Two revitalized welterweights are set to clash on March 3rd at an unnamed UFC event. According to reports from MMA Weekly, Martin Kampmann (18-5) and Thiago Alves (19-8) have agreed to meet after climbing back into the winner's circle earlier this month. UFC officials have yet to confirm the bout.
No details have been released for the Spring show at this time, though it is rumored to be the second UFC on Fox card of 2012.
Kampmann, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt out of Xtreme Couture, has felt the heavy burden of bad luck over the past 14 months. The 29-year-old kicked off a controversial two-fight slump at UFC 121, losing a razor-thin split decision to Jake Shields, immediately followed by a divisive loss to Diego Sanchez in March. Despite out-striking Sanchez 79-51 and stopping 14 of 15 takedown attempts, ringside judges' awarded Kampmann's opponent the decision.
The embattled Dane finally righted the ship at UFC 139 with a victory over Rick Story, though that too was initially in doubt after scorecards were erroneously announced as a split decision.
Alves, meanwhile, has faced his own struggles since a failed title challenge at UFC 100 kicked off a streak of three losses in four fights. Despite falling only to top competition -- decisions to Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, and Story -- the 28-year-old was on shaky ground before a dominating performance against Papy Adebi at UFC 138 reinvigorated his status in the 170-pound division.
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