The Natural Born Killer is back.
After more than a year out of action, Carlos Condit returns to the UFC Octagon on May 30 to face former welterweight title contender Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves in the main event of UFC Fight Night 67 in Goiania, Brazil, according to a report from MMAFighting.com’s Guilherme Cruz.
Condit‘s lengthy stint away from the cage was no optional vacation.
The Greg Jackson-trained UFC welterweight needed surgery after blowing out his knee in a fight against Tyron Woodley at UFC 171, and he has been gearing up for his return ever since.
Prior to the fight with Woodley, Condit defeated Martin Kampmann via TKO and looked to be back on track toward the 170-pound title.
Now, he’ll need to build up his title worthiness once more in a headlining bout against Alves in the Pitbull‘s home country of Brazil.
Like Condit, Alves recently spent a considerable amount of time out of action, needing almost two years to heal from multiple injuries. From March 2012 to April 2014, Alves rested and recovered, eventually making his return against Seth Baczynski at UFC on Fox 11.
He won that fight via unanimous decision then followed that victory with another against Jordan Mein at UFC 183, where he scored a vicious body-kick knockout.
Condit, however, is a considerable step up in competition from Baczynski and Mein.
The Natural Born Killer, like Alves, challenged for former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s strap, falling via unanimous decision.
From March 2007 to August 2008, Condit held the WEC welterweight title, a distinction he defended three times before migrating to the UFC.
He and Alves own some of the most technical and powerful stand-up in the welterweight division, so as long as Condit‘s knee is 100 percent ready for action, expect this to be a serious Fight of the Night contender.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report as this card continues to take shape.
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