Podcast call-out lands B.C. featherweight in Octagon
UFC fights can start in all sorts of places. For Canadian featherweight Jeremy (JBC) Kennedy, the seed for Saturday’s showdown with Kyle (Crash) Bochniak was planted in a podcast.
Bochniak (7-1-0) got the ball rolling when he suggested Kennedy would be an interesting opponent.
“He’s a good candidate, he’s 2-0 in the UFC. We’ll see who’s the real prospect,” the American told the UFC Fan Page podcast April 23. “That fight makes a lot of sense.” The matchup got some traction on social media with Bochniak fuelling the fire.
“Get off your knees @JeremyKennedyWC If we get matched up I’ll dig your grave for free,” he tweeted.
Kennedy (10-0-0) took up the challenge: “You should get down on your knees and be grateful I’m even interested in this matchup. You’re 0-2 in the @ufc.”
Bochniak, 30, is actually 1-1 in the UFC, but the win, over Enrique Barzola last August, was via split decision. Kennedy guested on the next edition of the podcast on May 9, offering his take on Bochniak’s brash challenge.
“That’s easy money. I would love to give him a beating,” said the 24-year-old from Surrey.
The social media to-and-fro continued, with MMA media and ultimately the UFC itself taking notice. The bout was announced on May 24.
“Let the madness begin!” tweeted Bochniak.
The talk ends Saturday night when the two 145-pounders meet on the undercard of a televised card in Uniondale, N.Y.
Former middleweight champion Chris (the All-American) Weidman faces Kelvin Gastelum at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Weidman (13-3-0) is ranked fifth among 185-pound contenders while Gastelum (14-2-0) is No. 8.
Kennedy says that, while he has no problem with being called out, he was no fan of the trash talk that ensued.
“I’ve got to get used to that,” he said.
“It bugs me to an extent, but now that the fight’s signed and I’m ready to go, I’m excited about it.”