Winning titles has simply become the norm for Shane Campbell.
Campbell (now 18-8) took out David Jordan now (7-5) by unanimous decision to take home the Fight Night super lightweight title at Fight Night 11.
With Jordan missing weight by four pounds, the fight was in jeopardy of losing its title fight status. But an agreement was reached the fight would take place for the 160-pound title instead, which Campbell said felt great to add to his growing collection.
“It’s amazing. It’s always so much easier after the work is done,” said Campbell in an interview.
“I’m paid and have the belt in hand, so now I can go back to the drawing board.”
Campbell has continued to fight only the toughest of competition since his release from the UFC, now sitting at 6-2 during that span.
Campbell said he’d like the opportunity to fight for one of the top promotions in the world in the near future, but said he has no shortage of other options if he doesn’t receive the call.
“In time, as long as I play the right game and don’t take some silly fights while I’m injured, a couple more wins and I will be back there (UFC). I’m an exciting fighter and when I’m at my best, I’m a savage,” said Campbell.
“I’ll be back in the big show, but until then I have my Unified MMA belt to defend and now this one.”
Puric Scores Big
In the main event, Denis Puric (now 8-5) came away with the biggest win of his career, a razor thin split decision over former UFC fighter Terrion Ware (now 17-10).
This contest was originally scheduled to be for the Fight Night bantamweight title, but Ware missed weight by six pounds, promoting the change to a three-round non-title fight.
Although adding another strap to his collection would’ve been even nicer, Puric said it’s more about the win itself for him.
“It’s not about the belt. The belt was just another piece of hardware to put into my collection,” said Puric in an interview.
“I just wanted to get that championship though. I wanted to get it in the books, and try and make it to the bigger shows.”
This was Puric’s first MMA fight since May 2018, despite having several kickboxing fights in that timeframe.
Puric said he’ll be heading back to Asia again for a short time, but will be looking to stay as active as possible in the MMA scene going forward.
“I’d like to be back here again in January for Fight Night and go for that title shot again, said Puric.
“It’s just whatever comes. I’m here to fight; I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be around for a long time.”
Quick Work For Hill
Canada’s top bantamweight in Josh Hill (now 18-3) was also in action Saturday night, locking up a rear-naked choke early in the first round to defeat Gilberto Aguilar (now 17-18-1).
Hill said the fight went exactly as he expected it would go, and was just a matter of waiting for Aguilar to make the first mistake.
“I started on the feet and landed a couple nice calf kicks, then he shot in and went for the takedown and I just took his back right off it,” said Hill in an interview.
“I knew I was in a dominant position and as soon as it hit the mat, I knew I could finish it there.”
Going forward, Hill said he wants to stay more active than he’s been recently, and would like to fight again before the end of the year.
He said he has one fight remaining on his contract with TKO MMA and once he’s fulfilled that contract, Hill said he hopes to have a crack in a bigger promotion.
“I would love to sign with a bigger organization, whether that’s UFC, Bellator, One FC, or Rizin,” said Hill.
“I’d especially like to fight for PFL next year, but I just don’t know if they’re doing bantamweights yet. I talked with Ray and Kevin who run it and they weren’t sure last time we spoke. But if they do a bantamweight season, I’d love to be on it.”
History was made Saturday night as Bobby Brents and Don Wonch competed in the first sanctioned bare knuckle boxing match on Canadian soil, with Brents coming out on top to claim the heavyweight title.
Melissa Croden, Kolton Menzak, and Dan Kovalchuk also scored victories in earlier action on the evening.
