Martin Kampmann vs. Thiago Alves
Kampmann is a precise striker who has been on the wrong side of some close decisions lately, but won his last fight. Alves is an enormous welterweight who packs a lot of power and has some great striking. I always root for Kampmann, but he looks way smaller than Alves.
Round 1- Kampmann with a right. Alves lands a left. Alves lands a big leg kick. Kampmann with a nice uppercut. Kampmann shoots the single and eats some shots to the face. Kampmann working the single against the fence. Gives it up and goes for the trip, but Alves muscles out of it. Alves throws a big shot that is blocked. fighters exchange and Kampmann lands a right. Kampmann nails Alves with a front kick and ties him up against the cage, works the body and is on top against the cage. Lands a huge knee as Alves gets up. Alves is bleeding badly from his right eye, but he has hiw wits about him. Kampmann has Alves against the fence and is working the knees to the body. Kampmann goes for the takedown, but Alves is able to defend and work a takedown of his own. Alves is in the guard, Kampmann is working for a choke as Alves passes to side control, but Martin gets him back in the guard. Alves works a full mount, Alves is looking to wrap the legs and he does and then lands a big elbow. Kampmann is holding him down to try to prevent any big shots from being landed. Alves lands a nice left. Round ends as Kampmann fights to his feet. Alves did not do a lot of damage there, but he probably tired out the smaller Dane.
10-9 Kampmann for the more effective striking, but he could have lost that one on the cards of judges who gave Alves credit for the long period of top control to end the round. Kampmann should have finished the fight after he landed the upkick.
Round 2- Alves coming forward. Lands a jab as Kampmann lunges in. Kampmann pushes Alves against the fence and works the knee. Alves looks like he just missed with a right there. Kampmann lands a knee. Alves lands a left counterpunch. Kampmann just misses with a short uppercut. Alves looks like he landed a left in the exchange. I tihnk Alves is beating him to the punch this round. Another combination and Kampmann shoots, but can’t get the takedown. Alves throws a superman punch. Kampmann lands a left. Kampmann lands another left, but takes a leg kick. Kampmann throws a kick and misses. Alves lands a big right hand. Kampmann lands a pair of punches. Kampmann looking better in the last two exchanges. Kampmann is just coming forward with short punches, and is eating hooks. Kampmann just threw a nice punch knee combo. Kampmann goes for the trip as the round ends.
Round 3- Fighters exchange and Kampmann ties up Alves. Kampmann comes forward firing and pushes Alves against the cage. Alves is popping him in the face and defending nicely. Kampmann throws an uppercut Alves throws a kick. Alves throws a leg kick. Kampmann comes forward and lands a massive knee on against the fence, but Alves shakes it off. Alves lands two nice jabs. Kampmann coming forward and lands a glancing uppercut. Two minutes left. fighters exchange and it looks like Alves took a shot. Kampmann goes for a takedown and fails. Kampmann with a right. Kampmann needs to steal this round with one minute left. Alves looked like he landed a right when Kampmann threw a kick. Alves gets the takedown and falls directly into a guillotine choke and it is fucking tight with a full mount, Alves tries to shift and Kampmann sinks it in a little deeper and finishes the fight by guillotine choke as Alves taps. Wow! Great comeback! Alves had that fight won if he doesn’t go for that takedown.
Kampmann by guillotine choke at 4:27
Kampmann points out that he’s already beaten Carlos Condit and asks for a title shot. Sorry. Not after that fight Martin.