Tim Kennedy (11-2) is back in action with Strikeforceand his recently announced fight against Trevor Prangley (22-5-1), June 16^thin LA. It has been a long time coming for Tim and his fans that have been patiently waiting.  Tim is not your average MMA fighter, he is coming off of an 8-year active duty term for the Unites States Army.  While serving as a Green Beret, he still actively competed in MMA in the Army’s Combative tournament.  Kennedy entered the tournament in 2005, in the light heavy weight division and won three years in a row.  Tim Kennedy is not your average soldier either.  He enlisted in the US Army on January 4th, 2004 after already having a promising MMA Carrer, he can be called the Pat Tillman of MMA.  Tim has gone through Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, and the Special Forces Qualification Course.  Tim has served as a sniper, sniper instructor, the principle Combative instructor for C Company, 3rd Battalion, 7TH Special Forces Group.  He is the recipient of multiple awards among which is the Army’s Bronze Star medal, which was awarded for valor under fire in Iraq.

Since he has been back Tim has added two more wins to his MMA record over Zak Cummings, Sept 25, 2009 and Nick Thompson June 19^th, 2009.  Both of those bouts were fought for ShoMMA.

MMAValor caught up with Tim to ask him a few questions about his upcoming fight, traning, MMA and life in general.

Q: Just to get it off your chest, how ready are you for this fight?

I have been ready to fight for way too long.  I have been in a fight camp thinking I was going to fight for the past 6 months.  Now that I have a name we have taken it to another level.  I’m bringing in sparing partners and training with some of the best in the world.  So YES I’m ready to fight.

Q: You seem like a workaholic when it comes to training.  Take us through your average everyday training regiment?

My Monday morning starts early witha 05:30-06:00 wake up.  First workout is strength and conditioning.  We do core, movement preparation exercises, then some plyometrics.  Move onto resistance training, and finish up withsome metabolic conditioning. Second workout is technical wrestling and BJJ.  Third workout is typically my sparing.

Q: What techniques have you been working on improving most getting ready for this?

That’s a secret.

Q: What are your goals as a fighter now that you are back to full time MMA?

I want to fight good, exciting fights. I want to fight the best.  For the first time in 8 years I have been able to dedicate myself to the sport.  The product is apparent.  My first two fights with Strikeforce I submitted one guy, and TKO’d the other.  It’s only going to get better.

Q: Who have you been training with and where?

I’m spending the majority of my time at CTC http://www.ctcaustin.com.  I also do some of my BJJ with Phil Cardella at Relson Gracie’s gym, and at Grapplers Domain.

Q: Favorite fight of your career so far?

I fought Dante Rivera on a 2 days notice, but the crazy part was that I had only been out of Ranger School for 11 days.  You have to have attended Ranger School to appreciate how my body must have felt.  It takes a lot of soldiers up to a year before their body recovers from the damage that is inflicted on it at that school. 

Tim is referring to the United States Army Ranger School, which is an extremely intense combat leadership school oriented to small unit tactics.  The course can last 61 days or more and it is common for soldiers to lose 20 to 40 pounds.  During the course high levels of the “fight-or-flight” stress hormones (epinephrine, norepienphrine, cortisol) combined with sleep deprivation and continual physical strain inhibit full physical and mental recovery.  Common physical effects on the body during the course can be: weight loss, dehydration, trench foot, heat stroke, frostbite, chilblains, fractures, tissue tears in the ligaments, tendons or muscles, swollen hands, feet, knees, nerve damage, loss of limb sensitivity, cellulitis, contact dermatitis, cuts, and insect, spider, bee andwildlife bites.  Soldiers are also put through food deprivation.  Historically the graduation rate has been around 40% fluctuating up and down through the years.

Q: You have a degree in Criminal Justice, what were your initial career plans?  What made you decide to become a professional MMA athlete instead?

I was working as a guidance counselor at a boy’s group home when I enlisted.  I was planning on going to the FBI, but 9-11 kind of pushed me to want to do something a little more proactive in fighting terrorism.

Q: Do you really sing 80’s songs while you drive?

Absolutely!  Especially, when I’m deployed.

Q: Who is your favorite ring girl?

My wife (even though she is not a ring girl). <– Smart man!

Q: You have spent the last 8 years on active duty, what did you miss most about MMA while away?

I missed competing.  I hate the business end of MMA.  I love the sport and martial arts.

Q: Where did you serve and in what capacity?

I was assigned to 7^th Special Forces Group as a Senior Special Forces Weapons Sergeant/Sniper.  I am currently assigned to 19^th Special Forces Group in a similar capacity.

Q: Explain to those fans not familiar with this, what an FOB is, and what is life like on one?

An FOB is a Forward Operating Base.  It is often as close to the enemy’s side as you can be without being on it.  An FOB is a pretty rough place.  You are out there on your own without any reinforcements.  You eat whatever you can buy, grow, or have air dropped in.

Q: How much MMA did people watch on the FOB?

Often times it’s pretty hard to get any sort of TV at a FOB.  So most guys keep up by reading magazines their families send them.

Q: Did you continue to train for MMA while on active duty and if yes how did you improvise for the lack of facilities and equipment?

I wrote about just that in a letter post on another website. 

Q: What food did you miss the most while away?

Real Mexican food.

Q: Now that you are back to fighting for our entertainment here in the US are there any veterans causes you support to help those still overseas?

There are two that I’m really proud.  The work they do is so necessary and much appreciated.

http://www.soldiersangels.org/(Follow on twitter @soldiersangels)

http://greenberetfoundation.org/(Follow on twitter @GreenBeretFound)

Q: Will there be more secret Special Forces “vicious and effective attacks”that you will be releasing on youtube.com?  How hard was it to get this information from the Pentagon?

Like I said.  It’s a secret….

To check out the currently released secret Special Forces vicious and effective attacks please see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0nHgkrqHuU

Q: So which did you like better the cooking lessons your mother placed you in or the piano ones?

I still LOVE cooking, and playing the piano.  Although it seems like I never have enough time to do either very well.

Q: Is there something you learned to cook as a kid that you still make for your family?

I make my goat cheese marinara the same way I learned to do it growing up.

Q: How did you keep in touch with you’re your daughters while you were away?  How often were you able to give them updates on your well being?

I would get updates in letters, and would skype them every time I went in to an AOB (Advanced Operations Base).

Q: How did you get the Army’s Bronze Star medal and how many other awards do you have?

For action while in Iraq.  Allot. 

Tim is not allowed in to discuss in detail any mission he was on while deployed.

Q: Funniest thing that has happened to you while training?  While in the ring?

My friend Dyaln KO’d me by inserting his toe into my eye socket last week.

Q: Weirdest or funniest thing that another fighter has told you in the ring that no one else heard?

Zac Cummings. “I have had more fun on a Friday night”

Q: For those people who follow this, or maybe just for me, your choice for the new DNI after Dennis Blair’s resignation?

General Stanley McChrystal.

Q: What do you want to say to those fans that have been awaiting your return to the ring?

You are in for a treat!

If you want to learn more about Tim Kennedy on your own you can follow him on Twitter @TimKennedyMMA,  and Facebook (Timothy Kennedy).  Here are some twitter samples that show Tim opening up his mind to his twitter followers:

“There are like 8 dudes in my weight class that I want to fight. Why is this so difficult?!?!? 2 months till my next fight. 8:48 PM Apr 19th via UberTwitter”

“Every time I drive in front of Whole Foods some hippie walks out in front of me without   looking. Tell these tool bags that my car will hurt. 10:45 AM Apr 20th via UberTwitter”

“Job opening: need a 200+ lbs man who is a black belt in bjj, pro boxer, D1 wrestler, and can workout with me 3 times a day. 5:20 PM Apr 22nd via UberTwitter”

You can also check out Tim’s website http://www.timkennedymma.com/ , he is one of the athletes on http://www.rangerup.com  and he has a wikkipedia page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_F_Kennedy .  Tim Kennedy has also been featured in a book about Green Beret selection “Chosen Soldier” by Dick Couch under the moniker “Tom Kendall”.

MMAValor.com would like to thank Tim Kennedy for his time with us and wish him a great comeback with Strikeforce and luck in his training and future career.

Sources: www.timkennedymma.com & www.wikipedia.org

Photos have been published with permission by Tim Kennedy.