Nearly half a decade has passed since Cole Campbell threw down in the cage, but that lengthy absence finally comes to a close on Friday evening.
Campbell (1-1) is set to square off against Tom Theocharis (1-1) at Mamba Fight Night 5 in Aldergrove, B.C., in a pro welterweight contest.
Campbell, 26, shared his enthusiasm about finally locking in a fight date and pictures his hand being lifted high well before the final bell rings.
"I'm all about finishing the fight, whether it's a knockdown or a tap-out," Campbell told reporters.
"When he hits the canvas, he'll get a shock—and another one when he feels the force behind my punches."
In keeping with the tradition of Mamba Fight Night cards, this matchup will happen inside a ring rather than the octagon where most combat sports athletes are accustomed to competing.
Even though Campbell hasn't competed inside a ring yet, the Edmonton, Alberta native said he's been eager to experience it and believes it won't alter his strategy whatsoever.
"I've always dreamed of stepping foot in a boxing ring. It's been on my wishlist, so this is pretty exciting," Campbell shared.
"There won't be as much cage wrestling as I'm familiar with, but I expect things to play out as planned."
Campbell's previous outing took place on Dec. 21, 2012, when he earned a submission win over Brent Haley at Unified MMA 14.
Yet despite that extended break, Campbell noted he's gone through numerous fight camps since then, only to have fights called off at the eleventh hour.
He insisted he's maintained rigorous training and sparring sessions and isn't bracing himself for any ring rust when he enters the circle.
"This moment has been a long time in the making. I haven't sat idle—I've been working nonstop. Anyone can watch my footage from six years ago, but I'm a totally different competitor now," Campbell explained.
"I've kept sparring consistently, assisted others with their fight preparations, and conducted my own camps. I'm absolutely fired up."
Theocharis Stays Confident
Theocharis sees that six-year gap from a rather different angle.
Theocharis, 24, commented that almost everything will feel foreign to Campbell once again—from the weigh-in routine to stepping through the ropes. He said it will all stack up against the returning fighter.
"A six-year layoff is enormous in any athletic discipline," Theocharis told a reporter.
"I know he's going to feel awkward in there, and I intend to make him feel even more uneasy with the kind of pressure I'll bring and the style I employ. That layoff alone puts him at a disadvantage."
Since this card sits at welterweight and Theocharis normally competes at lightweight, he described shifting up as a welcome relief from the usual weight-cutting grind.
He said the extra room allowed him to channel every ounce of energy into fight prep instead of worrying about making the number on the scale.
"I'm significantly less tense and noticeably more pumped," Theocharis said.
"Not having to shed as many pounds has let me genuinely enjoy this process. It's been fantastic."
Beyond logging serious hours at his home gym, Adrenaline MMA Training and Fitness Centre, Theocharis, representing London, Ontario, also traveled south across the border to train alongside athletes at Michigan Top Team in Dearborn, MI.
He described their conditioning sessions as among the most brutal and demanding he's ever endured, but he kept telling himself it would all pay off when fight night arrives.
"Those sessions are exhausting. They're brutal," Theocharis admitted.
"But that's precisely what I need because that's the feeling of a real fight. Simulating fight conditions while in Michigan is something that genuinely readies me for Oct. 5."
Campbell's Acknowledgments
"I want to acknowledge all my coaches, training partners, and friends who've watched my kids so I can focus on my work. I also owe a debt of gratitude to Careit Urban Deli for handling all my meal prep throughout this camp, and Pivotal Physiotherapy for ensuring I'm fully recovered and at 100 per cent for this matchup."
Theocharis' Acknowledgments
"I'd like to extend my thanks to MMA Empire for the interview and for supporting fighters like myself in building our profiles. I also want to thank all my trainers, training partners, and my sponsors: Burger Burger, Fresno's – The Italian Table, Bentley's, and Bclutch."
