Former UFC Fighter Tim Kennedy Reportedly Shot in Deadly Congo Ambush

Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy was reportedly shot three times in the leg during an ambush in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on September 17, according to MMA Weekly.

Kennedy, who competed professionally in MMA from 2001 to 2016 with stints in the UFC and Strikeforce, was part of a three-man team that came under fire during an operation. The attack killed Justin Conaglen, a former New Zealand SAS soldier. A third, unidentified team member was also wounded.

The evacuation reportedly took nearly eight hours before Kennedy was airlifted to the United States for treatment. MMA Weekly described his condition as stable.

The purpose of Kennedy's presence in the Congo remains unclear. The New Zealand Herald cited speculation that the operation was linked to a private security company associated with Blackwater founder Erik Prince, and that the team may have encountered Russia's Africa Corps. Neither claim has been confirmed, per Sherdog.

Kennedy, a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier with multiple combat deployments, has been involved in security work since retiring from the cage. No official statement from Kennedy or his representatives has been released.