Former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy has officially come clean about lying regarding his military record. The 45-year-old, who built a career on being both a professional fighter and a decorated soldier, admitted to falsely claiming he received the Bronze Star with Valor,an honor awarded for acts of heroism during armed conflict.
For years, Kennedy stood by his reputation as a war hero. He leaned into the narrative during interviews and public appearances, even recounting a story in 2017 where he said he took down a “bad guy” during combat, suggesting that it led to the prestigious Bronze Star with Valor. The story circulated on military-focused platforms and podcasts, helping solidify his image among UFC fans and service members alike.
However, the cracks started to show when retired Green Beret Nathan Cornacchia resurfaced that same interview. Cornacchia posted the clip to YouTube, directly calling out Kennedy for his claims. The backlash from the veteran community was swift, and Kennedy finally folded under the weight of the evidence.
“I want to take full and unequivocal responsibility for a serious mistake,” Kennedy wrote in a lengthy Instagram post. “Over the years, I made public statements and gave interviews in which I unintentionally misstated aspects of my military service. Most notably, I implied directly or indirectly that I had been awarded the Bronze Star with Valor. That is not true, and there is no excuse for it. I never received that honor, and I deeply regret ever suggesting otherwise.”
He didn’t stop there. Kennedy acknowledged how serious the lie was, and apologized directly to those who have actually earned the Bronze Star with Valor, many of whom paid a steep price for it.
“That kind of recognition is sacred. It represents extraordinary courage under fire, acts that risk or cost lives,” he continued. “To those who truly earned it, and to their families and brothers-in-arms, I offer my sincere and direct apology. What I said disrespected your service, and I take full ownership of that.”
Kennedy addressed the pressure of being in the spotlight, saying it affected his judgment, but stopped short of using it as an excuse.
“I was young when I stepped into the public eye, and while I wasn’t prepared for the scrutiny or pressure that came with it, that doesn’t absolve me,” he wrote. “Integrity is not situational, and I failed to uphold the standards I claimed to represent.”
“To the military and veteran community, especially those who’ve served in combat or lost people they love,” he added, “I am deeply sorry. I know I’ve let many of you down. You had every right to expect more from me, and I didn’t live up to that.”
Kennedy promised to stop misrepresenting his military service and said his words going forward would be grounded in truth.
“This apology is not the end, it’s the beginning. I am committed to rebuilding trust through honest reflection, visible accountability, and ongoing service to the community I misrepresented myself to. I will no longer speak about my service in a way that elevates me beyond what I actually did. From now on, my words will be guided by truth, humility, and respect.”
The apology didn’t land with everyone. Another former Green Beret, Alex Theodosis, didn’t hold back. He slammed Kennedy for what he believed was a carefully curated lie, not an innocent mistake.
“Tim, your entire public persona and the lies that you’ve told are anything but ‘unintentional,’” Theodosis wrote on Instagram. “None of what you’ve crafted was by accident. The web of lies you’ve spun since 2007 have all been intentional and with the purpose of fame and money.”
He didn’t buy the sincerity of Kennedy’s statement, calling it hollow and performative.
“This ChatGPT-crafted non-apology is a clear cut case of ‘I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry that I got caught.’ Barely glazing over one of your many lies and promising to ‘do better’ doesn’t even scratch the surface of what the veteran community and the [Special Forces] Regiment deserve from you.”
Tim Kennedy last fought at UFC 206 in 2016, where he suffered a stoppage loss to Kelvin Gastelum. Before that, he built a respectable record with wins over notable names like Michael Bisping, Robbie Lawler, and Melvin Manhoef. Outside the Octagon, he used his military background as a central piece of his identity, something many now see in a different light.
