Moves to make: Condit vs Kampmann
It took four years, but Carlos Condit finally avenged his first UFC loss against Martin Kampmann Wednesday at UFC Fight Night in Indianapolis, slicing the Danish veteran with crisp combinations and overwhelming pressure, as he landed 100 significant strikes en route to a fourth-round TKO stoppage.
Condit, who notched his 27th career finish and ninth post-fight bonus, is already targeting rematches against welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre and No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks.
With the two set to clash for the belt at UFC 167 this November, Condit is still a few wins away from another crack at the championship.
Condit Begins Journey to Another Title Shot
"The Natural Born Killer" put on a dazzling performance, overcoming an early onslaught of aggressive takedowns from Kampmann before finding his rhythm and systemically dissecting the former Cage Warriors champion as the fight progressed.
Kampmann landed a career-best six takedowns, but it wasn't enough to slow Condit down, as he brutalized his adversary with punches, kicks, elbows and knees, completely dominating the striking exchanges until finally flooring him at the 54-second mark of the fourth period.
In a dynamic display of striking, the 29-year-old Jackson's MMA product rebounded from back-to-back losses against the division's premier fighters to re-establish himself as a title threat.
Condit has already defeated a number of contenders, including Rory MacDonald, Nick Diaz and Jake Ellenberger, but his inadequate takedown defense could prove detrimental against more experienced wrestlers. Stylistically, Condit benefits from clashes with likeminded strikers. After a brilliant outing against Kampmann, Condit should be rewarded with a matchup that complements his aggressive standup style.
With MacDonald expected to fight Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown likely meeting Tarec Saffiedine later this year, Condit would be a compelling test for the winner of the upcoming tilt between Demian Maia and Jake Shields in Brazil.
The grappling gurus could pose a threat by tallying takedowns and imposing their top game, while Condit would have a sizeable striking advantage. Shields actually defeated Condit to win the Rumble in the Rock tournament back in 2006, so a rematch could be inevitable.
Whether it means derailing the momentum of a contender like Maia or avenging an earlier career loss, a win for Condit would put him back into the mix, where he would likely be just one win away from another championship fight.
Meanwhile, Kampmann dropped his second straight bout. Still a viable contender in his own right, a showcase against the the winner of an upcoming battle of seasoned wrestlers pitting Josh Koscheck against Tyron Woodley could be just what the doctor ordered. But a third straight setback could have catastrophic implications on his future.
What's Next for Dos Anjos After Career-Defining Win?
In the lightweight co-feature, surging 28-year-old Brazilian contender Rafael dos Anjos delivered the best showing of his career, outdueling fan favorite Donald Cerrone over the course of three hard-fought rounds.
"The Cowboy" was expected to have an edge in the kickboxing department, but the fight played out differently. Dos Anjos dropped Cerrone with an overhand right in the opening frame and he maintained the pressure, utilizing sharp muay thai to get the best of the exchanges, while constantly threatening with takedowns and ground-and-pound.
The 30-year-old Cerrone came on strong as the fight hit the home stretch, but it wasn't enough to sway the judges, as Dos Anjos procured the well-deserved unanimous decision.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt struggled early on in his UFC career, but he's finally found his stride. Dos Anjos' five-fight winning streak now ties top contender T.J. Grant.
Grant is expected to get the first crack at the winner of the upcoming rematch between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis, leaving Dos Anjos with numerous possibilities.
Gray Maynard doesn't have an upcoming opponent set in stone, and a win over a former title challenger would cement Dos Anjos' contender status.
Conversely, Cerrone desperately needs a rebound fight. There's no question he's still a top lightweight, but the traditionally slow starter must now re-establish a foothold in the consistently competitive division.
Plenty of options exist and Cerrone's style would match up especially well with former Pride torchbearer Takanori Gomi, who would likely oblige in a fan friendly firefight.
Kelvin Gastelum Stays Perfect in Sophomore Outing
"The Ultimate Fighter 17" winner Kelvin Gastelum kept his unblemished professional record intact, blasting Brian Melancon with a jackhammer combination before quickly snatching a guillotine choke to coax the tapout.
After upsetting Uriah Hall to win the reality show this past April, the 21-year-old exhibited vastly improved striking in his welterweight debut, bombarding the rugged Texan with accurate flurries to set up his fight-ending submission.
Although the Mexican-American prospect continues to impress, there's no urgency to throw him in with the wolves just yet. As for his next test, the UFC brass should pair him up with fellow "TUF" champion Court McGee, whose high-volume striking game earned him a split verdict over "TUF: The Smashes" winner Robert Whittaker on the same card.
Melancon, meanwhile, has now conceded defeat for the first time in his UFC career. After crushing Seth Baczynski in his promotional debut, the 31-year-old should try to snap back to top form against Bobby Voelker, who suffered his second consecutive setback against Robbie Lawler last month.
More Fights to Make:
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Mike Easton - The gritty onetime WEC title challenger Mizugaki halted the meteoric rise of hyped Mexican prospect Erik Perez, controlling the fight with tactical counterpunches and well-timed takedowns. With his seventh triumph, the 29-year-old Japanese veteran now has the third most wins in UFC and WEC bantamweight history. Mizugaki should be rewarded with a top 10 opponent. Since he's struggled against wrestlers in the past, it would be interesting to see how he copes with Easton, who tries to rebound from a two-fight skid.
Erik Perez vs. Bryan Caraway - In defeat, weaknesses in Perez's arsenal came to light, as Mizugaki outworked the 23-year-old pride of Mexico. The Jackson's MMA student remains a quality prospect, but we'll need to see how he addresses his shortcomings in his next go-around. A matchup against Caraway would do just that.
Brad Tavares vs. Dylan Andrews - Both Tavares and Andrews turned in forgettable winning efforts at UFC Fight Night, as Tavares struggled with a late rally from overmatched Robert "Bubba" McDaniel, while Andrews lost two rounds before a come-from-behind knockout of Papy Abedi on the prelims. The Hawaiian Tavares was a heavy favorite, but his tepid performance left much to be desired. The Austalian Andrews has now rattled off a pair of wins in the Octagon, and he'd certainly earn some notoriety if he could snap Tavares' four-fight winning streak.
Brandon Thatch vs. Mike Swick - The 28-year-old kickboxer Thatch justified the significant buzz surrounding his UFC debut, dismantling durable Ohio native Justin Edwards with a violent first-round assault to earn the "Knockout of the Night" and his 10th first-round stoppage in as many wins. With world-class trainers behind him, Thatch's limitless potential could conceivably carry him all the way to the top of the division. But first, an opponent with Mike Swick's experience and star power is an adequate step up in competition.
Darren Elkins vs. Dennis Siver - It took heart and resiliency, but the aggressive wrestler Elkins grinded out a win over well-travelled Japanese veteran Hatsu Hioki. Elkins has what it takes to compete with the upper echelon in the featherweight class, but his style isn't exactly going to position him as a frontrunner for big money fights. The experienced Russian-born German striking stylist Siver is a logical next opponent for Elkins. With six featherweight wins, the most in UFC history, and 593 total strikes landed, another promotional record, Elkins won't be flying under the radar much longer.
Jason High vs. Gunnar Nelson - After finally earning his first UFC win, the 31-year-old High salvaged his spot on the roster, putting away James Head with a first-round guillotine choke. A strong wrestler with underrated submission skills, High is a hefty test for any up-and-coming welterweights. Still perfect as a professional and riding successive victories in the Octagon, Nelson could continue his ascent up the ladder with a win over the well-rounded veteran.
Zak Cummings vs. Viscardi Andrade - Cummings made the most of his promotional debut by sinking in a D'Arce choke on Ben Alloway in the very first round, punctuated with a $50,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus. The 29-year-old Missouri native could finally achieve his full potential competing at 170 pounds. Fellow newcomer Andrade finished Bristol Marunde earlier this month in Brazil, so a meeting between the two would be a competitive pairing.
Roger Bowling vs. Abel Trujillo - Their fight ended in controversy as Trujillo landed an illegal knee in the second stanza, leading to a no-contest. It was fun while it lasted and Bowling had some choice words for Trujillo after the fight, so these two need to settle the score at a future event.
