Carlos Condit: “I Would Not Want to Fight Me Right Now, That's For Sure”
After nearly four years and seven fights, Carlos Condit (28-7) has earned a shot at redemption when he faces Martin Kampmann (20-6) at UFC Fight Night 27: Condit vs. Kampmann.
Indianapolis' Bankers Life Fieldhouse plays host to the rematch Wednesday night, which airs live on Fox Sports 1.
Their first fight took place in April 2009 and was nothing short of entertaining, as the Top 10 welterweights fought to razor thin split decision.
On that night, Kampmann put a halt to Condit's eight-fight win streak and ruined his much-anticipated UFC debut. However, the loss served as motivation and Condit went on to earn five-consecutive victories and claimed the UFC interim welterweight championship.
With that being said, Condit quickly turned his fortunes around to earn five post-fight bonuses and three highlight reel knockouts over the likes of Dong Hyun Kim, Dan Hardy, and Rory MacDonald.
Needless to say, the former champion has lived a positive life since his first meeting with Kampmann. Having a strong support system at home has played a vital role in his career success.
“I feel incredibly blessed to have the life I have right now,” Condit recently told MMAWeekly.com. “Between my family and my career, things are good. My life is just like anybody else, there's ups and downs, but I always have to put it in perspective. Things are really good. My son is healthy. He's really smart. He's thriving. My wife is wonderful. We have a great relationship, and then my extended family. I'm a hell of a lucky guy.”
Enter the famed Jackson-Winkeljohn training facility in New Mexico and Condit has surrounded himself with everything a fighter needs to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
“It's been phenomenal,” Condit said of his longstanding relationship with the gym. “The great thing about Jackson's is that we have so many resources. Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn are so, so good at what they do in the mixed martial arts game.
“They're geniuses in a sense; then there's specialists in individual disciplines. We have access to so many people and all over the world and I think that is the reason why Jackson's is so competitive at such a high level.”
When Condit steps inside the world-renowned Octagon, redemption is on the line and “The Natural Born Killer” believes the best is yet to come as he prepares to defeat Kampmann.
“I absolutely agree with that,” Condit said. “I'm in the best shape I've ever been, my skills are exactly where they need to be, I'm in a really good place mentally. Yeah, I would not want to fight me right now, that's for sure.”
Condit will indeed have to be at his best on Wednesday night and defeating Kampmann in his quest to win the welterweight championship would make it all the sweeter.
“It's redemption in a sense,” Condit said. “It was really disappointing dropping my UFC debut after having such a good run in the WEC. But it's also just another step in getting the UFC title belt back around my waist and that's really where I see myself in the near future.”
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