Jeremy Kennedy thinks beating Pedro Carvalho should earn him a title shot.
Kennedy (18-3 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) takes on SBG Ireland’s Carvalho (13-6 MMA, 6-3 BMMA) in the Bellator 291 co-headliner Feb. 25 at 3Arena in Dublin.
Kennedy is coming off a TKO win due to injury over rising star Aaron Pico at Bellator 286. He called out Carvalho after the win and got his wish as he heads into another fight in enemy territory.
“After Pedro, I’ll have sights even higher,” Kennedy told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m looking up. I’m looking at that title shot after Pedro.
“This is what I asked for, when I wanted it, against who, and I don’t think that’ll change with a win. I think (Patricio) ‘Pitbull’ (Freire) needs another contender and he’s going to be looking to fight again, and I’ll be ready as soon as they want it.”
Since joining the Bellator roster in 2020, the UFC alum has gone after Bellator’s top-ranked featherweights – a move he thinks will pay dividends if he can get his hand raised against Carvalho.
“(The) biggest thing, too, is ranking-wise – I’m constantly trying to fight up, and I have been my whole Bellator career it seems,” Kennedy said. “This will be the fourth top-five guy in a row. (Adam) Borics was at No. 1 or 2. (Emmanuel) Sanchez was at 4 when I fought him. (Aaron) Pico was 4. Now Pedro is 3. It’s just keep chipping away at these top-five guys, and then that’s just where I get that ranking and I get that title shot.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 291.
Jeremy Kennedy: ‘I’m looking at that title shot after Pedro Carvalho’ at Bellator 291