Welterweight, Shogo Sato (6-0) Vs. Kitt Campbell (14-7)
Shogo Sato
-Hits hard/Knockout power
-Explosive
-Dangerous in burst
Cons:
-Reckless
-Poor head movement
-Questionable grappling defense
-Throws with wasted motion
There’s not much tape on Sato, largely because he competes for Pancrase, a promotion that’s struggled with visibility and relevance. From what is available, a few things stand out. Sato carries genuine power in his hands, but he has to unleash it in short bursts due to his physical limitations. At just 5’7″, he’s undersized for the division, and that forces him into close-range exchanges where he can find his range.
That’s a tough ask for any striker, especially one who hasn’t yet been tested as the nail. So far, he’s gotten by on aggression, but it comes at the cost of defense and footwork. He crashes forward with heavy shots but leaves himself wide open in the process. His size limits his weapons; he can’t work effectively from the outside, and he lacks the fundamentals to compensate in other areas.
It’s too early for Sato. He’s got power, but that alone won’t carry him. No matter who he’s fighting, it’s an uphill battle from here.
Kitt Campbell
Pros:
-Dangerous in exchanges
-Good counter right
-Blenda together kicks and punches
-Good ground and pound
-Flat-footed
-Poor grappling defense
-TDD lacks
-Reaches at times
Campbell is a seasoned veteran of the Australian regional scene with over twenty fights under his belt. While his record includes seven losses, most have come against solid competition, and he’s picked up some respectable wins along the way. It’s been a good career regionally, but that number of setbacks is a strong indicator that a UFC run likely isn’t in the cards.
Offensively, Campbell brings the fight. He’s a high-volume striker who throws from both stances and does a nice job mixing his kicks into his combinations. His sneaky right hand is a key weapon, often used to counter off blind kicks or when retreating. However, defensively, there are clear issues. He tends to stay on the centerline, making him easy to hit, and his takedown defense remains a problem. While he has a decent whizard, his cage wrestling is shaky, and his grappling defense may be the biggest hole in his game.
All in all, Campbell is an entertaining fighter with an aggressive style, but the defensive gaps and accumulated wear make it unlikely he’ll thrive at the next level.
Prediction: This should be a one-sided fight in favor of Campbell. He’s the much larger, far more experienced fighter, with over 15 more professional bouts than Sato. While there are some concerns about Campbell’s chin, he’s faced a significantly higher level of competition and should be able to avoid Sato’s bursts of offense. His superior footwork, kicking game, and ability to counter should clearly separate him in this matchup. I expect Campbell to systematically break Sato down as the fight progresses.
