CAMPBELL-WELLS, "SHAOLIN"-RODRIGUEZ ADDED TO #UNIFIED30

Jan 9, 2017

EDMONTON — Nick Campbell will defend his #UnifiedMMA Light-Heavyweight Championship versus Grayson Wells at #Unified30 on March 17 in Edmonton.

This is the Calgary product’s first title defense since beating Anton Tokarchuck for the championship in their five-round fight at Unified 28.

Both Campbell and Wells enter the bout on three-fight winning streaks, and both fighters have their sights set on continuing their streaks in Edmonton.

“I’m really excited about this fight,” says Campbell, who enters the cage for the 18th time. “My opponent is a little younger in the sport than me, but his career is off to a great start. He’s tough and he’s hungry to beat another established fighter like me — but it’s not going to happen.”

 Wells, the Havoc FC heavyweight champ, disagrees with Campbell’s prediction.

After a standout amateur run, Wells has rattled off three straight knockout wins under the world-renowned Toshido MMA banner, and has his sights set on adding another belt to his collection.

“It’s hard to put into words what that title would mean to me,” Wells says. “It’s an honour to be a champion, and it means that much more to me that I get to fight a top opponent to get it. This fight can’t come soon enough.”

In other Unified 30 news, five-time UFC vet Shane “Shaolin” Campbell will return to the Unified MMA cage for the first time since 2012 to take on Saskatoon’s Jose Rodriguez.

Campbell, a former champion kickboxer, is excited to begin his quest to the Unified MMA Lightweight Championship, and back to the UFC’s Octagon, with another impressive stoppage win.

“I don’t know what my opponent brings to the table, and it doesn’t matter,” Campbell says. “I’d like another knockout; I don’t see this fight going three rounds.”

A professional since 2007, Rodriguez, meanwhile, is excited to return to the cage against the biggest challenge of his career — but he’s not overwhelmed at the prospect of fighting a UFC vet.

“I have a lot of respect for what Shane has accomplished as a fighter, but this is the best I’ve ever felt and I’m more dangerous than ever,” Rodriguez says. “I can’t wait to kick 2017 off on a high note.”

Unified 30, which goes down March 17 in Edmonton, will also feature Tanner Boser and Garret Nybakken as they defend their titles versus UFC vet Pat Walsh and a to-be-determined opponent, respectively, and the return of Mike Scarcello, Pat Pytlik, Teddy Ash, Cam Dyck, and Coralie Dixon.

Tickets go on sale January 20.

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