“Losing [really] sucks,” Kampmann told UFC.com. “I hate losing. But there’s not much I can do about it now. I have always been walking around pretty light compared to some of the guys at middleweight Even with the guys I train with [at Xtreme Couture]. I’d be walking around on weight at 185 . . . some of the 55ers who are out of shape are walking around at 185, so I thought I’d give 170 a shot.”

“Losing [really] sucks,” Kampmann told UFC.com. “I hate losing. But there’s not much I can do about it now. I have always been walking around pretty light compared to some of the guys at middleweight; even with the guys I train with [at Xtreme Couture]. I’d be walking around on weight at 185 . . . some of the 55ers who are out of shape are walking around at 185, so I thought I’d give 170 a shot.”

He'll give it a shot at UFC 93 when he takes on UFC newcomer Alexandre Barros (13-5) on January 17 in Dublin, Ireland.

Barros (13-5), who's currently riding a nine fight winning streak, is a Ruas Vale Tudo practitioner known for his BJJ skills.

“I’ve seen a little tape on him but not that much,” Kampmann said of Barros. “I don’t know too much about him, but I’m preparing for the worst. I should be worrying about every part of his game, watching out for everything. I don’t know what his biggest strength is, but I’m preparing to fight him wherever the fight goes.”

Kampmann has been preparing for the fight at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas with his personal hero Randy Couture.

“Randy Couture, he’s always been a hero of mine,” he says. “And now I’m here training with him and it’s great.”

As for aspirations at welterweight, Kampmann sets his sights high, but is realistic at this point.

“I’d love to get a title shot eventually, but I just lost a fight. I want to deserve a title shot when I get it. That’s the ultimate goal, of course, but I just want to take it one fight at a time.”