UFC veteran Jeremy Kennedy won’t have a familiar face in his corner when he fights Matt Bessette at Bellator 253 on November 19.
Unfortunately, longtime coach Dan Golkar won’t be making the trip to Connecticut due to COVID-19 related issues.
“So I was supposed to go actually, Jeremy bought me tickets and everything,” Golkar told Cageside Press. “And then this COVID thing is making a little bit more difficult than I thought. So this will be the second fight I’ve missed with Jeremy in damn near a decade. So you know, it sucks, but Eric (Nicksick)’s there. Even if I’m not there, and Eric’s not there and Jeremy just goes in there. It’s a fistfight. He’s really good at fist-fighting people. So we’re good.”
Kennedy (15-2) hasn’t fought since his “No Contest” against Daniel Pineda at PFL 2019 #8 in October 2019. Originally a submission win for Pineda, the 35-year-old tested positive for banned substances which overturned the matchup.
Like Pineda, Kennedy will be fighting another experienced opponent in fellow UFC veteran Bessette. Golkar is well aware of Bessette’s durability but believes Kennedy hasn’t even shown his true potential yet in the cage.
“We’re excited man,” Golkar said. “Like he doesn’t have the best name, but you look at his record, and he’s only been finished twice in damn near 40-fights. So he’s a tough customer. And I’m excited for Jeremy to finally show how good he is in the cage. Because no one has seen it. Once Jeremy shows how good he is, like, the potential that he has, he’s reached 70% of it. When he just 100% man, people are in trouble.”
Along with Kennedy, Golkar has also been working with top Canadian women’s flyweight prospect Jamey-Lyn Horth Wessels. The 30-year-old was slated to compete against Chelsea Hackett on November 17 at DWCS before visa issues forced her off the card.
“So what we heard was the fight was a go and the camp was amazing,” Golkar explained. “And then all of a sudden, we get the news that she’s recognizable enough. I don’t really know what that means for a visa purpose, not recognizable enough. I’m not quite sure how that works in the States, but everything happens for a reason.”
Golkar added, “(Her manager Jason House) obviously doing his best. But when the UFC or whoever’s denying the visas, it’s out of her hands. She’s ready to go, she’s excited and this is the best she’s looked since I started working with her.”
