The undefeated Kurtis Campbell has heard his name called by the in-cage announcer eight times now as a professional. In just about all of them, you can see him don his signature glasses. Unlike the Fighting Nerds team in Brazil, these are not merely a prop or a marketing device for the Liverpool fighter. His vision is fairly compromised to the point where it was once a concern for his career.
“My vision is not the best at all. It does clear the medical quite easy, though, which I’m happy about,” Campbell said. “I always was quite worried about that when I was a little younger and growing up. But when I did my medicals for the contenders, they said it was all good and my eyesight’s fine.”
When pressed for just how bad it is, he notes that the basic function of getting in and out of the cage without them can be an obstacle.
“I need them to get in and out the cage or I’ll probably fall over my own feet or miss a step or something like that,” he explained. “The glasses are definitely needed.”
Despite note barely being able to see the edge of the cage, Campbell has no interest in seeing more during the fight. Having a slightly blurry opponent helps him find his flow state in the cage and to focus on how he feels. He believes it may actually be an advantage.
“I do feel like if I fight with the glasses on or I have some sorts of contacts, I don’t like it. I’d rather the glasses be off. I feel like it’s just normal and it’s like second nature now,” Campbell said. “One of my coaches, Jason Tan, always says to me, is everyone else seeing too much and I’m seeing just right? So, there’s always pros and cons to everything and no one will ever know.”
We’ll get the next chance to see Campbell feeling his way through the fight at UFC London. He fights Danny Silva as part of the main card on Paramount+ with the card beginning at 1pm EST.
