The featherweight division was in the spotlight on the Bellator 256 main card when Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy went up against Hungary’s Adam Borics. The international affair had both fighters looking to build on successful outings in their last fights.
Kennedy had won his promotional debut last time out, and was 3-0 with a no contest due to an opponent’s drug test failure across his last four fights. Borics, meanwhile, had won his last two fights since being bounced from the promotion’s featherweight grand prix.
Off the opening bell in Kennedy vs. Borics, the Hungarian had his jab working. Kennedy, meanwhile, fired a leg kick, something Borics was happy to return. It was Borics’ combinations that were the bright spot early, with Kennedy unable to get his hands going at the same clip. Perhaps with that in mind, Kennedy then drove his opponent into the cage, looking for the takedown. Most of the round, however, would play out on the feet, until a brief takedown by Kennedy in the dying seconds of the stanza.
The scrappy affair continued in the second round. The left hand of Borics flashed throughout, steadily adding damage to the face of the Canadian. Mainly, it was Borics’ jab carrying the load. But his kicks were going as well, and when a flying knee didn’t land late in the round, a high kick did. Kennedy stayed upright, but he no doubt felt the impact of the blow.
It might be obvious to say, but Jeremy Kennedy was in need of a finish entering the third round. Instead, Kennedy found himself hurt off a leg kick, wincing in pain. He went to the ground, and Borics followed, moving into half-guard. It was, perhaps, the closest thing to a finish the fight saw.
Kennedy would reverse and get back up with about half the round remaining, however. He then opted to drive Borics into the fence, working to get the fight down again, only this time with himself in the dominant position. Eventually, Kennedy would land the takedown care of a trip, but had only sixty seconds to make something happen. Instead, Borics used the fence to his advantage, trying to wall walk up. And while Kennedy was able to pull Borics’ legs out from under him, it was enough to eat up clock, sending them to the scorecards.
Official Results: Adam Borics def. Jeremy Kennedy by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
