Lyoto Machida vs. Tim Kennedy Middleweight Bout Set for UFC Fight for the Troops 3
Several fights have been discussed for a possible move of Lyoto Machida from light heavyweight down to middleweight, but only one has become a reality.
“Lyoto Machida is moving down to middleweight. He’s gonna face Tim Kennedy at the next Fight for the Troops, which will be on Fox Sports 1,” announced UFC president Dana White on Wednesday night’s edition of Fox Sports Live.
UFC Fight for the Troops 3 will take place on Nov. 6 on Fox Sports 1. White has mentioned the event before, but on Thursday night added that it would take place at Fort Campbell, Ky.
The Fort Campbell base actually straddles the border of Tennessee and Kentucky.
Machida (19-4) has been considering a move to middleweight for quite some time. White had recently thrown out possible 185-pound match-ups for the former UFC light heavyweight champion that included Vitor Belfort and Nick Diaz, but they have now settled on Kennedy.
A U.S. Army Ranger, Kennedy (16-4) twice challenged for the Strikeforce middleweight championship, but was never able to secure the belt. He has won his last two bouts, including his UFC debut against Roger Gracie at UFC 162 in May of this year.
No other bouts have been announced for UFC Fight for the Troops 3, although Jorge Masvidal vs. Rustam Khabilov is rumored for the event.
It’s been more than two-and-a-half years since the UFC last held a Fight for the Troops event, since the promotion was unable to secure government approval for an event it had planned for U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Company officials usually reserve preference for military personnel for UFC Fight for the Troops event tickets. The shows are also a vehicle for the UFC to help raise funds for military related charities, such as the Wounded Warriors Project.
The Wounded Warriors Project is a charity that raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, helps injured service members aid and assist each other, and provides unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.
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