How childhood bullying set Britain's Campbell on the path to the UFC
British UFC fighter Kurtis Campbell explains how his parents' decision to enrol him in Muay Thai classes after being bullied at school changed his life. He faces American Trevor Peek in Paris on Saturday.
Liverpool-born fighter Kurtis Campbell, 24, will face American Trevor Peek at UFC Paris on Saturday in what will be only his second bout in the promotion.
Campbell's journey into combat sports began at age seven, when he was bullied at primary school. Seeing the toll it was taking on him, his parents Jay and Michelle enrolled him in Muay Thai classes so he could learn to defend himself.
From self-defence to obsession
What started as a way to prepare for secondary school gradually turned into a genuine passion once Campbell began competing in amateur events. He has described himself as a gentle child who disliked violence, but says something shifted once he actually stepped into competition.
At 15, he won his first international Muay Thai title, and with his parents' backing he began to see combat sports as more than a hobby. He struggled academically and was often placed in lower sets at school, with teachers urging him to consider a backup career, but Campbell remained committed to fighting as his sole path forward.
As a teenager he would run nearly five miles each way to and from school, and once skipped classes ahead of his exams to attend a seminar led by coach John Kavanagh, who has worked with former UFC champion Conor McGregor. After finishing his school exams, Campbell went on to a college course combining sport study with football, though he arranged to leave early for combat training instead of joining his classmates on the pitch.
Ending an unbeaten run, eyeing redemption
In March, Campbell suffered his UFC debut loss via TKO to Danny Silva, his first defeat in almost seven and a half years. Before reaching the UFC, he had won five titles across three weight classes with the Full Contact Contender promotion and earned his UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series in September 2025.
Now preparing to fight Peek at the Accor Arena, Campbell is looking to bounce back from that first UFC setback. He says he remains driven to keep achieving more, with an ultimate goal of giving his parents a comfortable, relaxed life in return for their support.
