Arguably the face of Bellator MMA, and certainly its longest-serving star, featherweight champion Patricio Pitbull returned to action at Bellator Belfast, where he took on Jeremy Kennedy.
The bout had been a long time in the making, with Kennedy undertaking multiple fight camps to prepare for the Brazilian legend.
Early on there was a fair amount of feeling out, with Pitbull holding center and walking Surrey, B.C.’s Kennedy down. Kennedy fired kicks in response, while towering over the multi-time champ. Pitbull went low with a kick of his own, drawing a combination in response from Kennedy. More of those Pitbull low kicks would follow, with the champ chewing up the lead leg of the Canadian.
Round two was another patient, at times plodding round, with champ Pitbull conserving energy, picking his spots with low kicks and his right hand. Kennedy stayed on the outside, trying to avoid the leg kicks of the champion with minimal success. When Kennedy attempted to close the distance, Pitbull would quickly retreat. By the midway mark of the second, the redness on Kennedy’s lead leg was practically glowing. And when the challenger went after a takedown with just over a minute left in the frame, Pitbull briefly defended with a guillotine before grounding himself and moving back to his feet.
With just 12 seconds on the clock, a low blow would land on Pitbull, leading to a rest spot for both men.
With a solid break for both men between the low blow and time between rounds, the third felt like a fresh start. Kennedy fired a leg kick, then fired another to the body. Kennedy’s left hand followed, while the champ looked to counter. About 90 seconds in, Kennedy went on the attack as Pitbull stumbled. The champ wound up cut off an elbow, and Kennedy pressed him into the cage, looking for a takedown and firing knees.
To that point, it was the most significant moment of the fight, and had Pitbull on his heels while Kennedy continued to press. The champ did fire a right hand back that connected, which had Kennedy taking his foot off the gas; Pitbull followed with a body shot then went on the attack, firing wild before unleashing a flurry of strikes, body and head as Kennedy covered up! Pitbull continued to piece up the challenger, mixing in knees, more body work, lefts and rights up top, and finally Kennedy slumped to the floor, signaling the end!
The win snaps a two-fight skid suffered by Patricio Pitbull, the word of his career.
Official Result: Patricio Pitbull def. Jeremy Kennedy by TKO, Round 3, 4:07
