Wednesday 1/01/2025, a Tesla Cybertruck blew up just outside the main entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The vehicle’s sole occupant, active-duty United States Army Special Forces soldier Matthew Livelsberger, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. As it turns out, he has a history with UFC veteran Tim Kennedy.
A lot of UFC competition notables, past and present, have dissed the idea of Cybertruck before. But no – this wasn’t that. Matthew Livelsberger had service experience in both the Army and National Guard. He was also a decorated Special Forces Intelligence. This wasn’t a hate crime or targeting a neo-demographic like that. Two letters in the phone app suggest that it was a wake-up call and meant to cleanse himself.
I saw a ‘Matt Burg’ with an older photo of him, … was like ‘Oh no, I know that guy.’ Then it just like tore my heart out, because he was a really great Green Beret. He was charming, he was talented. He was personable. He was kind — I don’t understand, it doesn’t make sense, and it’s horrifically heart-breaking
Tim Kennedy explained
Las Vegas Cybertruck blast suspect Matthew Livelsberger took part in a military TV reality competition on the History Channel. pic.twitter.com/StCIyv9JN2
— Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) January 3, 2025
Livelsberger has worked closely with retired UFC fighter Tim Kennedy. Kennedy was a Green Beret himself before moving up to the middleweight division. The two teamed up for the History Channel’s ‘Ultimate Soldier’ Challenge more than a decade ago. Many people have strong sentiments; Kennedy should know from his time at the UFC. But this was a stronger notion that has rocked the news lately. The explosion injured at least seven bystanders and was the result of fireworks and gasoline.
He went by a different name when I met him 13 years ago. I put it together when I saw an old photo of him last night.
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) January 4, 2025
Kennedy officially retired from MMA in 2017 after back-to-back losses to Yoel Romero and Kelvin Gastelum. He had a professional record of 18-6. Before those defeats, Kennedy entered the top 10 on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. It even included a clear decision over Michael Bisping.
What is known so far about Matthew Livelsberger
The news about Matthew Livelsberger shocks Kennedy for a number of reasons. Kennedy has been active outside of fighting, hosting several television programs. Even recently helping to rescue victims of war-torn environments in the Middle East. A tinge of giving back to society and jumping to the dangerous foray found in many UFC/MMA notables, like HW great Stipe Miocic was a firefighter and an inspiration to many.
Here’s what to know about Matthew Livelsberger – who rented a Cybertruck (Source: the-sun.com/X)Tim Kennedy was also a bit of a straight-edge sword who’d urge veterans during Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to “stop being a pu—y.” Harsh, but by his accounts, Cybertruck fame Livelsberger was of a similar vein. So it shocked him as to what prompted something so drastic.
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, law enforcement officials found writings on Livelsberger’s phone that described the country’s leadership as “weak” and the US as “terminally ill” and on the verge of collapse. However, they still need to make out more current motives.
NEW FOOTAGE: “The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet, because it had most of the blast go up, through the truck and out… The glass doors at the Trump hotel were not even broken.” pic.twitter.com/XtztqmZAYr
— America (@america) January 2, 2025
What is more shocking is that he texted his ex Alicia Arritt (broke up in 2022) to tout the ‘ungodly’ new Cybertruck he rented. He said that he felt like ‘Batman or Halo’ driving in it. From such non-conspicuous interactions, it turned into a weirder massacre. The Cybertruck helped to contain the explosion by sending it in a vertical direction rather than outwards. The hotel’s nearby glass doors and windows were not shattered.
The sheriff said that investigators recovered a military ID, passport, two semiautomatic pistols, fireworks, iPhone, a smartwatch, and several credit cards in Livelsberger’s name. But the prime reasons (than PTSD) for the localized blast is yet up in the air.
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