Kobold-Carano Possible Matchup for October, Kampmann's Injury Status Unclear

by Mike Sloan (msloan@sherdog.com) - Sherdog.com

Gina Carano (Pictures) is expected to return to the EliteXC cage at the promotion’s Oct. 4 show, likely to be televised on CBS, her management has confirmed with Sherdog.com. Though no opponent has been named, Bodog Fight veteran Kelly Kobald (Pictures) is believed to be the leading candidate.

The unbeaten Carano (6-0) last fought as part of EliteXC’s CBS debut on May 31. She won by TKO against the tough Kaitlin Young (Pictures) when ringside doctors deemed Young’s left eye was too swollen for her to continue. Carano missed weight by several pounds and said she would gladly give Young a rematch. She has also called out fellow female terror Tara Larosa (Pictures), who recently signed with the American Fight League. Carano informed Sherdog.com by text message that she has “been traveling a lot” and expects to be back in the gym in a week or two.

Based at the same Minnesota Martial Arts Academy at which Young trains, Kobald (16-2-1) kicked off her professional career with a 17-match unbeaten streak but has lost back-to-back fights to Larosa and Julie Kedzie (Pictures).

The Pit eyes Las Vegas location

Southern California houses many famed fighting academies, including The Pit. Home to such strikers as Scott Lighty (Pictures) and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell (Pictures), The Pit, a state-of-the-art MMA school, has long been considered one of the country’s premiere fight schools.

According to founder John Hackleman, The Pit will soon branch out and open a new facility somewhere in the heart of Las Vegas. Hackleman was in Las Vegas on Sunday, scouting various locations, but “The Pit Master” has not zeroed in on a spot just yet. He said he has his sights set on an area on or near the busy intersection of Sahara Avenue and Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas. A site just off the Strip, possibly near the industrial district near Sunset Boulevard in Las Vegas, and a location in Henderson, Nev. -- the city directly to the southeast of Las Vegas -- are also being considered.

Hackleman hopes to break ground on The Pit in Las Vegas sometime in the next three months and has designs on opening two facilities in Sin City, one for professional, hardcore fighters, the other for beginners, kids and families.

Kampmann not as injured as reported, or is he?

It was reported in last week’s “Sin City Sentinel” that UFC middleweight contender Martin Kampmann (Pictures) was set to undergo routine arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a lingering injury and would be out of commission until at least October. However, according to both Kampmann, and his manager, Ken Pavia, that might not be the route the Dane takes.

“I’m not injured or nothing,” Kampmann told Sherdog.com through his MySpace account. “I can train and fight, too. I have a minor problem with my meniscus that needs to get taken care of eventually -- maybe now or maybe after one more fight. It’s a minor thing but will still require some weeks off once I choose to get the surgery. So far, I’m undecided as to when to get it, but if I fight first, I will still kick ass, no problem.”

It remains unclear whether or not the popular Danish middleweight will move forward with the procedure. Luckily for Kampmann and his fans, the injury is not as serious as first thought. A decision will likely be made in the next few weeks.

The 26-year-old Kampmann returned from a year-long absence from competition and submitted Jorge Rivera (Pictures) with a first-round guillotine choke last month at UFC 85 in London. He has won nine fights in a row and is the only man to hold a victory over Brazilian Thales Leites (Pictures).

Quick Hits

• Xtreme Couture’s Gray Maynard (Pictures), still rehabbing a right wrist injury, told Sherdog.com via text message that he will likely fight at UFC 90 on Oct. 25 in Rosemont, Ill., a northwest suburb of Chicago. Maynard admitted a few names have been thrown around as possible opponents but stopped shy of commenting on who his next foe might be.

• Las Vegas fight fans have another Saturday filled with fistic action ahead, as there are three events from which to choose this weekend. A major boxing event featuring Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito has grabbed all the headlines, but for those who prefer to avoid the sweet science, Dennis Warner and In Sync Productions will deliver another stellar night of professional muay Thai at the Las Vegas Hilton. In addition, muay Thai instructor Master Toddy will host an amateur smoker at his training center in the afternoon.

• Kit Cope (Pictures), the popular former muay Thai champion who has crossed over into MMA, told Sherdog.com that he expects to return to action sometime in August, though nothing has been finalized. Recovered from reconstructive knee surgery and separated ribs, Cope last fought on May 30 when he submitted Dave Lehr Cochran (Pictures) with a triangle choke at a World Fighting Championships event in New Jersey. The organization for which Cope will compete next remains unclear.