UFC featherweight Jeremy Kennedy is on an 11-fight winning streak — and he's had 11 professional fights. 

The native of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, made his pro debut in 2013 and needed just three years to make the big leagues, joining the UFC in 2016. 

The Canadian fighter rattled off three straight unanimous-decision victories since signing with the world's premier MMA organization, and now he looks to keep the streak going when he meets Alex Volkanovski at UFC 221 on Saturday night in Perth, Australia..

“I think he's a good opponent,” Kennedy told FloCombat. “He's a perfect test for me right now just with the strengths he possesses. He has a lot of similarities to me aside from our body types — the grindy, real battle-of-attrition style, wear people down and just a forward pressure fight. 

"So I think it's an interesting matchup, and that's why I think a lot of people are interested in it: because we're going to test each other here. We're going to see what happens when you face somebody who's going to try to do the same thing to each other.”

At 5-foot-6, Volkanovski may not be as tall as the 5-11 Kennedy, but there’s a reason Volkanovski’s affectionately referred to as “The Hulk." The former rugby player packs quite a bit of muscle, something he’s used to rag-doll his opponents in the cage, as well as on the field.

“I think I match up great,” Kennedy said. “He's got his strengths, obviously, but I think my size will help me. My length will help me on the feet just because he is a lot shorter of a guy. I'm one of the taller guys, and he's one of the shorter guys. So it actually works out well in a sense of having a such a good height advantage. 

"I don't give up strength as well. That's something that taller guys have problems with: short and stocky guys. With me, with a wrestling style, I've never really felt out-strengthed.”

There have been plenty of bumps on Kennedy's road to Volkanovski. Not only is the 16-1 fighter a tough out, but the fight's location also doesn’t make matters any easier for the Canadian.

Kennedy will have to leave the comforts of Canada and fly approximately 22 hours just to get to Australia. Then, he'll face his first battles: the time difference and the weight cut. 

“I'm excited for it. [There are] extra difficulties [versus] fighting locally,” Kennedy said. “That's part of the experience. Not a lot of guys get to do this. To be able to do this in countries you never thought you'd go to is an [extra] feather in the cap. 

"I like going to these hometown guys and I like beating their hometown guys, like I did in Brazil, like I did in New York. So it's just another chapter of my career. I have to get over these little hiccups like the long travel and fighting early in the morning and all that stuff. It's all part of the game." 

Another factor Kennedy will have to deal with: Volkanovski is fighting at home, and there's no doubt the crowd will show up to root for their fellow Australian. 

“Sure, the crowd can boo me or cheer me. It's all noise anyway,” Kennedy said. “It doesn't matter who I'll be facing. It's just an extra incentive that he's a hometown guy. All of my opponents have been hometown guys, so I'm used to it now.”

By Lucas Grandsire