Greg Jackson: Fighter Pay Comments, Apology Won’t Distract Tim Kennedy
Tim Kennedy is set to make his UFC debut Saturday at UFC 162, but ahead of the bout most of the focus has been on his comments about UFC fighter pay.
In a GrappleTalk podcast, Kennedy criticized the UFC’s compensation of fighters and suggested he could make more money emptying trashcans than fighting for the promotion. However, just days later, he apologized and UFC President Dana White has since fired back, asking, according to MMAMania.com, “… who gives a s--t about Tim Kennedy?”
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“You can’t distract Tim,” Jackson told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “With that kind of drama, this and that -- that guy’s used to actual drama, like people trying to shoot him. Somebody saying something and him having to do something like that is not a big deal to Tim Kennedy. I don’t know if you’ve met that guy, but nothing’s going to shake that dude.”
Jackson was referring to Kennedy’s service in the United States Army. A decorated combat veteran, the 33-year-old was one of the best middleweights in Strikeforce before making his move to the UFC.
“He’s certainly shown that he steps up in pressure situations,” Jackson said. “I don’t think that this is going to be any different. The Octagon’s the same deal. There’s that thing about Octagon jitters and all that stuff, but I honestly don’t think that’s going to affect him at all. … No matter what happens, he lives and gets to breathe oxygen and has a great next day, and you can’t say that when you’re battling for real, and he’s battled for real a lot. I don’t foresee this being a problem for him at all.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:10:03).
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