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Written by Nick Palmisciano |
FT. BENNING, Georgia - Destroy the enemy. That's what soldiers get paid to do.
And their ability to do just that was on full display during this weekend's All Army Invitational Combatives Tournament, which took place here in mid-October. 13
The tournament, which pitted the best fighters from every Army unit against each other, is likely the most intense MMA event that you will find anywhere. To a man, every fighter in the competition was bent on the total annihilation of his opponent. Points were immaterial -they would mean nothing in combat.
That raw intensity, coupled with each warrior fighting as many as 10 fights and no fewer than five in order to reach the championship and consolation rounds, made this an event that kept fan energy at a virtual frenzy.
While the whole field was impressive, the Fort Bragg team, led by team captain SSG Tim Kennedy, an undefeated IFL fighter, Iraq veteran, and Ranger Up TM Combatives co-founder; and coached by Greg Thompson of the always impressive Team ROC, was an unstoppable juggernaut throughout the event.
KENNEDY Kennedy's five fights lasted less than 10 minutes. In the preliminary grappling rounds, he dispatched his three opponents effortlessly, submitting by guillotine choke in 19 seconds, full mount armbar in 2:47 and full mount collar choke in 1:42.
In the finals, which consist of full-contact rules sans elbow strikes, Kennedy faced one of his students, 1LT Carpaccio Owens, perhaps the most powerful fighter in the competition with a physique that would make Adonis feel like a schoolgirl. At the bell, Kennedy hit Owens with a right hook that left him dazed, and quickly achieved a takedown, resulting in a tough scramble where Kennedy took the rear mount and finished by rear naked choke.
Kennedy's win made him the only three-time All Army Combatives Champion in Army history.
Complete Tournament Results
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT FLYWEIGHT 125 LBS. Winner: Sgt. Tomko
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT LIGHTWEIGHT 140 LBS. Winner: PFC Bray
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT WELTERWEIGHT 155 LBS. Winner: Sgt. Kwast
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT MIDDLEWEIGHT 170 LBS. Winner: Sgt. Cooper
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT CRUISERWEIGHT 185 LBS. Winner: SSG South
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 205 LBS. Winner: SSG Kennedy
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT HEAVYWEIGHT 205 LBS. Winner: MSG Long
2007 COMBATIVES INVITATIONAL TEAM POINTS
33 TEAMS
1ST PLACE FT. BRAGG
2ND PLACE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION
3RD PLACE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION/ FT. BENNING
4TH PLACE FT. HOOD BODY COPY GOES HERE | 





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