Condit Kills It in Comeback: UFN Indy Main Event Results

The first time Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann met in the UFC Fight Night main event 2009, Condit was the entering WEC welterweight champion, Kampmann a 14-2 six-fight Octagon veteran, and the decision a narrow split in favor of Kampmann. In their UFC Fight Night welterweight main event on FOX Sports 1 tonight, however, there was no need for judges: Condit was outwrestled for one round, then went on to bully Kampmann (20-7 after this bout) for two more before stopping things early in the fourth.

Kampmann wasted no time in going for a single-leg, finishing it 25 seconds in. Condit spun for an armbar, ending up in an awkward north-south as Kampmann stood, then threatening a kneebar. Kampmann settled in Condit’s guard but was unable to do much; eventually Condit stood, but Kampmann followed and took him right back to the mat from behind. Condit escaped the rear-naked and landed a big elbow as the Dane stood. More fence pressure ended in another takedown for Kampmann. Condit was less approachable on the break, lobbing spinning kicks and fists before being taken down again.

Now ready for Kampmann’s takedowns, Condit deflected the next few that came in the second, even turning two into back control of his own. He also mixed in more low kicks with flashy spinning-kick threats. As Kampmann’s output slowed, Condit’s surged, and he landed multiple right hands that bloodied “The Hitman’s” nose. From occasional shots he started putting together combinations, punctuating them with high kicks and generally choosing his weapons.

Condit started with a big front kick and landed shots at will, brushing off Kampmann’s first takedown attempt. Kampmann rallied for a solid single-leg, then efforted to keep Condit against the fence. But Condit powered out and got back to business. A left-right-left-elbow opened Kampmann’s forehead. The “Natural Born Killer” easily evaded Kampmann’s strikes, and answered back with his own at will, forcing Kampmann to backpedal. As the crowd roared in the rouond’s final minute – perhaps thinking the fight was only three rounds – Condit went for a standing guillotine. Kampmann dropped to escape it, but Condit took his back, went for a rear-naked, slipped out into mount, transitioned to back mount, and ground and pounded away before trying again for the rear-naked as the crowd stood.

Both men struggled to get the other down in the opening minutes of the round, with Condit backing off in a show of sportsmanship as Kampmann wiped blood from his eye. But once they engaged, Condit again did damage, this time hurting Kampmann with a left hook and then unloading against the fence. While the standing TKO seemed imminent, Kampmann stayed on his feet, but the ensuing knees to the head and body dropped Kampmann for good, with referee Herb Dean waving it off at 54 seconds of the fourth.

The bout earned Condit (29-7), ranked second in the division going in, the fourth Fight of the Night bonus of his UFC career.