UFC's Carlos Condit targets Matt Brown after Martin Kampmann redemption

Former UFC interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit said his priority remains winning the undisputed title, as well as putting on great fights for the fans.

Now that an opportunity in the latter category appears to have materialized, he’d like to seize the day. With Tarec Saffiedine still injured, he called for a bout with the surging Matt Brown.

“He’s been on a tear, and it’d be really exciting for the fans,” Condit (29-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC) told MMAjunkie.com Radio.

Brown (18-11 MMA, 11-5 UFC) was recently targeted to fight Saffiedine (14-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in December at an undetermined event. But Saffiedine is not healthy enough to train, according to a recent report from Yahoo! Sports, and might not be ready to fight until next year. The former Strikeforce champ targeted Brown or Condit for his return at the end of this year or early 2014.

Condit, who recently avenged a previous loss by stopping Martin Kampmann in UFC Fight Night 27's headliner this past week, also targeted early 2014 for his next fight. But Brown is the opponent he’d like to face.

“I’d like that fight, and we’ll have to see what happens,” Condit said.

Condit is ranked No. 3 and Brown is No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA welterweight rankings. Saffiedine is No. 15.

It’s easy to see why “The Natural Born Killer” prefers “The Immortal.” Once a middle-of-the-road welterweight, the veteran of “The Ultimate Fighter 7? has reeled off five straight wins and stopped four of his opponents via knockout. Brown’s past two appearances have also won him bonuses for “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night.”

Saffiedine, meanwhile, has toiled on the sidelines since winning the Strikeforce belt from Nate Marquardt in January. A pair of injuries, which he’s declined to name, are holding back his career.

After losing a title-unification bout to champ Georges St-Pierre this past November at UFC 154, Condit, who defeated Nick Diaz to win the interim strap, wants to stay relevant by beating top-tier fighters. With enough wins, he could get a title shot.

“I would like to win the belt, and I would like to avenge losses,” Condit said. “Maybe not every one because not all those guys are not in the UFC or never have been. Or even fight those rematches that I won in close decisions or close fights, like (Rory) MacDonald and (Jake) Ellenberger. Or just continue to have great fights. Even if it’s new guys, I want to fight the top guys in the division.”

For on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

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