One of the best welterweights to call the UFC home is chomping at the bit to get back in the cage, and we’re not talking about a certain Canadian.
Former welterweight title challenger Carlos “The Natural Born Killer” Condit took in the action last Saturday night at UFC 183. Condit, who has been on the shelf for nine months nursing torn ligaments in his right knee, revealed to reporters in a post-show scrum what kind of timetable has been placed on his return, per SB Nation’s Anton Tabuena.
“I don’t have a fight booked, but I already have a target date. I want to get into the card in May here in Vegas. I don’t think the headliner has been announced, but that’s my timeline,” said Condit.
The 30-year-old suffered tears of the ACL and MCL in his right knee against former Strikeforce star Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley in March at UFC 171. The Natural Born Killer has gone 1-3 in his last four fights, all losses coming against top competition, including his second-round TKO loss to The Chosen One.
This wouldn’t be Condit‘s first brush with injury. He did pull out of bouts against Paul Daley and Chris Lytle earlier in his Octagon career.
However, neither of those injuries was as serious as the one suffered against Woodley, which is why Condit focused on the matter at hand during recovery.
“If I looked at the mountain I had to climb, it was overwhelming. Just focusing on the day-to-day things is what I really had to keep my mind on,” said Condit.
Since his injury, the Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter hasn’t seen his stock in the 170-pound ladder plummet, but he has seen the championship he covets change hands once already.
“It’s exciting. I think that the belt might change hands quite a bit in a year or so,” said Condit.
Condit doesn’t have a particular matchup in mind for his return fight, though he did mention a rematch with Woodley and a particular Canadian.
“Rory [MacDonald] looks really good. His last few fights have been pretty much flawless,” remarked Condit. “He’s super polished. His strategy and poise have improved.”
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