Las Vegas — Liverpool’s Kurtis Campbell has arrived in the UFC. Cue the “Pink Panther” theme.
The featherweight, who takes his name from the colorful feline, finished Demba Seck inside of a round on the Contender Series this week. You’ll be forgiven if you look at Campbell and don’t see a fighter, with his coke bottle glasses and unassuming looks. Don’t worry, he’s used to it.
“Everyone sees the glasses, everyone sees the top knot. I just didn’t get my pink shorts tonight, so hopefully I get that in the future,” noted Campbell (8-0), speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press. “As much as I was the favourite tonight, everyone’s always thought I was the underdog.”
“I’m always on top at the end.”
Pink Panther, pink shorts? Why though? “The pink shorts is where it’s at. Trust me. Get them pink tighties and then I’ll show you what it’s about,” Campbell joked. At another point, he admitted that his father had dared him into wearing them, betting he wouldn’t go with the hot pink fight shorts. Instead, looking up to Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis, Campbell rolled with it, and quickly chose to make the Pink Panther his brand.
Thanks to his scouser accent, Campbell will no doubt be compared to another UFC star from Liverpool, Paddy Pimblett. The pair train at different gyms; “they’re all quality lads,” Campbell said of Pimblett’s team. “I have nothing but respect for all them lads over there. We’re all from one city, you know what I mean and at the end of the day, Liverpool stand up. That’s what we’re doing. We’re only a small fighting city, and we’re coming and we’re putting ourselves on the map.”
Asked about a debut date and location, Kurtis Campbell didn’t have one in mind on Tuesday. “I honestly don’t know. At the end of the day, when my coaches, my manager says I’m ready, I’m back out. London would be nice, but I can’t lie, I’ve been enjoying the traveling.”
In particular, Campbell seems to be enjoying Las Vegas. Still, he added, “anywhere, any time. Get us on the map, that’s what we’re built for.”
Watch the full DWCS post-fight press conference with Kurtis Campbell above.
