Shane 'Shaolin' Campbell to debut in MMA

Shane “Shaolin” Campbell’s first foray into the professional mixed martial arts ranks is sure to catch the attention of a worldwide audience.

Having already fought in rings from Thailand to France, from the United States to Hong Kong, Campbell has garnered an outstanding reputation and incredible record as one of the world’s elite Muay Thai kickboxers. And with those accomplishments has also come a legion of fans around the globe who will now be casting their eyes towards Campbell’s first MMA battle coming on the Heat XC 6: Bragging Rights card.

Campbell will take on Paapa Inkumsah (3-2) in a featured welterweight battle at Heat XC 6, which takes place on Friday, Oct. 15 at the Mayfield Inn Trade & Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta.

While Campbell will be taking his inaugural venture into the MMA world, it will be Inkumsah’s sixth fight and he will be focused on stopping a current two-fight losing skid he’s been on since winning three straight to open his career. Inkumsah, who grew up in Edmonton and now trains in Calgary, Alberta, demolished his first three opponents, taking out Jesse Clarke, Jake Bluhm, and David Krawczyk all inside the first round.

But Inkumsah’s edge in experience isn’t fazing the Campbell camp, according to his manager Jon Nipshank.

“Shane is going to be the future. He is not going to lose,” said Nipshank. “He’s working on his ground game so he will be fine there but if anyone wants to stand with him they are going to get annihilated.”

Campbell, who hails from Stoney Creek, ON, but now teaches and trains in Edmonton, won his first major Muay Thai title on his 19th birthday and has been adding to his credentials in the four years since taking his overall record to 46-8. In 2007, he picked up his first major international championship by being crowned the WKA World Muay Thai champion, and then further staked his claim as one of the best in the world in 2009 by securing the WMA World Muay Thai championship belt.

Among his career highlights was a huge win in 2007 when he ventured into Calgary and took a unanimous decision from home-town hero Trevor Smandych, one of the most-internationally decorated Canadian fighters of all time.