---
title: "Tim Kennedy Comes Out Of Retirement To Fight The Editor Of Deadspin"
date: "2017-01-26"
modified: "2017-01-26"
authors:
  - name: "Adam Linehan"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/adamlinehan/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/tim-kennedy-comes-out-of-retirement-to-fight-the-editor-of-deadspin/"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "Entertainment"
tags:
  - "special operations command"
---

# Tim Kennedy Comes Out Of Retirement To Fight The Editor Of Deadspin

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/04/19038573-1.jpg>)

Last week, U.S. Army Green Beret Tim Kennedy announced his decision to step away from competing professionally as a mixed martial artist for good. Now, a bizarre Twitter feud involving Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has raised the possibility of the 37-year-old middleweight heading back to the octagon for an encore fight.

Against whom? Tim Marchman, the editor of sports website [Deadspin](<https://deadspin.com>).

It all began when journalist Ashley Feinberg wrote an article called “[Send Us Proof Of Ted Cruz Playing Basketball](<https://deadspin.com/send-us-proof-of-ted-cruz-playing-basketball-1791517991?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow>),” which was prompted by news that the former Republican presidential candidate was attempting to strengthen relationships on the Hill by starting a weekly basketball game in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Cruz replied to the story via Twitter with a photo of Duke University guard Grayson Allen, to whom he bears a striking resemblance, with the accompanying caption, “What do I win?” A harmless enough response, but Deadspin apparently didn’t interpret it that way. Their reply: “Go eat shit.”

https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/823590015871684608

Feinberg herself seemed to take it in good humor. Marchman, however, entered the fray guns blazing.

https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824076992060522497

Then he threw down the gauntlet.

https://twitter.com/timmarchman/status/824097480883183616

And Tim Kennedy picked it up. Kennedy has been fighting professionally for the entirety of his adult life, and not just in the ring. A recipient of a Bronze Star with Valor, he’s served in the Special Forces since 2004 and has deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan. In the octagon, he boasts a 18-6 record since 2001.

Kennedy’s decision to retire from professional MMA came on the heels of a recent loss to Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 206. But I’ve met the man and I’ll tell you this: he’s a fucking beast.

And apparently he’s not especially fond of being called a cuck.

https://twitter.com/TimKennedyMMA/status/824369871576252427

With the challenge issued and accepted, there’s only one thing left to do: fight! At the time of this writing, Marchman had not yet replied to Kennedy’s tweet. But he will. Of course he will. I mean, come on, who *wouldn’t* want to fight this guy?

[via GIPHY](<https://giphy.com/gifs/arts-martial-kennedy-mwXae2HlqJmCs>)