Disturbing news out of Africa is circulating in the MMA world today. Sherdog reports that former UFC middleweight Tim Kennedy was wounded after being caught in an ambush in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an attack described as deadly.

As of now, this is a single outlet's reporting. No other site has independently confirmed the shooting, and no further specifics on Kennedy's condition, the circumstances of the ambush, or what he was doing in the country have been made public. Given how serious the claim is, expect more outlets to chase confirmation in the coming hours.

Kennedy fought in the UFC's middleweight division before stepping away from active competition, and he's remained a recognizable name in the sport well after his fighting days wound down. News of him being caught in violence overseas is the kind of story that jumps well outside the usual MMA news cycle, since it has nothing to do with a fight camp or a title picture and everything to do with his safety.

The MMA community has already started talking about it. The weekly recap thread on r/MMA for the week of September 6 through September 12 has become a gathering point for fans reacting to the report, though as with the story itself, there's no verified consensus yet on what actually happened or how serious Kennedy's injuries are.

Until there's an official statement, either from Kennedy himself, people close to him, or a more detailed accounting from additional outlets, the situation should be treated as unconfirmed. Open Scoring MMA will update this story as more information becomes available.