Carlos Condit: I will fight Martin Kampmann if GSP is not ready
Posted on June 5, 2012, 03:57 PM by Mike DrahotaUFC Interim Welterweight champion Carlos Condit has been the subject of much debate lately, stemming from his decision to wait for a fight with titleholder Georges St. Pierre. Hoping for GSP to be back by November, some support his decision while others believe he should defend his belt once while the true champ heals. Today, a new twist on the story has arisen. Carlos Condit has come out and stated that if GSP suffers a setback in rehabilitation, he will accept a fight in November regardless. This finding may have something to do with the emergence of Martin Kampmann as a major title contender after knocking out Jake Ellenberger last week. Kampmann is the last man to defeat Carlos Condit, way back in early 2009. Condit said the following, via ESPN.co.uk:
"If it turns out Georges can't fight in November, most likely, I will fight somebody else. I really want to fight Georges. I really want to unify the belts, but there's also some other guys that I would like to fight as well. Martin Kampmann's the only guy that I've lost to in the UFC, the only guy I've lost to in about the last six years, so I would definitely like to avenge that loss."
Suddenly, a fight with Condit facing Martin Kampmann is an interesting fail-safe should GSP find himself not ready by November. Both Condit and Kampmann can take a punch to say the least, and both are hungry for the title in a stacked Welterweight division. While Condit is looking to unify the belts, many fans of MMA may find Condit vs. Kampmann to be a much more exciting bout, at least prospectively. Should Condit defend his Interim belt against “The Hitman” before facing Georges St. Pierre? If Condit does decide to do just that, who would find his hand raised in the end?
Further Reading: Fighters weigh in Carlos Condit waiting for GSP
Comments
i see condit winning if they do fight!
yeah . i dont like Condit, but kampmann isnt that good. he just seems to get lucky very often those days (Alves & Ellenberger) he should buy a lotery ticket...
YES finally my man Condit steps up! This fight should happen regardless of whether or not GSP is ready in time..should have it in September or something.
I was on the Condit-criticizing bandwagon for him potentially waiting for too long - it causes too many clog ups (also look at the lightweight division for more 'waiting for title shot clogs' with Nate Diaz who should fight Pettis for #1 contender).
Yes, yes, yes, yes. I wanted this fight so bad after Kampman's win against Ellenberger.
Amen brother! The right fight for both parties. I have nothing against Condit waiting for GSP, coz if I were in his shoes, I would also want to fight the best in my division. However, he also needs to make money. He's gotta take a fight, may it be Kampmann or Hendrix.
I would rather Condit fought Hendricks, with Kampmann fighting Rory. Kampmann is 3-2 in his last five and while the losses were debatable, the wins weren't massively convincing performances either. He needs to win one more to get a title shot.
I would agree that Hendricks is a little more deserving. However, two of his wins in his last four fights are by split decision. Kampman's fight with Shields was debatable, but his loss to Sanchez was a down right robbery. Either way, he's finished two straight opponents (the last being the rightful #1 contender).
I think it should happen more from their history though. They were already in an extremely exciting fight with that decision being very debatable also.
I dont really see the Fitch fight as that much of a booster. It ended too quickly, its not his fault but if he had dominated Fitch he definitely would be the rightful contender.
Then he beat Koscheck, which I thought Koscheck won but it was a close fight. Too close of a fight for me to be impressed.
Kampmann has rallied back against 2 really tough guys and I see him edging out Hendricks to be rightful No.1 Contender.
I figured Condit would always end up fighting either Kampmann or Hendricks, even if he was going to wait for GSP. condit would get bored or antsy and would fight anyways.
Kind of weird that Condit had no interest fighting Ellenberger but is seemingly happy to fight Kampmann? Even though Kampmann won Condit had a much tougher time with Ellenberger, I even believe he was out at one point. I would never call a fighter scared, especially the NBK but just seems a bit weird.
I think both fights were equal. Kampman had him in a few guillotines while also fighting hard until the third. Jake had him hurt, but also is known to gas pretty hard after the second.
I will say he probably sees less of a chance of getting outwrestled by Kampman than Ellenberger (and Hendricks who was never in his thoughts either). I think that also factors in with the revenge factor.
Agreed. He beat Ellenberger. He definitely wants to avenge the loss to Kampman.
Ya honestly if it was Pride judging I personally think both of those split decisions would have been reversed. I think in the end Condit gets GSP unless he is out MUCH longer than expected.
I don't think Kampann is next in line anyway, if anyone is to fight Condit it should be Hendricks.
Kampann got dropped and almost KO'd on sat, before that he got outclassed by Alves.
Hendricks had a close win over Kos who has always been a top ranked guy and before that KO'd Fitch, with his first punch, who has been around top 3 for a few years.
Give Kampmann another fight and if he wins yea but if not then give it to Hendricks.
IMO best plan is for Condit Hendricks and Kampmann MacDonald.
I agree with your logic but not your conclusion. Before this fight I had Ellenburger as the #1 contender after beating Jake Shields who beat Kampman and was the first person in a LONG time to take any rounds from GSP. Having beaten Ellenburger and Alves makes Kampman the next in line IMHO. That said I do respect you opinion on this. Either fighter as next in line would make sense to me, I just lean slightly in favor of Kampman at this point.
Keith, interestingly when you drop a guy like Fitch with the first punch you win the fight but in some ways it doesn't tell us a whole lot about how good a fighter you are and what would have happened if not for the big KO. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he didn't deserve to win - he did no question but how is Hendricks against a guy like GSP in the fourth round? I'd like to see that from Hendricks.
Yea I always say that a quick KO doesn't prove much except good KO power but it still is a big boost in rankings especially when you do it to a guy with a solid chin.
oops, "your opinion"
Carlos, it's not just Kampman you've lost to. You lost to GSP also...oh wait, that hasn't happened yet in your dimension
Been reading Michio Kaku, eh?
why in the hell would the UFC give an interim belt if they are going to allow Condit to wait for GSP. If they are allowing him to wait, then they should have just said "Condit, you have the firsts on GSP"
If GSP isn't ready by November then athe fight with Kampmann makes good sense imo. There's a ton of guys now bottle necked in the WW division because Georges is out and at least the Condit vs Kampmann fight would remove the need for another number one contender fight. I would rather see this fight than Kampmann vs Hendricks. I always liked Condit because he always came to fight...............untill he faced Nick. Since then i've been nothing but disappointed with him. The way he wouldn't "fight" Nick and instead used hit and run 'point fighting' tactics was ssooooooo disappointing, from a guy who's nickname is 'natural born killer'???.......yeah riiight!! Then he wants to sit out till GSP is ready?? I don't know what's happened to Condit but he's definately not the fighter he used to be. I really hope this Condit vs Kampmann fight happens now, if GSP isn't ready cos Kampmann has looked pretty good lately, in both of his last two fights against Alves and Ellenberger, who are both top contenders, he came back from being dropped or staggered to pull out the win, should be a great fight if it does happen....... :)
If the fight goes ahead I see it going to Condit by decision!
Damn right you will fight Condit. This waiting for GSP crap is getting old!! Man up and defend that pretend belt!!
He is ducking a rematch with Diaz and choosing his new opponent Kampmann. I don't like him for that! But it is clever and will establish his position if he KO's Kampmann.