![Kennedy Nzechukwu [Image courtesy: @sherdogdotcom on Twitter]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/11/7e8dc-16689101042389-1920.jpg)
![Kennedy Nzechukwu [Image courtesy: @sherdogdotcom on Twitter]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kennedy Nzechukwu recently found himself in the first UFC main-event of his career opposite Ion Cutelaba due to a twist of fate.
The Nigerian's clash against Cutelaba was promoted to main event status after Derrick Lewis was forced out of his scheduled main-event clash against Sergey Spivak due to stomach issues.
Nzechukwu came back strong to score a second-round TKO win over Cutelaba after getting dominated on the ground in round 1. However, 'African Savage' claims that he wasn't ready to headline a UFC fight card just yet.
Nzechukwu admittedly did not face the level of competition on the local circuit that would prepare him for a UFC main event. The 30-year-old said on ESPN's Post Show:
"I grew up in the UFC, cause there's not really much competition in the local circuit. So we took the opportunity. UFC provided it, we went for it but I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready, it's just different here. These guys are tough. I wish I would have faced...The guys I faced earlier in my UFC career, I wish I would have faced them on the local circuit. Then I think I'd be prepared. But it is what it is. God gave me this moment, I went for it."
Watch Kennedy Nzechukwu's comments below:
Kennedy Nzechukwu wasn't worried about Ion Cuteaba's antics going into the fight
Kennedy Nzechukwu's TKO win over Ion Cutelaba made it two in a row for the Nigerian, having knocked out Karl Roberson earlier this year. Nzechukwu arguably faced the toughest test of his career in Cutelaba, who also brought in the added pressure of his antics.
'The Hulk' is known for his face-off antics, screaming in his opponents' faces or shoving them to get inside their heads. While Cutelaba was seemingly civil during the face-off, Nzechukwu was prepared for all sorts of antics. According to 'African Savage', growing up in Nigeria has made him resistant to getting spooked by most things. The 30-year-old said during the media day:
“No, not really, I’m Nigerian. I’ve been scared since I was a toddler, so nothing can really scare me or spook me."
Watch Nzechukwu's comments below:
