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Tim Kennedy sent his fellow servicemen away with a smile on Wednesday night, unloading a devastating left hook that floored Rafael Natal midway through the first-round of UFC Fight for the Troops 3's main event. The knockout marked Kennedy's first since 2007, dropped a cool $50,000 bonus into Army veteran's pocket, and capped off an exciting, finish laden night of fights at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Afterward Kennedy leapt atop the cage to shower his fellow soldiers with affection, while the exuberant crowd burst into a rousing "USA!" chant for their countryman. And as always, the mixed martial arts community wasted little time taking to Twitter to weigh in on the extraordinary scene.
Congrats to an American hero @TimKennedyMMA on a huge KO pic.twitter.com/8hrXxX28t4
— isaac vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) November 7, 2013
THAT'S HOW YOU THORRRRRR!!!!! @TimKennedyMMA @RangerUpTommy @ufc
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 7, 2013
Not sure but I have a feeling that next to a winning the World Championship, nothing could have matched how tonight felt for @TimKennedyMMA
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) November 7, 2013
@TimKennedyMMA gets epic win for his brothers & sisters in arms another victory takes zero damage your my hero.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) November 7, 2013
HOLY FUCK!!! That was so awesome! RAN-GER-UP RAN-GER-UP!!! @Ranger_Up @TimKennedyMMA #UFCFightForTheTroops
— Tara LaRosa (@TaraLaRosa) November 7, 2013
HUGE KO for @TimKennedyMMA !!! Congrats buddy
— Andrew Craig (@aHIGHLIGHTcraig) November 7, 2013
Army getting cray cray for Kennedy. #fightforthetroops @ufc http://t.co/Oa9aEEFg5P
— Ramsey Nijem (@RamseyNijem) November 7, 2013
I have a feeling @mmacoachwink is verrry happy tonight!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 7, 2013
Yeahhhhh @TimKennedyMMA way to get it done son....#USA
— anthony lapsley mma (@recipe145) November 7, 2013
Great work @TimKennedyMMA
— ɹƎ˥˥IW WƎH⅄∀W (@mayhemmiller) November 7, 2013
MERICA!!!! @TimKennedyMMA USA @ufc #UFCFightForTheTroops HELL YEAH!!! Get You Some!!!!!!!
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) November 7, 2013
Nice fight mr Kennedy. I know you just fought but... How's about we fight next?!? @TimKennedyMMA @ufc
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) November 7, 2013
I want to thank my opponent @rafaelsaponatal for stepping up on short notice to fight me in the @UFC on my home turf when no one else would.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 7, 2013
DAVIS CLIMBS THE RANKINGS
@AlexisDavisMMA congratulations!!!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 7, 2013
I'm impressed with Davis. She has pretty good Muay Thai technique. #FFTT @ufc on @FOXSports1
— Phillipe Nover (@PhillipeNover) November 7, 2013
Lead right hooks from southpaw not best way to get inside. Especially when you're the shorter fighter
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 7, 2013
There is so much female action on @ufc tonight it's crazy ! Woot woot !! #wmma ;) makes me giddy !!!!!!
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) November 7, 2013
@iamgirlrilla will always be a fan of yours!! Thank you for your service to the country...and for your service to the WMMA community!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 7, 2013
I came up short tonight. I have great respect for Alexis. I will be back. Thank you for your support.
— LIZ CARMOUCHE (@iamgirlrilla) November 7, 2013
36 YEARS OLD IS THE NEW 20
wow....@YoelRomeroMMA is a freak!! #UFCFightNight #FFTT #UFC Congrats man!! #ATT That was a nasty KO
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) November 7, 2013
Congrats to my boy @YoelRomeroMMA great finish👍 ATT babe
— Hector Lombard (@HectorLombard) November 7, 2013
Another great fight. Romero and markes went after it. This has been a sick night of fights
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 7, 2013
I saw Yoel Romero hit a backflip 2 escape a single leg once...in practice. YES,WE TALKIN BOUT PRACTICE. PRACTICE?...PRACTICE. #UFCFightNight
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 7, 2013
FEAR THE RUSSIAN INVASION
Close fight! I thought @GamebredFighter (Masvidal) won two rounds to one. #UFCFightNight #FFTT #ATT @AmericanTopTeam
— Nik Lentz (@NikLentz) November 7, 2013
That fight had me sweatin!!! #FightForTheTroops
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) November 7, 2013
@KhabilovMMA Поздравляем!! Я так счастлива, что ты мой товарищ по команде!
— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) November 7, 2013
So proud of my brothers @KhabilovMMA and @TimKennedyMMA
— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) November 7, 2013
@KhabilovMMA Рустам! Красавчик брат) я пере нервничал ))
— Ali Bagautinov (@AliPuncherKing) November 7, 2013
Good Job @KhabilovMMA tough fight great decision victory
— isaac vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) November 7, 2013
Поздравляю брат, Ты Зверь!!!!))🐅 @KhabilovMMA
— Adlan Borz Amagov (@adlanamagov) November 7, 2013
What an awesome fight.. @GamebredFighter showing some serious wrestling skills!!
— Mike Brown (@mikebrownmma) November 7, 2013
My Boy @rustamkhabilov is A BEAST!!!!
— Bubba McDaniel (@BubbaTheMenace) November 7, 2013
Where the hell did that kick come from!!!!!
— Phillipe Nover (@PhillipeNover) November 7, 2013
Wow what an exciting fight but no way was that a unanimous dec.?! Should have been a draw #neverleaveittotgejudges #UFCFightForTheTroops
— Jon Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) November 7, 2013
Solid fight. Both negated each other niceley. Rnd1-2 both real close could go either way. 3rd to khabilov. #entertained
— TJ Grant (@TJ_Grant) November 7, 2013
This is what I'm talking about unqualified judges in MMA!
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) November 7, 2013
Sorry to all my friends and fam will get back to drawing broad will tune mistakes up and back on the grind ...... http://t.co/27vNCk9OtA
— Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) November 7, 2013
BATTLE OF THE RNC'S
Smooth grappling clinic bro @MikeMav22 #fearthebeard #NoShaveNovember #UFCFightForTheTroops
— Jon Tuck (@JonCruzTuck) November 7, 2013
Awesome finish by @MikeMav22 #JUDO! Congrats #fightforthetroops @ufc
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) November 7, 2013
Thanks 2 everyone who supported me! Had a fun fight in front of the troops! I'll be back better and stronger! Thanks everyone and GOD BLESS!
— Colton Smith (@ColtonSmithMMA) November 7, 2013
TKO VIA SOMETHING
Whaaaaat. You can't...HUH?! DNFJSIDJCNE #UFCFightfortheTroops
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 6, 2013
James Krause's testicles go 0,1 in the UFC
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) November 7, 2013
I'm sorry. Big John one of THE best but that was nonsense. #UFCFightfortheTroops
— Marcelino Evil (@KCBanditMMA) November 6, 2013
Welp that was really weird
— isaac vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) November 6, 2013
According to my gym locker room, every man's groin is different. Wait...what?! #groinshots
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) November 6, 2013
Wow that was a weird end to the fight....
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) November 6, 2013
This guy specializes in groin shots! #wow #FFTT @ufc on @FOXSports1
— Phillipe Nover (@PhillipeNover) November 6, 2013
Losses due to getting kicked in the nuts ? #letthemfight
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) November 6, 2013
Apparently rule #6 was not in effect tonight during the @thejameskrause fight! #misprint @ufc #fftt pic.twitter.com/k9xh46aTuK
— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) November 7, 2013
@TheJamesKrause hope your man bits are ok buddy
— isaac vallie-flagg (@IKEVF) November 7, 2013
For all you guys saying I was faking and it was on the "belt line". I'm a lot of things but a liar isn't one. pic.twitter.com/Q25pHkIu97
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) November 7, 2013
I would also like to add that I am a man if integrity. I would never fake an injury to win.
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) November 7, 2013
Nothing but love for you @BobbyKGreen. Not your call. Enjoy the win! It was an honor to fight you.
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) November 7, 2013
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