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Aussie Steve Kennedy looking to impress in UFC debut

Mark Hunt - the Samoan Smashing Machine. (AP Photo/Christian Palma)
Roar Guru
18th June, 2015
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Perth’s Steve ‘Steamrolla’ Kennedy (22-6) will be the latest Australian to feature in the UFC. The 32-year old welterweight will make his debut on the main card at UFC Berlin this Sunday when he takes on German Peter Sobotta (14-4-1) on short notice.

Born in Watford, England, Kennedy moved to Perth at just four years of age, and has been in Western Australia ever since.

Kennedy will enter the octagon off the back of a successful run in the Australian mixed martial arts circuit, currently riding a seven-fight win streak the ‘Steamrolla’ jumped on the opportunity to test himself against MMA’s elite.

“When I got the call up I just felt this overwhelming sense of you’ve got work to now” he said.

“So I put down the cake I was eating and got on the treadmill”.

Fighting on the main card, Kennedy knows that this bout against Sobotta is a great opportunity for him to move on to even bigger things.

“I’m glad it’s on the main card” he said.

“It’s a way to guarantee myself more fights, better fights and give myself a real test, obviously once you’re in the UFC if you keep winning nothing bad can happen.

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“The opportunity of fighting doesn’t mean anything unless I can win, but the opportunity to fight and win means a lot”.

Kennedy has finished 17 of his 22 professional fights, with eight knockouts and nine submissions. Comfortable both standing up and on the ground, the ‘Steamrolla’ will be looking to take the fight wherever he feels he will have the most success.

“I’m comfortable standing up when I’m winning and I’m comfortable on the ground when I’m on top” he said.

“I prefer to be where the other guy is really weak, I don’t really have a preferred fighting style, my game plan is just to try and win two out of the three rounds”.

Going into Berlin, Kennedy understands that MMA is a sport where anything can happen, and won’t be looking to take any unnecessary chances.

“I’m a believer in the feeling out process, MMA is one of those sports where anything can happen and if you try and be super aggressive from the start you’re not in control” he said.

“It can play to your advantage because the other guy isn’t really in control either, but I don’t like to gamble when I fight so I’ll take my time and see what he’s got to offer.

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“I’ve got 15 minutes in there which is plenty of time, I’m in no rush”.

Kennedy has always been a big martial arts fan, and considers himself to have always been a “fighter at heart”.

The ‘Steamrolla’ turned to professional MMA in 2008, however his entry into the sport was quite bizarre. Originally wanting to become a pro-wrestler, Kennedy took a fight on short notice and never looked back.

“I took an MMA fight by accident, kind of like this one” he said.

“One of the guys I was helping train pulled out of an MMA fight and someone suggested that I take their place, to which I was like that’s crazy.

“I took it and won, and of course when you win something you think you’re good at it, so I decided I was going to be an MMA fighter.

“Turns out I wasn’t good at it, but by then it was too late”.

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Seven years later, Kennedy is set to fight among the world’s best in the UFC. You can follow the action on The Roar’s live blog on Sunday June 21 from 5am AEST. You can watch all the action from UFC Berlin on ufcfightpass.com.

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