--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaving active duty was so I could become…" description: "\"Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.\" — Tim Kennedy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg" --- # Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter… ![“Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.” quote by Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg) > “Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.” [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Aiming to become the top competitor in a specific field after leaving a previous role. **In simple terms:** Strive for excellence in chosen sport. Key Takeaway Commit fully to training. Themes ambition competition career transition Mood focused driven Type motivational sport When to use this quote - post-military life - sports training - weight class competition - personal development Key Concepts goal setting performance optimization Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your pursuit of greatness? - How will you measure success? A Different Perspective Physical limits may hinder goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-duty-802343/) [Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) [Best Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-fighter/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Fighter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighter/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Leaving Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving-active-5938703/) [Weight Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight-class/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/) ## Related quotes > [I will always have that, 'I want to be the best fighter on the planet' thing in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-will-always-have-that-i-want-to-be-the-best-fighter-on-the-planet/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [If you want to be the best fighter, you have to fight the best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/if-you-want-to-be-the-best-fighter-you-have-to-fight-the-best-fighter/) [Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/) > [I don't know where that thought came from and I don't know why I had that thought, but I thought I was the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-penn/i-don-t-know-where-that-thought-came-from-and-i-don-t-know-why-i-had/) [B. J. Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-penn/) > [Coming from a standing background in striking, I couldn't catch up to the guys with 20-plus years of training on the ground. I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hunt/coming-from-a-standing-background-in-striking-i-couldn-t-catch-up-to/) [Mark Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-hunt/) > [Look, I'm the best fighter Randy Couture has ever fought in his life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toney/look-i-m-the-best-fighter-randy-couture-has-ever-fought-in-his-life/) [James Toney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toney/) > [Don't call me lightweight champion. Call me pound-for-pound best fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/islam-makhachev/don-t-call-me-lightweight-champion-call-me-pound-for-pound-best/) [Islam Makhachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/islam-makhachev/) > [I think I'm the best fighter ever. I respect Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson. But as of now, I feel I'm the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-mayweather/i-think-i-m-the-best-fighter-ever-i-respect-ali-and-sugar-ray/) [Floyd Mayweather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-mayweather/) > [I don't know that I'm the best fighter in the world, but I know I can beat anybody in the world. And that's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-ellenberger/i-don-t-know-that-i-m-the-best-fighter-in-the-world-but-i-know-i-can/) [Jake Ellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-ellenberger/) > [I'm not going all the way; I'm going to be the best fighter that's ever fought in MMA. That's what I truly believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-till/i-m-not-going-all-the-way-i-m-going-to-be-the-best-fighter-that-s/) [Darren Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-till/) > [I'm in this to be the best fighter in the world, to put on entertaining shows, and to please the fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-covington/i-m-in-this-to-be-the-best-fighter-in-the-world-to-put-on/) [Colby Covington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-covington/) > [I know I'm the best all-around fighter in the welterweight division.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belal-muhammad/i-know-i-m-the-best-all-around-fighter-in-the-welterweight-division/) [Belal Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belal-muhammad/) > [I don't walk around looking into cameras and telling people I'm the best fighter in the world just to hear myself talk. I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/i-don-t-walk-around-looking-into-cameras-and-telling-people-i-m-the/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [I give extraordinary attention to military active duty, reserve and National Guard, and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanford-bishop/i-give-extraordinary-attention-to-military-active-duty-reserve-and/) [Sanford Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanford-bishop/) > [A few weeks after the planes hit the World Trade Center, I applied for a direct commission in the U.S. Army Reserve and ultimately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-cunningham/a-few-weeks-after-the-planes-hit-the-world-trade-center-i-applied-for/) [Cal Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-cunningham/) > [Sacrifice is the 1.3 million active duty men and women in the U.S. military and 800,000 reserve forces who volunteer to keep us safe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/sacrifice-is-the-1-3-million-active-duty-men-and-women-in-the-u-s/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) ## More by Tim Kennedy > [What's the definition of terrorism? It's to achieve an objective through the use of force and fear. These are just nasty, evil, disgusting human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/what-s-the-definition-of-terrorism-it-s-to-achieve-an-objective/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm an eight-year Green Beret, Ranger, sniper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-an-eight-year-green-beret-ranger-sniper/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I have no problem putting on a kit, carrying a big sniper rifle, and running a few thousand meters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-have-no-problem-putting-on-a-kit-carrying-a-big-sniper-rifle-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [When you're in Ranger School, it sucks. You're not eating; you're not sleeping. You're marching miles - for months at a time. It's horrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/when-you-re-in-ranger-school-it-sucks-you-re-not-eating-you-re-not/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I always have that nagging feeling of wanting to go back and getting my long gun back and be a sniper on a Special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-always-have-that-nagging-feeling-of-wanting-to-go-back-and-getting/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Peacetime Special Forces are different than wartime Special Forces. And I'm just not sure I was born to be in peace time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/peacetime-special-forces-are-different-than-wartime-special-forces/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [Fighting is a very independent thing, and it's not a team sport, and it's not the NFL, you know, because we don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/fighting-is-a-very-independent-thing-and-it-s-not-a-team-sport-and-it/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I love the idea of what America is. America is a bunch of people that do these incredible, thankless, selfless jobs that nobody really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-love-the-idea-of-what-america-is-america-is-a-bunch-of-people-that/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I hit hard, and I'm hard to take down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-hit-hard-and-i-m-hard-to-take-down/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [There are some parallels between 'Zombieland' and 'Range 15,' except 'Zombieland,' with Woody Harrelson, there's this pleasurable fun in every scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/there-are-some-parallels-between-zombieland-and-range-15-except/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I think the most rewarding thing is going over and being deployed and having done meaningful things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-think-the-most-rewarding-thing-is-going-over-and-being-deployed-and/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I don't need MMA, but I love fighting. Those are very different things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-don-t-need-mma-but-i-love-fighting-those-are-very-different-things/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [No matter what I do, it's all about the workouts. When I travel, I make sure I get my workout in first. When I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/no-matter-what-i-do-it-s-all-about-the-workouts-when-i-travel-i-make/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm competitive when I fight, but I don't get emotionally involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-competitive-when-i-fight-but-i-don-t-get-emotionally-involved/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) > [I'm not hard to find unless you're ISIS - then, it's a rough night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/i-m-not-hard-to-find-unless-you-re-isis-then-it-s-a-rough-night/) [Tim Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) [Explore all 73 Tim Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/) ## More Best quotes > [Failures happen. You can't cry over them. You just take it in your stride because you know that you have done your best... 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I always do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bledsoe/any-position-i-was-going-to-be-in-i-was-going-to-make-the-best-of-it/) [Eric Bledsoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bledsoe/) [Browse all 21,674 Best quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tim Kennedy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-become-the-best-fighter-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-become-the-best-fighter-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/tim-kennedy-9370_best_leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-becom_2388245.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Leaving active duty was so I could become the best fighter in the world at my weight class.” — Tim Kennedy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tim Kennedy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kennedy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Leaving active duty was so I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-become-the-best-fighter-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kennedy/leaving-active-duty-was-so-i-could-become-the-best-fighter-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```