Pedro Carvalho and Jeremy Kennedy faced off in a featherweight co-main event at Bellator 291 in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday.
The bout was expected to come with title implications, either inching Carvalho back to another shot at gold, or landing Canadian Kennedy his first since signing with the promotion.
Kennedy came out strong, showcasing his wrestling advantage early and often, dragging Carvalho down to the mat and holding him in place for the majority of the round. Kennedy utilized ground and pound while working in smooth transitions to control his opponent and continue to score points.
The Canadian featherweight managed to lock a strong body triangle onto Carvalho midway through the second round, one that would go on to dictate the scoring of the frame. The third round featured more of the same, as Kennedy was simply one step ahead of Carvalho throughout each scramble, through each movement.
Kennedy dominated Carvalho en route to a unanimous decision victory, calling out featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull following the win.
“I believe I’ve been number 1 the whole time, and I think this just proves it…even on my worst day I can 30-27 these guys,” Kennedy said. “Pitbull – that’s the next fight.”
As for Pedro Carvalho, he’ll likely look to bounce back against another highly ranked opponent, possibly an Aaron Pico or Adam Borics, prior to calling for another potential title shot or a rematch with Pitbull, depending on how the rest of the year plays out.
Official Result: Jeremy Kennedy def. Pedro Carvalho by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
