Kennedy Nzechukwu
African Savage
USA
Eye poke leads to draw
Nzechukwu and Marcus Almeida fought to a draw (28-28, 28-28, 28-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
You can look at this fight a couple of different ways for Nzechukwu. The positive view is that he was completely mounted by Almeida in Round 2 and totally defenseless and almost certainly would have lost if his inexperienced opponent knew what he was doing in the situation, so a draw isn't a bad result. The negative view is that Kennedy easily won Rounds 1 and 3 and should have taken home a decision win if he wasn't (correctly) docked a point for an illegal eye poke in the second frame. Regardless, it's difficult to see Nzechukwu have a prolonged run of success at heavyweight. He's 2-1-1 since moving up, although he's been matched up extremely soft.
You can look at this fight a couple of different ways for Nzechukwu. The positive view is that he was completely mounted by Almeida in Round 2 and totally defenseless and almost certainly would have lost if his inexperienced opponent knew what he was doing in the situation, so a draw isn't a bad result. The negative view is that Kennedy easily won Rounds 1 and 3 and should have taken home a decision win if he wasn't (correctly) docked a point for an illegal eye poke in the second frame. Regardless, it's difficult to see Nzechukwu have a prolonged run of success at heavyweight. He's 2-1-1 since moving up, although he's been matched up extremely soft.
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Next fight scheduled
Nzechukwu is scheduled to compete against Marcus Almeida in a heavyweight fight at UFC Vegas 112 on Dec. 13, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu will look to bounce back from a sub-minute submission loss to Valter Walker earlier in 2025. The defeat marked his first in the UFC's heavyweight division.
Nzechukwu will look to bounce back from a sub-minute submission loss to Valter Walker earlier in 2025. The defeat marked his first in the UFC's heavyweight division.
Suffers first heavyweight defeat
Nzechukwu lost to Valter Walker via submission (heel hook) at 0:54 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Nashville.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu is in no position to be putting forth performances such as this one as a -250 favorite. He simply wasn't ready to fight when the opening bell rang, and Walker took advantage. Kennedy actually caught a huge break when his opponent appeared to slip off him, but Walker used the space to clamp on a heel hook and earn the submission. This setback comes on the heels of back-to-back first-round knockout victories for Nzechukwu in the span of just six weeks in late-2024.
Nzechukwu is in no position to be putting forth performances such as this one as a -250 favorite. He simply wasn't ready to fight when the opening bell rang, and Walker took advantage. Kennedy actually caught a huge break when his opponent appeared to slip off him, but Walker used the space to clamp on a heel hook and earn the submission. This setback comes on the heels of back-to-back first-round knockout victories for Nzechukwu in the span of just six weeks in late-2024.
Books next bout
Nzechukwu will take on Valter Walker in a heavyweight bout at UFC Nashville on July 12, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu has won two straight fights to push his UFC record to 8-5. He's coming off a cancellation, however, as he was slated to face Martin Buday at UFC Vegas 105 but pulled out for undisclosed reasons. Now, he'll get his chance to step back into the ring against an opponent in Walker who has also won two straight bouts.
Nzechukwu has won two straight fights to push his UFC record to 8-5. He's coming off a cancellation, however, as he was slated to face Martin Buday at UFC Vegas 105 but pulled out for undisclosed reasons. Now, he'll get his chance to step back into the ring against an opponent in Walker who has also won two straight bouts.
Out for UFC Vegas 105
Nzechukwu (undisclosed) will no longer fight Saturday at UFC Vegas 105, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu has been pulled from Saturday's fight at the last minute, and the reason is currently unknown. He was scheduled to fight Martin Buday, who will now fight Uran Satybaldiev on very short notice.
Nzechukwu has been pulled from Saturday's fight at the last minute, and the reason is currently unknown. He was scheduled to fight Martin Buday, who will now fight Uran Satybaldiev on very short notice.
Third heavyweight bout schedueld
Nzechukwu will take on Martin Buday in a heavyweight bout at UFC Vegas 105 on April 5, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Nzechukwu has won two straight bouts, most recently taking care of Lukasz Brzeski back in December. That pushed his UFC record to 8-5, and he'll look to make it three straight wins against an opponent in Buday who is also coming off a win. Nzechukwu has an inch of height on Buday, as well as six inches of wingspan on him.
Nzechukwu has won two straight bouts, most recently taking care of Lukasz Brzeski back in December. That pushed his UFC record to 8-5, and he'll look to make it three straight wins against an opponent in Buday who is also coming off a win. Nzechukwu has an inch of height on Buday, as well as six inches of wingspan on him.