MMA

Complete Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Aug 28, 2013, 10:38 PM | Updated: 11:10 pm

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the UFC Fight Night 27 main card preview here.

As the UFC heads to Indianapolis for their second UFC on Fox Sports 1 card on August 28, fight fans are giddy as welterweight contenders Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann square off in the rematch of their razor close fight from back in 2009 that saw Kampmann come out on top. Both fighters are coming off loses to current number one contender Johnny Hendricks, so it is essentially a do or die for both men’s championship dreams. With so much on the line and with both men bringing incredibly well-rounded skill sets into the cage, this bout has all the makings for the Fight of the Night.

Striking

While both men have always been excellent stand up strikers, Condit has grown exponentially since his initial encounter with Kampmann all those years ago. After masterful performance against Nick Diaz and the head kick that sent welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre crashing to the canvas, “The Natural Born Killer” has emerged as one of the most skilled strikers in the 170-pound division. But aside from a dizzy array of combinations to go along with spectacular flying knees and head kicks, Condit owns one of the most durable chins in all of MMA, which was none more relevant than his Fight of the Night performance against Johnny Hendricks back at UFC 158. Not only did he withstand the thunderous left but he also managed to keep his wits about him following after a barrage of strikes connected with his head on the ground. But while Kampmann doesn’t hold the same power Hendricks has in the punches, ‘The Hitman’ more than makes up for in precision striking. With eight career knockouts under his belt, the Danish kick boxer has ability to finish his opponents with deadly accurate counter punches or with a violent combination.

But where Condit holds the significant advantage in the stand up game is his aggressiveness. With constant pressure right off the bat, Condit’s style is a nightmare for Kampmann’s tendency to start off slow. If Kampmann starts off in his usual feeling out process he is sure to be in a world of hurt early and often against Condit.

Edge: Condit

Grappling

While both men hold equally devastating striking abilities, Kampmann held a slight advantage when it comes to the grappling portion of MMA. His five takedowns in their first meeting were definitely the difference maker, so he may look to utilize a similar approach. But with a 58 percent takedown rate, Condit has shown he has the ability to take the fight to the canvas where he utilizes elbows and punches to batter his opponent. The problem is his takedown defense is absolutely dreadful as he was taken down over and over again in his last two matchups against St. Pierre and Hendricks. While Kampmann definitely doesn’t have the same wrestling credentials as either of those men, he shouldn’t have much trouble taking the fight to the floor if need be.

Edge: Kampmann

Submission

Neither man is known for their submission game which is a shame as both hold some incredibly underrated jiu-jitsu skills. Condit hasn’t submitted someone since WEC 32 back in 2008, but that doesn’t mean he can’t as he’s uncomfortable on the grounds that 13 of 28 careers victories have come by way of submission. But where the Jackson MMA product really shines is his submission defense as he utilized crisp sweeps and striking from off his back to avoid the submission attacks from his opponents. But while Kampmann is clearly known for his striking ability, it’s his submission game that has carried him in many of his fights throughout his career. With eight career submission victories, Kampann has shown the ability to both defend and attack with submissions, specifically a crippling guillotine choke.

Condit hasn’t had a submission loss since 2006 and with Kampmann rarely looking to take the bout to the canvas, I don’t see either man walking away with a submission victory as both men have shown they prefer to slug it out rather than rip their opponent’s limbs off.

Edge: Push

Prediction

Both Condit and Kampmann are some of the best all-around fighters at 170 pounds and with both men packing dynamite in the fists, it’s sure to keep the crowd on its feet throughout the fight. With both in dire need of a victory to erase their recent string of losses, I see this ending in Fight of the Night honors for both men.

But there can only be one winner and I see Condit’s growth as a fighter and desire to erase his first UFC loss as the key factor in this bout. So Condit walks away with the win and into the waiting arms of the final Strikeforce welterweight champion Tarec Saffiedine.

Condit via Round 3 TKO

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Complete Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann Head-to-Toe Breakdown