UFC Fight Night 18: Condit v Kampmann I

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Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann are preparing to meet for a second time on 28 August 2013 in the main event of another Fight Night Card, around four and a half years after they first headlined Ultimate Fight Night 18. Their first fight was a showcase for the high paced, high-level skills of both men. Condit threw a variety of knees, elbows, punches and kicks, as well as attempting low-percentage grappling attacks in scrambles mixed with strong, technical position plays. Kampmann was a little more orthodox, and took the worse damage, but as best as I, and the judges on the night could tell, he won the majority of the rounds, as close as they were.

Round 1:
I scored the first round for Condit. He was aggressive and successful with his kicks to the body and punching and elbow combinations, including opening a cut on Kampmann's nose. He was able to clinch and strike, or escape most of the clinches that Kampmann initiated. He scored a takedown, and gave up one in return. It was in the chain grappling of both men that the brilliance of this fight was best displayed. Both men were looking for openings and submissions, and both men hit exciting reversals. In terms of control, Kampmann started the fight well, throwing first and getting a clinch. Through the middle of the round control was fairly even, then in the end Condit asserted himself.

Round 2:
Kampmann edged ahead in round 2, though it was closer than in round 1 for Condit. Condit was still landing more and better strikes, but Kampmann was able to close that gap considerably with leg kicks and solid, tight boxing. In the grappling department Kampmann was able to use a takedown and a submission attempt to secure control on top and maintain it for much of the round. There were reversals for both men but Kampmann edged the grappling and took the round on control. Additionally, Kampmann had a guillotine attempt going at the bell, though it is unclear how tight it was.

Round 3:
Kampmann took round 3 much more handily than round 2, similarly to Condit in round 1. Kampmann was able to edge Condit in strikes based on his effective ground and pound. He was also successful in both of his takedown attempts and utilized fairly tight top control with some position improvements, reversals and submission attempts as well. Apart from the last minute, Kampmann was in control the entire round.

This fight shows how MMA matches are athletic contests and not fights. The fight was awarded to Kampmann because he won 2 out of the 3 rounds, not because he demonstrated that he was the superior fighter. Both men showed that they were very talented and capable of highly technical manoeuvres, as well as strategy and improvisation. The first fight was hardly conclusive and the second should be equally exciting if not more definitive.