Unlocking the Cage with Johnny Campbell
Campbell vs Matsuda
I began Unlocking the Cage (UTC) May 2012, kicking it off by attending Cage Titans FC: Conquer. I hadn’t been to a fight since I last fought in 2004 when I gave up mixed martial arts (MMA) due to too many losses and concussions. In those 8 years, I had turned away from the sport, rarely watched it on TV, and wasn’t sure how I would react to a regional show where I didn’t know any of the fighters. To make matters worse, I had torn the cartilage in my ribs at a NAGA tournament earlier that afternoon and all I wanted to do was load up on painkillers and call it a night.
All that changed with the very first fight, the energy of the crowd contagious. It was a full fight card and still going strong near midnight. I had an hour drive back home, but decided to stay for the final match, a bantamweight title fight between Tateki Matsuda and Johnny “Cupcakes” Campbell. This 5 round battle was one of the most exciting fights I’d watched in a long time and I was seriously impressed with both fighters, never a dull moment as they exchanged blows. Johnny lost a close decision, but I was a fan and wanted to talk with him.
Two days later, I visited South Shore Sportfighting, the gym in Norwell, MA where Johnny trains. I had some great interviews with his coaches and training partners, but unfortunately the sound quality was so poor I couldn’t produce any videos from them. Understandably, Johnny wasn’t in that night, but his coach gave me his number and the following day I made my first house call.
Photo by DOMINEYphotography
Johnny met me at the door with a pronounced limp, his thigh a deep black and blue, a couple small scrapes and bruises across his face. We hit it off immediately, Johnny’s charm and intelligence apparent from the start. It was a nice change being able to take my time with the interview in a comfortable setting without shrill buzzers or heavy bags being beaten. Johnny talked at length about his past, where he was presently, and what he hoped the future would hold. Not only did I learn a lot about him and why he was fighting, but he also gave me some solid advice that really helped me in my personal life.
Last month when Professor Michael Kennedy invited me to guest lecture on MMA for his sociology class at Brown University, I asked if I could do a live interview of a fighter. It’d be a great opportunity for the class to see both the interview process and insight into a fighter, and I’d have the chance to do a follow up with Johnny.
I’d been watching Johnny’s career and wasn’t sure what to expect in the interview. He had dealt with a couple disappointing loses but was now on a 3-win streak. It was awesome to see how Johnny had grown since that first interview and how he’s now pursuing his passion as a career, finally putting 100% into fighting, what it takes to reach the top levels. His goal is to become a champion, to reach the UFC, to be remembered. Without a doubt he has that potential and I’ll be rooting him on. He’s exactly the type of fighter that should be in the UFC, not only because his exciting style will make him a fan favorite, but he’s a good person that will make a positive impact on his community.
I’m honored to be sponsoring him for this fight and I encourage those in the New England area to check him out Nov. 1 for Cage Titans FC XXI at Memorial Hall in Plymouth, MA. Contact him for shirts and/or tickets if you plan on attending. You can also support Johnny by liking his Facebook page Johnny “Cupcakes” Campbell and following him on twitter.
Click below to hear his interview:
And here is what Professor Kennedy had to say:
