2 Da Un Jung KO (elbows) UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. Rodríguez November 13, 2021 1 3:04 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 9–1 Danilo Marques TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov June 26, 2021 3 0:20 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 8–1 Carlos Ulberg KO (punches) UFC 259 March 6, 2021 2 3:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night.
Win 7–1 Darko Stošić Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler August 3, 2019 3 5:00 Newark, New Jersey, United States Stošić was deducted two points, one in round 2 and one in round 3, both due to repeated groin strikes.
Loss 6–1 Paul Craig Submission (triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje March 30, 2019 3 4:20 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 6–0 Dennis Bryant TKO (head kick and punches) Dana White's Contender Series 16 August 7, 2018 1 1:48 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–0 Corey Johnson TKO (punches) LFA 40 May 25, 2018 2 1:18 Dallas, Texas, United States
Win 4–0 Andre Kavanaugh TKO (punches) XKO 40 March 10, 2018 1 2:40 Dallas, Texas, United States Heavyweight bout.
Win 3–0 Anton Berzin Decision (split) Dana White's Contender Series 7 August 22, 2017 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 2–0 Thai Walwyn Decision (unanimous) XKO 34 January 28, 2017 3 5:00 Dallas, Texas, United States Light Heavyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Matt Foster TKO (punches) XKO 33 November 5, 2016 1 2:06 Dallas, Texas, United States Heavyweight debut.

[25]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SHOW RESULTS DATE: March 5th, 2022 LOCATION: T Mobile Arena, Las Vegas" (PDF). boxing.nv.gov. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-03-14.
  2. ^ a b "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  3. ^ a b Blaine Henry (March 24, 2019). "UFC Philadelphia: Kennedy Nzechukwu on Aspirations, Kamaru Usman, and More". cagesidepress.com.
  4. ^ a b E. Spencer Kyte (March 25, 2019). "Nzechukwu Hopes To Bring A Victory Home To Mom". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  5. ^ Henry, Blaine (24 March 2019). "UFC Philadelphia: Kennedy Nzechukwu on Aspirations, Kamaru Usman, and More". Cageside Press. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  6. ^ Danny Segura (2017-08-22). "Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series 7 results: Joby Sanchez, Benito Lopez earn UFC contracts". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  7. ^ Rob Tatum (May 25, 2018). "LFA 40 Results: Aguilar Crushes Le, Unifies Featherweight Belt". combatpress.com.
  8. ^ Dave Doyle (2018-08-07). "DWTNCS results: Greg Hardy scores 17-second knockout of Taboris Gordon". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  9. ^ Amy MacBeath (2019-01-23). "UPaul Craig: UFC Scot to fight Kennedy Nzechukwu in Philadelphia". bbc.com. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  10. ^ "UFC Philadelphia: Paul Craig subs Kennedy Nzechukwu despite repeated eyepokes". MMA Junkie. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2019-03-31.
  11. ^ Fortune, Ryan (2019-08-02). "UFC on ESPN 5 Main Card Preview". MMASucka.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  12. ^ Fern, Julio; Navas, o (2019-08-03). "Kennedy Nzechukwu supera a Darko Stošić en UFC Newark". MMA.uno , #1 En noticias de Artes Marciales Mixtas (MMA) en Español. (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  13. ^ Redactie (2021-01-28). "Carlos Ulberg makes UFC debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu at UFC 259". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2021-01-28. (in Dutch)
  14. ^ Bitter, Shawn (2021-03-06). "UFC 259 Results: Carlos Ulberg Gets Rude Welcome from Kennedy Nzechukwu". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  15. ^ a b Lee, Alexander K. (7 March 2021). "UFC 259 bonuses: Kennedy Nzechukwu and Carlos Ulberg earn Fight of the Night for back-and-forth scrap". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  16. ^ Nolan King (2021-06-14). "Kennedy Nzechukwu replaces Ed Herman, meets Danilo Marques at UFC Fight Night 190". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  17. ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-06-26). "UFC Vegas 30 Results: Kennedy Nzechukwu Mounts Third-Round Comeback, Stops Danilo Marques". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  18. ^ a b Marrocco, Steven (2021-06-26). "UFC Vegas 30 bonuses: Raoni Barcelos vs. Timur Valiev wins 'Fight of the Night'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-27.
  19. ^ DNA, MMA (2021-08-31). "Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Da Un Jung toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 16 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  20. ^ Staff (2021-10-07). "Fight pushed back". rotowire.com. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  21. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-11-13). "UFC Vegas 42: Da Un Jung Batters Kennedy Nzechukwu with Elbows". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-13.
  22. ^ Wannan, Jack (2022-02-04). "Kennedy Nzechukwu Steps In To Face Nick Negumereanu At UFC 272". Knockdown News. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  23. ^ McClory, Mike (2022-03-05). "UFC 272: Nicolae Negumereanu Survives Eye Pokes, Wins Split Decision Against Kennedy Nzechukwu". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  24. ^ "Nicolae Negumereanu def. Kennedy Nzechukwu :: UFC 272 :: MMA Decisions". www.mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  25. ^ Sherdog.com. "Kennedy". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-03-07.

External links[]

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