August 30, 2017 at 5:15 p.m.
Kenney stunned by split-decision defeat
Jay grad denied a UFC contract after suffering first pro loss
LAS VEGAS — For the second time in three fights, Casey Kenney was stunned by the judges’ decision.
Kenney, a 2009 Jay County High School graduate, suffered his first loss as a professional in a split decision Tuesday against Adam Antolin during Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series at the Ultimate Fighter Gym. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of Antolin while the other scored it 29-28 in favor of Kenney.
Fighting in the Contender Series for the second time after a unanimous decision win over C.J. Hamilton just six weeks earlier, Kenney seemed to get the early edge with a few kicks and a couple of high knees in the opening minute. And he caught Antolin with a series of punches midway through the opening period.
But the 35-year-old Antolin wouldn’t go away.
The fighters went toe-to-toe in the second and third periods before Kenney took Antolin to the mat with about 30 seconds remaining. He tried to lock in an anaconda choke, but ran out of time.
Kenney, 26, yanked his hand away from the referee in frustration when the final judge’s score was announced in Antolin’s favor.
Later in the evening, White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, complimented both fighters but did not give either a contract.
“I think that Adam fought the fight of his life tonight, but I didn’t agree with the decision,” he said. “I thought that Casey Kenney won two (rounds) to one and the guy should be 8-0 now and should be undefeated. That’s a tough one.
“Since we started this show, I haven’t got up and shook the hands of both the guys fighting, and I did that tonight. These guys both fought a hell of a war. Very impressive.”
White awarded three contracts on the evening — to heavyweight Allen Crowder, women’s bantamweight Lauren Mueller and lightweight Matt Frevola. Bevon Lewis, a middleweight, was also invited to join UFC’s developmental league.
Statistics provided by UFC Fight Pass showed Kenney had a slight advantage on “significant strikes,” 78-70. But Antolin connected on 46 percent of his total strikes compared to 32 percent for Kenney.
The victory was the ninth in a row for Antolin, who is now 13-3 as a professional. His last loss came by submission to Ronald Carillo on April 1, 2011. He also held the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight title, which now belongs to Kenney, in late 2015 before vacating it to be a part of “The Ultimate Fighter” on FOX.
The judges’ decision Tuesday drew much the same reaction from Kenney as he had in May when he fought to a split decision draw against Bruno Gustavo Aparecido da Silva during Legacy Fighting Alliance 11 at Comerica Theater in Phoenix. It ended a six-bout, career-opening winning streak for Kenney, who is 7-1-1 after suffering his first defeat to Antolin.
Kenney, a 2009 Jay County High School graduate, suffered his first loss as a professional in a split decision Tuesday against Adam Antolin during Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series at the Ultimate Fighter Gym. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 in favor of Antolin while the other scored it 29-28 in favor of Kenney.
Fighting in the Contender Series for the second time after a unanimous decision win over C.J. Hamilton just six weeks earlier, Kenney seemed to get the early edge with a few kicks and a couple of high knees in the opening minute. And he caught Antolin with a series of punches midway through the opening period.
But the 35-year-old Antolin wouldn’t go away.
The fighters went toe-to-toe in the second and third periods before Kenney took Antolin to the mat with about 30 seconds remaining. He tried to lock in an anaconda choke, but ran out of time.
Kenney, 26, yanked his hand away from the referee in frustration when the final judge’s score was announced in Antolin’s favor.
Later in the evening, White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, complimented both fighters but did not give either a contract.
“I think that Adam fought the fight of his life tonight, but I didn’t agree with the decision,” he said. “I thought that Casey Kenney won two (rounds) to one and the guy should be 8-0 now and should be undefeated. That’s a tough one.
“Since we started this show, I haven’t got up and shook the hands of both the guys fighting, and I did that tonight. These guys both fought a hell of a war. Very impressive.”
White awarded three contracts on the evening — to heavyweight Allen Crowder, women’s bantamweight Lauren Mueller and lightweight Matt Frevola. Bevon Lewis, a middleweight, was also invited to join UFC’s developmental league.
Statistics provided by UFC Fight Pass showed Kenney had a slight advantage on “significant strikes,” 78-70. But Antolin connected on 46 percent of his total strikes compared to 32 percent for Kenney.
The victory was the ninth in a row for Antolin, who is now 13-3 as a professional. His last loss came by submission to Ronald Carillo on April 1, 2011. He also held the Tachi Palace Fights flyweight title, which now belongs to Kenney, in late 2015 before vacating it to be a part of “The Ultimate Fighter” on FOX.
The judges’ decision Tuesday drew much the same reaction from Kenney as he had in May when he fought to a split decision draw against Bruno Gustavo Aparecido da Silva during Legacy Fighting Alliance 11 at Comerica Theater in Phoenix. It ended a six-bout, career-opening winning streak for Kenney, who is 7-1-1 after suffering his first defeat to Antolin.
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD