“The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit went from having it all as the interim welterweight champion to currently riding a two-fight losing streak.
At UFC Fight Night 27 this Wednesday night, Condit will look to get back on track, as he takes on Martin Kampmann in the night’s main event.
This will be the second meeting between the two combatants, as Kampmann took home a split decision victory back in 2009. The main event fight was Condit’s UFC debut – he came in to the organization after the UFC merged with the WEC on an eight-fight winning streak and the WEC welterweight champion.
Four years have passed since Condit debuted and he has since gone 5-3 under the UFC banner. That doesn’t mean the battle with “The Hitman” from 2009 isn’t sitting in the back of his mind.
The first time around was a real, real close decision. I was pretty disappointed to have lost my UFC debut. There is that aspect of the fight, but there is also the fact that I really think that Martin and myself have both improved quite a bit since the first fight. I think the combination of factors is going to make for a really good fight and a really exciting fight for the fans.
Kampmann has a great Muay Thai base, which he utilizes in the majority of his fights. In their first meeting it was the scrambles that won Kampmann the judges nod and not his striking prowess. However, Condit believes the striking of the Xtreme Couture fighter is still the Dane’s strong point.
I definitely see a big improvement in his striking. He was always a pretty effective striker – his last fight obviously not, because it was a quick knockout. But the fight before with Ellenberger he put on a pretty wicked display of the striking.
The New Mexico native fell short to number one contender Johny Hendricks in his last outing, but was able to lock up ‘Fight of the Night’ honors with his performance. The UFC 158 fight was a title eliminator, so it’s not one of Condit’s favorite efforts, but at least he took home a bonus.
I’ve never been on the losing end of a really bad fight or really had a bad performance. I’ve had some performances that I consider mediocre and I’ve lost some decisions, but it’s definitely a consolation to know that I’ve fought well enough to get ‘Fight of the Night’.
The 29-year old has been in the game for nearly eleven years and has fought some of the top talent in the game, but things must change for a fighter to progress. Being on a two-fight losing skid has forced Condit to rethink his approach on training.
I’ve taken a little bit more control of my training camps. I do trust my coaches quite a bit and they do know what they’re doing, but I’ve got to remember that I’m an eleven year vet in the sport and I know my body, I know my style and I know what I need to work on. Ultimately it’s my ass on the line. Particulars, I’ve worked a lot on my wrestling, worked with a striking coach that I feel is more like what I came up with, which is kind of an eight weapon, Muay Thai type of style.
At UFC on FOX 8 in July, two other welterweights took to the Octagon in what was considered going in to the fight a true number one contender match. Unfortunately for Rory MacDonald and Jake Ellenberger their performance was far from exciting and UFC President Dana White put them both on blast. With the lacklustre performance between those two, the tides have changed and one must think that either Condit or Kampmann could get the next shot at gold.
Regardless of their fight, me and Martin Kampmann are going to go out there and put on a show. We’re both hard nosed competitors and whether they had a boring fight or an exciting fight, Martin Kampmann and myself are going to go out there and throw down.
MacDonald did win the UFC on FOX 8 match-up so if Condit does beat Kampmann and is not granted a title shot, then why not look to take on another top competitor in “Ares”? If the title is in sight, then Georges St-Pierre and Johny Hendricks are squaring off at UFC 167 this November and Condit would certainly love to avenge either of those losses.
There is always the rematch with Rory MacDonald, if Hendricks happens to beat GSP then our fight was really close and that could put me right back in title contention. I definitely kind of think ahead a little bit, but I’m not looking past Martin at all.
Condit has his eyes on the prize and that is this Wednesday night’s main event fight at UFC Fight Night 27 against Kampmann live on FOX Sports 1.
Listen to the full interview with Carlos Condit on MMASucka Radio HERE.
