Tim Kennedy Recovering at Walter Reed After Being Shot in Congo Ambush
Former UFC fighter and Green Beret Tim Kennedy is recovering at Walter Reed after being shot three times in a Congo ambush.
Former UFC fighter and U.S. Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy is recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, after being shot three times during an ambush in the Democratic Republic of Congo last month.
Kennedy was working for private security firm Vectus Global when his group was attacked on September 17 in South Kivu province, according to Reuters. The ambush reportedly left about 20 people dead or wounded.
U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a Navy SEAL veteran, confirmed he spoke with Kennedy and posted on X: "That means he is not dead and that means I am thankful." Van Orden asked for prayers for Kennedy's recovery.
Kennedy, 46, competed in Strikeforce and the UFC over the course of a decorated MMA career. He scored notable wins over Melvin Manhoef, Robbie Lawler and Michael Bisping before announcing his retirement in January 2017 following a loss to Kelvin Gastelum.
After leaving the cage, Kennedy leaned fully into his military and security career. The Green Beret served multiple combat tours before transitioning to private security work, which took him to one of the most volatile regions in Africa.
The situation in eastern Congo has been dire for years, with armed groups fighting for control of mineral-rich territory. South Kivu province, where Kennedy was shot, has been a hotspot for violence.
No further details about Kennedy's specific injuries or long-term prognosis have been released. Reuters reported he was receiving treatment, and his transfer to Walter Reed suggests he is getting the highest level of military medical care available.
I've been following Tim Kennedy's career since his Strikeforce days, and this is the kind of news that puts everything else in perspective. We argue about fighter pay and rankings and who ducked who, and then you hear a guy who used to throw hands in the Octagon took three bullets in the Congo.
Kennedy was always different. The guy would fight Robbie Lawler on a Saturday and talk about going back to a combat zone on Monday like it was nothing. He meant it every time. Whatever you think about his politics or his personality, the man walks it.
Getting transferred to Walter Reed is significant. That's where you go when you're banged up enough to need serious care but alive enough to get there. The fact that Rep. Van Orden confirmed he talked to him is a good sign.
Here's hoping Kennedy makes a full recovery. The MMA world has plenty of tough guys. Not many of them are actually getting shot at for a living.
