Jeremy Kennedy Bio
Jeremy Michael Fitz-Kennedy (born September 16, 1992) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who competes in the Featherweight division. A professional competitor since 2013, he has built a reputation for well-rounded skills, sharp boxing, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu base that has shaped his finishing arsenal. He has previously fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL), Bellator MMA, and Brave Combat Federation.
Early Life and Background
Kennedy was born and raised in Fleetwood, a neighborhood in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. He began training in boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 13, initially as a way to handle the rougher moments with his older brother. Those early training sessions quickly became a passion, and he progressed through local gyms while balancing school. He graduated from Fleetwood Park Secondary School in Surrey, the city that remains his home base to this day.
Growing up in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia gave him access to a strong regional grappling and striking community. The combination of boxing footwork and jiu-jitsu groundwork laid a foundation for the mixed martial arts style that would later define his professional career.
Path to MMA
Kennedy transitioned into competitive mixed martial arts as a teenager and quickly built an impressive amateur résumé. Before joining the UFC, he captured both the Battlefield Fight League Amateur and Professional Featherweight Championships, compiling an amateur record of 8–1 and a professional record of 8–0 along the way. Those regional titles marked him as one of the top featherweight prospects in Canada.
His success on the regional circuit earned him an opportunity with a major North American promotion. In 2016, Kennedy signed with the UFC, a move that signaled his arrival on the international stage.
Jeremy Kennedy Career
Early Career (2013–2016)
Kennedy began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2013, fighting primarily at featherweight out of British Columbia. He ran his professional record to 8–0 while capturing the Battlefield Fight League Professional Featherweight Championship, establishing himself as a polished striker with a strong grappling backup. His finishes during this stretch included knockouts and submissions, reflecting the balance between his boxing base and his developing jiu-jitsu game.
By mid-2016, he had become one of Canada’s most talked-about featherweight prospects. The undefeated run, combined with his amateur pedigree, positioned him for a contract with a top global organization.
UFC Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Kennedy made his promotional debut on August 27, 2016, at UFC on Fox 21 against Alessandro Ricci and won the fight by unanimous decision. He followed that with a short-notice opportunity to face Mirsad Bektic at UFC 204, but an injury forced him out of the bout and he was replaced by Russell Doane. Returning to the cage, he took a unanimous decision over Rony Jason at UFC Fight Night 106 on March 11, 2017, and added another unanimous decision win over Kyle Bochniak at UFC on Fox 25 on July 22, 2017.
Kennedy was originally scheduled to face Alexander Volkanovski at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Tybura on November 19, 2017, but withdrew on October 5 citing a back injury. The fight was rescheduled for February 11, 2018, at UFC 221, where he lost via technical knockout in round two. After that bout, his UFC contract ended and the two sides did not agree on renewal terms.
Brave Combat Federation Era (2018)
Frustrated with negotiations, Kennedy signed with Brave Combat Federation and headlined Brave 14 against Danyel Pilo on August 18, 2018, winning by first-round knockout. A planned appearance in the PFL’s 2018 featherweight tournament fell through because of a contractual misunderstanding with Brave CF officials. He then headlined Brave 21 against Marat Magomedov on December 28, 2018, earning a third-round TKO victory to close out the year on a high note.
Professional Fighters League (2019)
In 2019, Kennedy joined the Professional Fighters League as an entrant in the 2019 Featherweight Tournament. He dropped a first-round TKO to Luis Rafael Laurentino in his opening bout after original opponent Alexandre Bezerra missed weight. He rebounded at PFL 5 on July 25, 2019, winning a unanimous decision over Steven Siler to advance to the playoffs. At PFL 8 on October 17, 2019, he stopped Laurentino in the second round to reach the semifinals, where he was submitted by Daniel Pineda; the result was later overturned to a no contest after Pineda tested positive for a banned substance.
Bellator MMA Era (2020–2024)
Kennedy signed with Bellator MMA in October 2020 and made his debut against Matt Bessette at Bellator 253 on November 19, 2020, earning a unanimous decision. He dropped a unanimous decision to Ádám Borics at Bellator 256 on April 9, 2021, then bounced back to defeat Emmanuel Sanchez by unanimous decision at Bellator 272 on December 3, 2021. A booking against Aaron Pico at Bellator 277 fell apart when Kennedy withdrew eight days before the event, and the rebooked bout at Bellator 286 on October 1, 2022, ended in a first-round doctor stoppage after Pico hurt his shoulder.
Kennedy took a unanimous decision over Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 291 on February 25, 2023. He was later scheduled to face James Gallagher at Bellator Champions Series 1 in March 2024, but was rescheduled into a Bellator Featherweight Championship bout against reigning champion Patrício Pitbull. Despite cutting Pitbull and stumbling the champion, Kennedy was stopped in the third round by a flurry of punches and knees.
Return to PFL and 2025 Tournament (2024–2025)
Kennedy was scheduled to face Jesus Pinedo on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10, but Pinedo withdrew for missing weight and was replaced on one day’s notice by Gabriel Alves Braga, who won by unanimous decision. On February 12, 2025, the promotion confirmed his entry into the 2025 PFL Featherweight Tournament. He dropped a split decision to Movlid Khaybulaev in the quarterfinals at PFL 1 on April 3, 2025, and returned in an alternate bout against Ádám Borics at PFL 5 on June 12, 2025, losing by majority decision.
Post-PFL and BFL Championship
After the 2025 PFL tournament, Kennedy fought Jeremy Henry on September 4, 2025, for the BFL Lightweight Championship at BFL 84, winning by fourth-round submission. The victory marked a championship return to the regional promotion where he first made his name.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Kennedy fights from an orthodox stance and uses a boxing-first approach built from his teenage training. His Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt anchors a strong submission game, while his cardio and composure have allowed him to grind out decisions against durable opposition. Training out of Revolution MMA Xtreme Couture in Surrey, he blends sharp striking with opportunistic grappling in the clinch and on the mat.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career highlights, Kennedy can point to a BFL amateur and professional championship double, a one-night, two-fight run at PFL 8 in 2019, and a main-event championship capture at BFL 84 in 2025. His title shot against longtime Bellator kingpin Patrício Pitbull, where he briefly stunned the champion, stands out as one of the most high-profile moments of his career.
Jeremy Kennedy Career Wins
Kennedy’s 21 career victories reflect a balanced finishing arsenal, with wins spread across knockouts, submissions, and decisions. He has collected championships at the regional and professional levels and produced signature wins inside major promotions such as the UFC, PFL, and Bellator.
UFC and Bellator Highlights
Inside the UFC, Kennedy opened his tenure with three straight unanimous decision wins over Alessandro Ricci, Rony Jason, and Kyle Bochniak before his UFC 221 clash with Volkanovski. In Bellator, his unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 272 and his decision win over Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 291 anchor his résumé.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the major promotions, Kennedy holds first-round knockout wins over Danyel Pilo at Brave 14 and a third-round TKO over Marat Magomedov at Brave 21, plus a fourth-round submission of Jeremy Henry in the BFL 84 main event. His 2019 PFL playoff run included a second-round knockout of Laurentino on the same night he had already won his quarterfinal, showcasing his finishing ability under tournament pressure.
Jeremy Kennedy Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Kennedy’s introduction to combat sports came through his older brother, whose presence in the household pushed a 13-year-old Jeremy into boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes. The sibling dynamic that initially drew him into the gym evolved into a lifelong athletic career.
Personal Life
Kennedy resides in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, where he continues to train at Revolution MMA Xtreme Couture. He is known by the ring names JBC and The Bandit, and he holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
2025 Season Performance
Kennedy’s 2025 campaign has been defined by a return to the PFL’s tournament format and a quick rebound on the regional circuit. The promotion confirmed his entry into the 2025 PFL Featherweight Tournament on February 12, 2025, setting up a high-stakes spring and summer schedule.
He opened the bracket with a split-decision loss to Movlid Khaybulaev at PFL 1 on April 3, 2025, and was brought back in an alternate role against Ádám Borics at PFL 5 on June 12, 2025, where he dropped a majority decision. The two losses ended his tournament run, but he returned to action quickly, capturing the BFL Lightweight Championship with a fourth-round submission of Jeremy Henry at BFL 84 on September 4, 2025.
Operating out of Revolution MMA Xtreme Couture, Kennedy continues to balance tournament-style preparation with championship opportunities on the Canadian regional scene. With his grappling black belt and refined boxing, he remains a threat at featherweight and lightweight, and his late-2025 title win offers a foundation to build momentum into 2026.