UFC Fight Night 27 Preview
The UFC returns to Fox Sports 1 for the second time in three weeks to kick off a busy fight week with UFC 164 on Saturday. The second card on the new network will be another good one as a rematch highlights a number of TUF All-Stars that will be sure to provide another night of fireworks. The rematch will be between two great welterweights that are both looking to get to a title fight but have to get through each other first. Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann are two of the best welterweights in the division and their first fight showed just how good both fighters are. The first fight between these two fighters was a Split Decision victory for Martin Kampmann. It was the debut of The Natural Born Killer who would begin his UFC career after coming WEC as the Welterweight champion. For Kampmann it was a chance to continue up the ladder by taking out a promising young talent. Kampmann would win the fight but lose his next starting a pattern of moving up but falling short of the title shot he is still seeking. For Condit it would be a speed bump on his way to an interim title fight against Nick Diaz which he won and then a title fight against Georges St. Pierre which he would lose. Now he is looking to avenge his loss to Martin Kampmann and make his way back to the top while Kampmann is trying to take out a former interim champion to start his way back up the ladder. Both fighters are coming off of losses to the #1 contender, Johny Hendricks, in their last fights and are trying to get back on the winning end of things. With a win at this fight either could move in to a chance to face one of the best fighters in the division to get a title shot. Their last fight was extremely close as both fighters would get their chances to finish the fight both on the ground and standing. Now they enter the octagon again yet both will have four more years of experience under their belts as another great fight is almost a guarantee. Both fighters spent a lot of time on the ground in the last fight but are known more for their stand up game. Martin Kampmann is a Danish kickboxer with great power and a good ground game that has led him to submission victories. Condit is much the same as he has plenty of power and a good ground game. Both fighters are well-rounded although are both known for their stand up game. The fight may end up looking a lot like the first fight with both fighters staying wary of the stand-up game. One shot from each of these fighters can end things quickly and they know it which means that both fighters will try to stay out of range and use their wrestling abilities to win this fight. Kampmann may be looking to make the same decisions as the last fight but Condit is a much better fighter than he was in their first fight. Condit will take this fight as he will be able to avenge his first UFC loss with a third round KO of martin Kampmann.
The rest of the card will be stacked with some great fighters and some great matchups including Donald Cerrone and Rafael Dos Anjos. Although that fight is a great one there is a theme in the fight card as it is loaded with talent from one of the biggest parts of the UFC. The Ultimate Fighter 18 will premiere on September 4th on Fox Sports 1 and UFC Fight Night 27 will show what kind of talent has come out of these shows. First up on the main card will be TUF 17 alumni Bubba McDaniel who will take on TUF 11 alumni Brad Tavares. McDaniel will be making his UFC debut and look to show that he belongs in the promotion while Tavares is looking to get his fourth straight win in the division. Court McGee and Robert Whitaker will continue the theme as TUF 11 winner Court McGee takes on TUF: The Smashes winner Robert Whittaker. Both fighters are just beginning their UFC careers and will be looking to make an impact on the big stage. Next TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum will make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 27 as he takes the first step in his UFC career. UFC Fight Night 27 will also have a number of undercard fights featuring TUF alumni in a night that will show the talent that comes out of the reality show. It will be a great display of talent a week before the new season begins as Fox Sports 1 will once again display the best of the UFC.
Fight Card:
Main Event:
Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit vs. Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Main Card:
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Brian Melancon (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Court “The Crusher” McGee vs. Robert Whittaker (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Erik “Goyito” Perez (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Brad Tavares vs. Bubba “The Menace” McDaniel (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 1)
Undercard:
Dylan “The Villain” Andrews vs. Papy “Makambi” Abedi (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 2)
Justin “Fast Eddy” Edwards vs. Brandon “Rukus” Thatch (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 2)
Darren “The Damage” Elkins vs. Hatsu Hioki (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 2)
James Head vs. Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (Sportsnet 360/Fox Sports 2)
Zak Cummings vs. Benny “Blanco” Alloway (Facebook)
Roger “Relentless” Bowling vs. Abel “Killa” Trujillo (Facebook)
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