Kennedy Nzechukwu

African Savage

USA

Shines in return to heavyweight
Light HeavyweightUFC
October 26, 2024
Nzechukwu defeated Chris Barnett via TKO (strikes) at 4:27 of Round 1 at UFC 308 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
Kennedy was scheduled to face Marcos Rogerio de Lima and Justin Tafa here, only to have both drop out. He finally got in there against Barnett and dominated as the largest favorite on the card at -750. Returning to heavyweight for the first time since 2016, Nzechukwu simply stayed to the outside and used his massive reach edge to pick his opponent apart at distance. The fact Barnett appeared to suffer a knee injury jumping up and down during introductions didn't help matters (in Nzechukwu's favor). Still just 32 years of age, Nzechukwu is young enough to make some waves in a thin heavyweight division, but this result tells us nothing about his future potential in the division. We'll see how he looks his next time out.
Read More News
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Kennedy Nzechukwu See More
UFC 308 Preview and Predictions: The MMA Mashup
28 days ago
The sharpest MMA bets, top DFS picks across multiple sites, and predictions for this weekend's UFC 308 card are live on RotoWire before Saturday's pay-per-view event.
UFC 309 Topuria vs. Holloway DFS Analysis: Drake's Takes
28 days ago
The top MMA betting and DFS plays for this weekend's UFC 308 card are up, as well as breakdowns of betting and lineup strategy, plus predictions for the entire event.
DraftKings MMA: UFC 308 DFS Preview
30 days ago
UFC 308 takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
UFC 307 Preview and Predictions: The MMA Mashup
49 days ago
The sharpest MMA bets, top DFS picks across multiple sites, and predictions for this weekend's UFC 307 card are live on RotoWire before Saturday's pay-per-view event.
DraftKings MMA: UFC St. Louis DFS Preview
198 days ago
UFC St. Louis takes place Saturday, and Jon Litterine is back to break down the top fights, plus offer his DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
More Fantasy News
Gets another new opponent
Light HeavyweightUFC
October 12, 2024
Nzechukwu will now fight Chris Barnett at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
With Marcos Rogerio de Lima and Justin Tafa both dropping out of the fight for unknown reasons, Nzechukwu will now take on Barnett, who owns a 2-2 record in the UFC but hasn't fought since September 2022.
Fighting Tafa in October
Light HeavyweightUFC
September 12, 2024
Nzechukwu will take on Justin Tafa at UFC 308 on October 26, with Tafa filling in for Marcos Regilio de Lima, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu was scheduled to face de Lima in October, but with the Brazilian being dropped from the fight for unspecified reasons, Tafa was chosen as a replacement. Nzechukwu will take a considerable size and reach advantage into the bout, though he will be looking to bounce back after consecutive losses to Ovince St. Preux and Dustin Jacoby, respectively. The Nigerian fighter will hope to use his considerable knockout power to take down the younger Tafa, though the Kiwi's 7-1 professional record in KO/TKO finishes means that Nzechukwu will have to remain wary as well.
Next bout scheduled
Light HeavyweightUFC
August 2, 2024
Nzechukwu will take on Marcos Rogerio de Lima in a heavyweight bout at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu has been a streaky fighter thus far in his UFC careeer. He's coming off two straight losses, most recently at the hands of Ovince Saint Preux via split decision. Prior to that, however, he had ripped off three straight wins. The heavyweight will look to snap his losing streak against an older opponent, on whom he has both height and wingspan advantages.
Falls as biggest favorite on card
Light HeavyweightUFC
March 16, 2024
Nzechukwu lost to Ovince Saint Preux via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
That will do it for Nzechukwu as any sort of potential future title contender at 205 pounds. There's no coming back from dropping a well-deserved decision to the 40-year-old Saint Preux as a -700 favorite, by far the largest on the entire card. Kennedy stood around and did nothing for 10 minutes, only finally making some headway in Round 3 because OSP was dead tired. Even in the final frame, it was Saint Preux who landed the bigger shots, including a knockdown. Nzechukwu simply doesn't possess the aggressiveness or the volume on the feet to consistently threaten fellow light heavyweights.
Fighting St. Preux in March
Light HeavyweightUFC
January 16, 2024
Nzechukwu will fight Ovince Saint Preux at UFC Vegas 88 on March 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu's loss to Dustin Jacoby in August snapped what had been a three-fight win streak, but he'll have an opportunity to get back on track versus Saint Preux, who hasn't won a fight since May 2022. Nzechukwu will have a two-inch height and three-inch reach advantage over his opponent.