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Kennedy takes huge dig at Bisping and Hardy

ESPN staff
May 20, 2011

Strikeforce middleweight Tim Kennedy has launched a scathing attack on Michael Bisping, labelling the Briton a "cheat" who is bad for the sport.

Kennedy, who has won five of his last six fights, including a victory over Melvin Manhoef, is angered by Bisping's antics against Jorge Rivera, when the Brit delivered an illegal knee to the head before allegedly spitting at the American's corner. The Count is currently without an opponent following the suspension of Chael Sonnen, and Kennedy is offering to fight him for free.

Bisping has already answered one Kennedy outburst by telling him to keep up with the times, quipping: "That ship has sailed". However, Kennedy is a military man and he insists he stands up for what is right.

"I was watching that [Bisping v Rivera] fight and dude, my blood just turned cold when I watched him knee Jorge in the head and then I watched him walk over to the corner and spit on them. I'm a martial artist, I'm a professional athlete, I'm a soldier and everything about that fight was disrespectful to everything I stand for," Kennedy told Bloody Elbow.

"Just watching that fight stirred the pot. He is everything I'm against. He cheats. And when I say cheats, I hate all cheaters. I hate guys that use steroids, I hate guys that grease, I hate guys that throw illegal punches, or say they got kicked in the groin so they can get a break, guys that throw illegal knees to the head. I hate them across the board equally.

"But the worst situation is when the cheater wins and now it's like every single fighter out there is like, 'Oh, I can knee a guy in the head and get a slap on the wrist and then I can go back in there and win the fight.' That's idiotic, it's offensive and I personally take it as a big stain on the whole entire sport.

"Fighting Michael Bisping wouldn't be about the money and that's why I said I'd give my fight money to charity. Let me just fight this guy and show them I can fight fair and win fair, and more importantly, I'm not fighting for the money, I'm not fighting for the fame. I'm fighting to fight. The charity of my choice can keep the money."

Kennedy admits he is embarrassed to be associated with the same sport as Bisping, despite the fact the Briton apologised for actions repeatedly in the aftermath of UFC 127.

Tim Kennedy has mocked Dan Hardy's mohawk © Getty Images
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"I think it's a big black eye on our sport. A sport that's new, a sport that's emerging. We should have the class acts, the sophisticated, well-spoken, intelligent, respectable guys that can go out there and really represent this sport and help it grow. Then there's the guys who are going to go out there and damage the sport. They're going to go out there and look like thugs, they're going to go out there and look like cheaters. That's the worst thing this sport needs right now.

"I don't think there's anybody in the sport that's ever blatantly cheated as clearly as he has and then walks away with the win from it. It's not him necessarily, it's just the idea of everything about him. It's everything he says, it's everything he does. It's the way he fights."

Kennedy's anger did not just stop at Bisping though. He then aimed a dig at Dan Hardy, whom Kennedy clearly believes gets an easy ride from the UFC due to his charisma.

"Here's the problem, you know. Let me give myself a mohawk, dye it red and go out there and talk some smack and then I'll be fighting for six figures. Or let me illegally knee a guy in the head, spit on his corner and then give me a spot on The Ultimate Fighter.

"Realistically, that was very possible. [Bisping] was two athletic commissioners away from getting a spot on The Ultimate Fighter as a coach. Not only was he given a hand-out win from a ridiculous decision in the cage, but then even worse, he's then given a spot on one of the most prestigious aspects of the UFC as a coach on the show and then fighting for the No. 1 contendership. That's absolutely asinine. He cheated! He should be punished. He then spit on the corner. He should be banned! He shouldn't be rewarded! It doesn't make any sense."

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