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Dana White Confirms GSP's Next Opponent
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com It has been widely rumored and Joe Rogan mentioned it during the UFC 100 broadcast, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Wednesday made it official, the fight between Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann will determine the next challenger to UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. "Wherever we go, fans know UFC delivers great fights,” UFC president Dana White said. "Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann could be fight of the night at UFC 103 because the winner takes on Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title.” Click here to read the entire article on MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Sherdog's Official Welterweight Rankings
Welterweight 1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2) Another title defense, another elite contender, another dominant victory for St. Pierre. GSP's lopsided decision over an elite challenger in Thiago Alves at UFC 100 showed why St. Pierre is one of the sport's pound-for-pound kings and has caused many fans and pundits to begin demanding a move to middleweight. However, St. Pierre's next challenge will likely come from the winner of the September bout between Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann. 2. Jon Fitch (19-3, 1 NC) Hardly flashy, but Fitch racked up yet another solid victory at UFC 100, taking a hard-fought unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Paulo Thiago. The victory moved Fitch's mark in the Octagon to an impressive 10-1. 3. Thiago Alves (16-4) Though Alves struggled to muster much offense in his 25-minute decision loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100, the Brazilian stalwart showed considerable grit by making it to the final bell against the vastly superior St. Pierre. The other silver lining for the "Pitbull"? He's only 25 years old. 4. Jake Shields (23-4-1) He may have looked out of his depth for a minute or so, but Shields’ submission skills shined through once again June 6 against Robbie Lawler. The former EliteXC welterweight champion submitted the former EliteXC middleweight titleholder 2:02 into their Strikeforce bout, recording his 12th straight win. Shields’ unbeaten streak now spans almost five years. 5. Martin Kampmann (15-2) Kampmann said he is only interested in big fights at 170. Fortunately for Denmark's top MMA export, he's got one: Kampmann will take on Mike Swick at UFC 103 on Sept. 19. The winner is likely to be next in line for a crack at Georges St. Pierre's welterweight throne. 6. Paulo Thiago (11-1) Thiago finally got one put in the loss column at UFC 100. However, the still fairly unknown Brazilian did prove that he was tougher than previously thought following his upset over Josh Koscheck in February by dragging divisional elite Jon Fitch through three competitive rounds. 7. Josh Koscheck (12-4) A foot injury deprived Koscheck of a chance to get back into action against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 in May. Koscheck’s next bout will be even sterner now. His opponent for UFC 103 on Sept. 19 is former UFC welterweight title challenger Frank Trigg, who returns to the promotion and the division after a run at middleweight. 8. Carlos Condit (22-5) Condit was unsuccessful in his UFC debut in April, losing a hotly contested split decision to Martin Kampmann. However, the former WEC champ may have a crack at some extra money in his second Octagon appearance, as he'll take on regular "Fight of the Night" bonus recipient Chris Lytle at Sept. 16's UFC Fight Night card. 9. Mike Swick (14-2) Having put together a 4-0 mark as a welterweight, Swick's big moment at 170 has arrived. The fleet-handed AKA product will take on Dane Martin Kampmann on Sept. 19 at UFC 103 with the winner likely gaining the right to challenge Georges St. Pierre. 10. Dan Hardy (22-6, 1 NC) With his split decision over Marcus Davis at UFC 99 in June, Hardy has emerged as yet another contender in the UFC's startlingly deep welterweight division. The victory was his 11th in his last 12 fights, his lone loss in that span coming via contested disqualification against Yoshiyuki Yoshida in December 2007. Other contenders: Marcus Davis, Jay Hieron, Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Nick Thompson. *With no wins in nearly 20 months, the currently suspended Karo Parisyan falls from sixth to the contenders list, just outside the top 10. Click here to read the entire article on Sherdog.comLabels: Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann
MMAweekly.Com's Top Welterweights and Heavyweights
Originally posted on MMAweekly.com WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit) HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds) #1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko 2. Josh Barnett 3. Brock Lesnar 4. Frank Mir 5. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 6. Randy Couture 7. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic 8. Brett Rogers 9. Cain Velasquez 10. Andrei Arlovski Click here to read the entire article on MMAweekly.com#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre 2. Jon Fitch 3. Jake Shields 4. Thiago Alves 5. Josh Koscheck 6. Matt Hughes 7. Martin Kampmann 8. Carlos Condit 9. Mike Swick 10. Nick Thompson Labels: Brett Rogers, Martin Kampmann
UFC 103's Martin Kampmann vs. Mike Swick will, in fact, determine a No. 1 contender for GSP
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com A UFC 103 welterweight bout between veterans Martin Kampmann (15-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Mike Swick (14-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) will, in fact, determine a No. 1 contender to challenge for UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre's championship belt. During this past Saturday's, July 11, UFC 100 pay-per-view event, broadcaster Joe Rogan said he was informed by UFC Vice President of Fighter Relations Joe Silva that the Sept. 19 fight could be a No. 1 contender's bout. Sources close to the fight have since confirmed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the winner will be assured a title shot. The date for that title shot has not been determined, though. St-Pierre defeated clear No. 1 contender Thiago Alves via unanimous decision at UFC 100 and injured his groin during the matchup. Unless cleared by a doctor, he's medically suspended until January. And even if cleared, St-Pierre hinted during the UFC 100 post-fight presser that he might take some time off from competition to recover from the injury and a busy schedule. The time off could also give the UFC some time to market a new contender. St-Pierre has recently defeated the three fighters – Jon Fitch, B.J. Penn and Alves – many considered the most likely to challenge for his title. He beat them all, and he beat them all in convincing fashion, which has left many wondering whether anyone could possibly topple a seemingly unbeatable fighter. Kampmann and Swick will look to prove they deserve the opportunity. Kampmann is 2-0 at 170 pounds after making the switch from middleweight following a September 2008 loss to Nate Marquardt. Kampmann was 4-0 in the UFC as a middleweight prior to the loss. Click here to read the entire article on MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
5 Best Fights of 2009 (So far)
Originally posted on Sherdog.com Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit UFC Fight Night 18, April 1, Nashville, Tenn. After the WEC welterweight division fizzled out, thanks in large part to his own dominance, Condit packed his bags and entered the UFC, already regarded as a top contender. That status was put to the test, literally, from the opening bell, as Condit was matched with Xtreme Couture virtuoso Kampmann. With both men having a reputation for offensive versatility, it did not take long for them to back up their credentials; they went for broke on the feet, mat and clinch. While Condit scored his points with long-range striking and fluid guard work, Kampmann went blue-collar by staying inside Condit’s reach with constant flurries and takedowns. After splitting the first two rounds, the third came down to a battle of wills, as cardio was in short supply. Struggling to find openings on the feet, Kampmann filled his lungs, lunged forward and delivered the takedown he needed. In between avoiding Condit’s notoriously shifty guard work, Kampmann managed to sneak in some highlight reel-worthy strikes and win over the judges. While the court of public opinion remains split, there was no arguing that the night gave rise to not just one, but two, welterweight stars. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann vs. Mike Swick signed for UFC 103 bout in September
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Middleweight-prospects-turned-welterweight-contenders Martin Kampmann (15-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) and Mike Swick (14-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) have finalized bout agreements for a contest that will have an immediate impact on the UFC's 170-pound division. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event that both fighters have agreed to meet at the as-yet-unannounced UFC 103 event in Dallas, expected to take place Sept. 19. Additional sources familiar with the bout have indicated the organization may be utilizing the contest to determine who will meet the reigning welterweight titleholder following the UFC 100 title fight between current champ Georges St. Pierre and challenger Thiago Alves. Kampmann is 2-0 at 170 pounds after making the switch from middleweight following a September 2008 loss to Nate Marquardt. The Xtreme Couture fighter earned a split-decision over former WEC champion Carlos Condit in a rousing contest in the main event of UFC Fight Night 18 in April. That result followed a January TKO win over Alexandre Barros in Kampmann's first fight at welterweight. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Kampmann vs. Swick in Works for UFC 103
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com A welterweight contest between Mike Swick and Martin Kampmann is likely for UFC 103, MMAWeekly.com has learned from sources close to the fight. While bout agreements have not been signed, both parties have agreed to the match-up. UFC 103 is expected to take place on Sept. 19 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, the promotion’s second trip to the Lone Star State. The event has yet to be announced by the UFC. Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
MMAweekly.Com's Top Welterweights and Heavyweights
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds) #1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko 2. Josh Barnett 3. Frank Mir 4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 5. Randy Couture 6. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic 7. Brock Lesnar 8. Brett Rogers WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit) #1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre 2. Jon Fitch 3. Thiago Alves 4. Jake Shields 5. Josh Koscheck 6. Matt Hughes 7. Martin Kampmann Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Brett Rogers, Martin Kampmann
MMAdness June Rankings
Welterweight (170 pounds) 1. Georges St. Pierre 2. Thiago Alves 3. Jon Fitch 4. Martin Kampmann 5. Mike Swick 6. Jake Shields 7. Marcus Davis 8. Carlos Condit 9. Paulo Thiago 10. Frank Trigg Also receiving consideration: Hayato Sakurai, Matt Hughes, Brock Larson, Josh Koscheck, Jay Hieron, Nick Thompson, and Karo Parisyan Click here to read the entire article at MMAdnes.comLabels: Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann
Versus' Welterweight Rankings
Originally posted on Versus.com WELTERWEIGHT 1. Georges St-Pierre (18-2) – It seems as though a lot more people are picking Alves to defeat GSP at UFC 100 than I had previously thought. Alves may be a big welterweight, but I don’t see that happening. 2. Thiago Alves (16-3) – See above. 3. Jon Fitch (18-3, 1 NC) – As long as GSP is holding the 170-pound UFC title, it will be hard for Fitch to justify receiving a title shot. Especially with AKA teammates Mike Swick and Josh Koscheck beneath him. 4. Jake Shields (22-4-1) – Why do I have this strange feeling that Shields is going to look to stand and trade with Lawler? 5. Matt Hughes (43-7) – Not impressed with his lay and pray performance at UFC 98. I would like to see him against Koscheck next. 6. Martin Kampmann (16-2) – I understand why he turned down the T.J. Grant fight, but I also don’t. If you were that sure that you can beat him, why not just do it? 7. Josh Koscheck (12-4) – Paulo Thiago may be the answer to a trivia question someday. 8. Mike Swick (13-2) – Swick faces the dangerous Ben Saunders at UFC 99. 9. Carlos Condit (23-5) – Condit has quickly become the forgotten man at 170. 10. Matt Serra (9-6) – Hard to come up with what’s next for the “Terra.” How about a catch-weight fight against Sean Sherk? Honorable Mention: Dustin Hazelett, Karo Parisyan, Jay Hieron, Marcus Davis, Dan Hardy. Click here to read the entire article at Versus.comLabels: Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann
Updated MMA Weekly Welterweight Rankings
Martin Kampmann Interview
USAT/SBN May MMA Consensus Rankings: Welterweight
Sherdog Welterweight Rankings
Originally posted on Sherdog.com 1. Georges St. Pierre (18-2) Despite debate over the improper use of Vaseline by St. Pierre’s cornermen, “Rush” destroyed B.J. Penn in their Jan. 31 superfight at UFC 94. The bout reinforced St. Pierre’s case to be considered the top pound-for-pound fighter in the game, and he’ll have another chance to bolster his position against a brilliant opponent when he meets Thiago Alves at UFC 100 in July. 2. Thiago Alves (16-3) His noted 2008 breakout has earned him a shot against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100 in July. However, if his in-cage meeting with St. Pierre at UFC 94 told us anything, it’s that the “Pitbull” will not be the crowd favorite against the budding Canadian superstar. 3. Jon Fitch (18-3, 1 NC) Fitch will have the chance to atone for the indiscretions of teammate Josh Koscheck, as he’ll take on his American Kickboxing Academy compatriot’s upset author, Paulo Thiago, at UFC 100 on July 11. 4. Jake Shields (22-4-1) With no forthcoming opposition at 170 pounds, the former EliteXC welterweight champion will step up to take on standout middleweight Robbie Lawler in the headliner of Strikeforce’s second Showtime effort on June 6 in St. Louis. 5. Martin Kampmann (15-2) For a short matter of hours, fans were excited to see MMA's foremost Dane take on fast-rising prospect T.J. Grant at the TUF 9 finale in June. However, Kampmann turned down the bout, saying that he was looking for bigger fights in the 170-pound division. Click here to read the entire article at sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
MMA4Real's Unofficial UFC Divisional Rankings
Originally posted on MMA4real.com Welterweight Division #1 - Georges St. Pierre (18-2) (champion): A Bo Jackson-like athlete with incredible skill and unbelievable conditioning. Add in the fact that he's an enormous welterweight and you have the makings of a dominant champion. #2 - Thiago Alves (22-4): I may be in the minority here, but I still think that there is a very good chance that Thiago doesn't make weight for his title shot. I have heard rumblings that the weight drop has gotten near impossible. It would be a shame because this kid is a superb talent and is rightfully getting his big opportunity. #3 - Jon Fitch (18-3): Put Jon in the same category as Marquardt. If this division didn't have a dominant champion running things, this guy would be my favorite to take the title. Simply a great fighter that is as tough as they come. The guy would not stop coming after GSP. #4 - Martin Kampmann (15-2): I can't stress enough how impressed I was by the fact that he upset Condit. At welterweight I think Martin has found a home. Don't sleep on "The Hitman." #5 - Paulo Thiago (11-0): This is another possibly controversial ranking, but I felt that his first round knockout of Koscheck made him worthy of a top five ranking. His fight with Jon Fitch in July will tell us lots more about this fighter. Click here to read the entire article at MMA4real.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
The MMA Minute: Kampmann Turns Down Grant Fight
Originally posted on Versus.com Following his victory over Carlos Condit at Ultimate Fight Night 18 in April, Martin Kampmann said he was ready to face the best 170-pound fighters in the UFC. So, he was a little surprised when he was then offered a fight against relative UFC newcomer, T.J. Grant, scheduled for later this summer. While reports have surfaced recently that both fighters agreed to the fight, Kampmann informed VERSUS.com on Thursday that he turned it down right away. “No disrespect to T.J. Grant, but I don’t think it’s a fight that makes any sense for me at the moment,” Kampmann said. “I want to fight some higher ranked guys. I never even knew who the guy was, and he’s probably a tough guy, but I want to fight guys who make sense for me and who can escalate me up the ladder more, so I didn’t accept that fight. I don’t know what happened, but apparently some miscommunication somewhere because I saw it all over the internet.” Click here to read the entire article at Versus.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Grant Agrees to Fight Kampmann at TUF 9 Finale
Originally posted on Sherdog.com T.J. Grant has agreed to face off against Martin Kampmann in a welterweight contest at “The Ultimate Fighter 9” finale on June 20 at the Pearl inside the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, according to Scott MacLean, Grant’s coach and manager. The bout will be offered alongside a night of finale bouts to determine this season’s winners for the Spike TV reality series. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann vs. TJ Grant In Works For TUF 9 Finale
Originally posted on MMAnews.com Fresh off his UFC debut on April 18th in Montreal Canada with a win over Ryo Chonan, newcomer TJ Grant will return to action on June 20th at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, NV and his rumored opponent is Martin Kampmann. Grant confirmed the bout via his facebook page earlier today while Kampmann's agent, Ken Pavia confirmed the bout was in the works with MMANews.com hours later. Kampmann is coming off a win of his own, defeating Carlos Condit via a split decision in early April to spoil the WEC stand out's debut in the big show. Both fighters would take Fight of the Night honors that evening. Click here to read the entire article at MMAnews.comLabels: Ken Pavia, Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann Interview
Originally posted on AroundTheOctagon.com Just over a month removed from his Ultimate Fight Night 18 victory, Martin Kampmann sat down with ATO and allowed us a closer look into his life and career. Welterweights, be on notice. Martin Kampmann is healthy and ready to fight! Thanks for taking time to sit down and talk with us, Martin. Can you tell us what you’ve got going on right now? Yeah no problem, I don’t mind at all. I’m back in training. I took some time off after my last fight, but I’m back at it now. I’m getting my cardio back and everything is starting to feel good again. Have you been contacted about any possible fight opportunities? No not really. I want to fight though. I had told them (UFC) I wanted to fight in the summer, but they are booked up till September already. So, I guess I might have wait. It sucks because I really wanted to go home to Denmark for a vacation. I wanted to fight this summer and then go home, ya know? I don’t want to go to Denmark now and then get a call to come back. Hopefully someone will drop out of something and I can just be here ready and I can get a spot on one of these cards coming up. I’ll be back in there soon though. Not a lot is known about your early career. It seems like you just popped up on the radar one day and made an impact on the sport here in the U.S. Can you tell us about your career prior to the UFC? I fought a lot of fights in Europe before I got over here. I paid my dues over there for sure. I did all the small shows like the guys do here. I fought in small shows in Denmark, Sweden and Russia. But, I came over here on vacation and ended up being offered a fight on short notice. I went ahead and took it and sometime after that show I was offered a shot with the UFC, so, it was kind of “right place at the right time” but I earned it. Back in ‘07, you were scheduled to face Rich Franklin. The winner was said to be getting a shot at Silva’s title. Your severe injury while training for that fight was unfortunate and took you out of the sport for a while. Do you ever wonder what could have been, had the injury not happened or are you a “everything happens for a reason” type person? Man I sure hope everything happens for a reason (laughing), cause it sucked! Honestly, it was one of the worst times in my life. It was a terrible injury but I wasn’t gonna make it worse by thinking about the opportunity I missed. You hear athletes all the time talk about how bad performances combined with a loss haunt them and they replay it over and over again in their head. How often does the Marquardt fight run through your mind? Man I try not to think about it that much because it gets me depressed, but I do. I think about it. It sucks and I hate it. There is nothing I can do about it, though, so I have had to try and move on. Fighters know that every time they step into the cage that there is a chance you might lose, so eventually you have to learn to deal with it. I want to win all my fights, but there is always the risk of loosing and a huge part of this sport is learning to deal with a loss and bouncing back from it. Some guys never do. But you know, I should have done better in that fight and I could have done better in that fight and I hope I see him again someday. Maybe an opportunity will arise one day where I can and we can do it again. Click here to read the entire article at AroundTheOctagon.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann Working Out
UFC 2009: Undisputed’s 85 Playable Characters Include The TapouT Crew
UFC Total Rankings April 2009
On May 2nd Phil Baroni,Martin Kampmann, and Jay Hieron Participate in First Championship Series in Edison NJ
Originally posted on GoFightLiveTv.Blog The First ever Asylum Championship Series Comes to Edison, NJ - 4/2/2009 Featuring Wrestling, Grappling, MMA Fights, and Seminars with Elite Pro MMA Fighters Edison, NJ - The creator of Asylum Fight League, Carl Mascarenhas, is pleased to announce the first ever Asylum Championship Series I, a day-long event featuring all aspects of Mixed Martial Arts competition, on Saturday, May 2. The event will be held at the Raritan Center in Edison, NJ a 150,000 sq ft of action packed space. Headlining the first ever Asylum Championship Series event will be seminars conducted by top level professional mixed martial arts fighters. Fighters Phil Baroni, Kurt Pellegrino, Martin Kampmann, Eddie Alvarez, and Jay Hieron will give educational and informative seminars about various mixed martial arts techniques. Click here to read the entire articleLabels: Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann, Phil Baroni
MMAweekly.Com's Top 10 Welterweights
Sherdog Top 10 Welterweight
Originally posted on Sherdog.com 5. Martin Kampmann (15-2) Kampmann gutted out a split decision victory over former World Extreme Cagefighting titleholder Carlos Condit on April 1. With his victory, Denmark’s top MMA export firmly entrenched himself amongst the top 170-pounders in the world. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Round 5 to release Jason MacDonald figurine; Lytle and Kampmann next?
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Round 5, the company best known for its popular line of mixed-martial-arts figurines, today announced it will produce and release a figurine of veteran UFC middleweight Jason MacDonald later this year. No exact date has been determined for the release, which is the company's first Canadian-fighter figurine. "Since we are based in Ontario, I am particularly excited that Jason MacDonald is the first Canadian to sign with Round 5," Round 5 President and Co-Founder Damon Lau stated in today's press release. "He is one of the most successful and popular MMA stars in the country and enjoys a strong following across North America." Round 5 now releases a new set of figurines each quarter. The company previously announced it had reached deals with Fedor Emelianenko and Gina Carano, whose figurines will be released later this year. MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) also today was told by a source close to the fighters that UFC veterans Chris Lytle and Martin Kampmann have recently inked deals with Round 5. However, it's currently unknown if their figurines will be released in 2009. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Chris Lytle, Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann: Fight Hype Interview
Originally posted on FightHype.com "I'm glad I won, but I feel like there are a lot of things I could have done a lot better, but I wanted a more exciting fight. I'm happy the victory went my way, but there's a lot more I could have done. It just gives me more stuff to go back to the gym to work on," stated UFC welterweight Martin Kampmann as he talked about his win over Carlos Condit, his future plans and much more. Check it out! PC: Congratulations on the win over Carlos Condit. MK: Thanks! PC: How do you feel about your performance my man? MK: I'm glad I won, but I feel like there are a lot of things I could have done a lot better, but I wanted a more exciting fight. I'm happy the victory went my way, but there's a lot more I could have done. It just gives me more stuff to go back to the gym to work on. PC: How is the weight cut to 170? You looked very comfortable at that weight. MK: The weight cut is very easy. I'm still coming in kind of light for 70, so I'm working on putting more muscle on and getting used to fighting heavy. I'm not used to cutting weight. I'm still kind of new to it, so I'm learning all of the proper ways to do it still and I should have it down to a science this year. PC: Condit was a top 10 welterweight, but we hadn't seen him in the UFC before your fight with him. Were you surprised at how tough he was? MK: I knew he was tough. I was expecting a war. Like I said though man, it was a lot of stuff that I wanted to do differently. I didn't think my standup was all that well in that fight. I had been working on my wrestling a lot too and that worked well for me, so I was happy about that. I wanted to finish the fight and win decisively. I didn't want to win a split decision, even though that's a way to win and I'm happy it went my way. If we were to fight again, there is a lot of stuff that I would correct. We learn from our mistakes right? ********* PC: Great fight. I thought you did what you had to do to pull it off in the 3rd. Is there anything you want to say in closing? MK: I want to thank all of the fans for supporting me. I want to thank Hitman Fight Gear, MMA Agents and Xtreme Couture, and you for taking the time to speak with me. Click here to read the entire article at FightHype.comLabels: Martin Kampmann, MMAagents
MMAweekly Rankings
Originally posted on MMAweekly.com WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit) #1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre 2. Jon Fitch 3. Thiago Alves 4. Jake Shields 5. Josh Koscheck 6. Matt Hughes 7. Matt Serra 8. Martin Kampmann 9. Carlos Condit 10. Nick Thompson Click here to read the entire list at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Originally posted on Sherdog.com Martin Kampmann and Carlos Condit kickstarted the month of April with a fantastic welterweight scrap that has put the Dane on the map as a power player at 170 pounds, while affirming that the WEC's former champ belongs in the Octagon. Top 10 Welterweights 5. Martin Kampmann (15-2) Kampmann gutted out a split decision victory over Carlos Condit on April 1, and with his victory, Denmark's top MMA export firmly entrenched himself amongst the top 170-pounders in the world. Other contenders: Marcus Davis, Dan Hardy, Jay Hieron, Mike Swick, Nick Thompson. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Jay Hieron, Martin Kampmann
Pleased with Win, Kampmann Wants to Do Better
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com You could hardly find a more laid back fighter than Martin Kampmann. A day after one of his biggest career victories, against Carlos Condit, the 26-year-old could easily be describing his tax return when he talks about the fight. Or maybe it’s because he just got up from a Thursday afternoon nap. In person, he’s good-natured and shy; he thinks he’s bad at interviews, and doesn’t chase the attention many fighters thrive on. He shows up to Xtreme Couture pro practices in a black Nissan Murano and does his work. If you didn’t hear the thud of his gloves hitting the mitts, or catch him duking it out with the other fighters, he’d be easy to miss. In place of bravado, he calmly focuses on being his best. And on Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 18, he turned a lot of heads with a victory over the former WEC welterweight champ. “It was a close fight, so I was happy it came out in my favor,” he tells MMAWeekly.com. “I knew it was a close fight, and nothing is ever for sure when you go to a decision.” He has no doubt, though, that he made the right decision when he dropped from middleweight to welterweight. A lot of things in his life were up in the air – he had suffered a bad knee injury that took him out of a possibly career making fight against Rich Franklin, and was caught by Nate Marquardt one fight into his return in quick and devastating fashion. Kampmann came to Las Vegas for the first time in the summer 2006 on the advice of training partner and friend Mike Pyle, and fell in love with the atmosphere. In January of 2007, he moved to Sin City full time to pursue fighting, UFC contract already in hand. He misses friends from home and the Danish version of food staples like bread and milk, but he never has to worry about training partners skipping practice for a day job. Soon he’ll apply for his green card, along with his girlfriend, who’s moving from their hometown of Aarhus. After taking out Alexandre Barros at UFC 93, Kampmann turned down an appearance at UFC 96 for the opportunity to face Condit. He says he’s still getting the hang of 170, and has a ways to go before he’s perfected his craft. “I was training for a victory, and I came in with a victory in my mind, but I think I would have liked to win a little more decisively than what I did,” he says of Wednesday’s experience. “I didn’t want to win a split decision. I wanted to finish the fight. I’m happy with the victory, but I think I made a lot of mistakes in the fight and I can do better. Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Spike TV nabs ratings boost with UFC Fight Night 18 broadcast
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com The April 1 broadcast of UFC Fight Night 18, which featured Martin Kampmann's split-decision win over Carlos Condit in the night's main event, drew a total of 1.9 million viewers. Spike TV today released the ratings, which were the highest in its timeslot among all cable programs in the males 18-34 and 18-49 demographics. The ratings were up slightly from Spike TV's most recent event broadcast, UFC Fight Night 17, which drew 1.7 million viewers in early February. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
The Greatest MMA Column: 04.02.09: What Happens After Fight Night 18?
Originally posted on 411mania.com Martin Kampmann: Wow. What a fight. Back and forth, the action never stopped. Kampmann really improved his stock with this win. As I've said many times, the welterweight division is quickly depleting of interesting title fights. St. Pierre has destroyed Hughes, Serra, Fitch, Penn, and Koscheck, if GSP beats Thiago Alves there are only two fighters who would make for interesting title fights, Paulo Thiago should he get by Jon Fitch, and now Martin Kampmann. I think he'll have to fight again due to St. Pierre vs. Alves taking place in July, so he'll earn a title shot with one more win, that is, unless Paulo Thiago decisively beats Jon Fitch, which I think would cause him to leapfrog Kampmann in the title picture. Click here to read the entire article at 411mania.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Some Managers, Agents Lose Backstage Pass
Originally posted on Sherdog.com If Zuffa won’t credential certain individuals backstage as managers, then why not just apply for a second’s license? Agent Ken Pavia, who has 55 athletes on his roster, said a cornerman is a crucial role that most managers or agents leave up to the pros. “With the multiplicity of disciplines the fighters must be schooled in, their striking coach, their ground coach are needed in the corner,” said Pavia, who was among those denied. “Their training partner is in the locker room with them, helping them warm up, to break a sweat, to grapple, to pummel, whatever. Often, a full-service fighter will have all three in his corner, which pushes the manager or agent out.” ********* Almost all the reps that Sherdog.com spoke to said they’d be comfortable with three licensed cornermen and one managerial figure allowed backstage, which is the setup the UFC and WEC approved until recently. Pavia suggested that promotions institute criteria to ensure only professionals gain entry and don’t abuse the system. Many reps fear that if they don’t speak up, other promotions will follow Zuffa’s precedent and that many of the smaller companies don’t have the manpower and organizational skills needed to prevent the added problems that will arise. “There was an event where backstage was so disorganized that all the fighters, not just mine, were worried if this fight was even going to happen, if they were going to get paid,” Pavia said. “There was nobody backstage. There was no water. There were no inspectors in sight. My fighters wanted me there.” Kizer and Lembo, whose respective commissions handle the bulk of the big-money boxing events in the U.S., said backstage entourages can get out of hand, but they’ve never heard of a boxing promoter denying a manager or an agent a backstage credential. “One qualified businessperson, that has a relationship with the fighter, serves the purpose backstage,” said Pavia, who boarded a red-eye Monday night to meet his main event fighter, Martin Kampmann, in Nashville. In Kampmann's corner, six-time UFC champion and mentor Randy Couture, striking coach Mark Beecher and training partner Jay Hieron will undoubtedly provide the Dane with worthy advice. Meanwhile, Pavia will support his fighter from the audience, hoping his services are not needed backstage. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Ken Pavia, Martin Kampmann
Kampmann Spoils Condit’s UFC Debut
Originally posted on Sherdog.com Martin Kampmann played the role of spoiler to perfection. The well-rounded Dane welcomed former World Extreme Cagefighting champion and world-ranked welterweight Carlos Condit into the Octagon in the UFC Fight Night 18 main event on Wednesday and slipped away with a split decision victory at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Scores were 29-28 from all three judges, two of them siding with Kampmann. Kampmann (15-2) almost ended the match quickly, as he locked up a guillotine choke in the first round. The submission savvy Condit, however, kept his lower body mobile and twisted free. “It was deep,” Kampmann said. “I thought I had it, but Carlos is really tough.” Condit (22-5) opened a cut below Kampmann’s left eye with a standing punch on the grounded Xtreme Couture welterweight late in the first round and followed up with a powerful knee against the cage. Kampmann kept coming, even under duress. Condit finished strong with a head kick and flying knee in the final 30 seconds and gained a foothold in the match. The 24-year-old Condit threatened Kampmann with a rear-naked choke in round two, but whatever momentum he attained was soon lost. Kampmann scored with a takedown inside the first minute of the third round and kept Condit on his back and on the defensive for several minutes. A steady stream of ground-and-pound ensued, and Condit was all but shut out of the round until he cinched a guillotine choke of his own in the final seconds. Even so, Kampmann had left his stamp on the fight. “That was a war,” Kampmann said after he snapped Condit’s eight-fight winning streak. “He’s a true warrior.” Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFC Fight Night 18 weigh-in photos: An MMAjunkie.com image gallery
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's UFC Fight Night 18 weigh-ins at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Check out our image gallery for photos of all 24 event competitors as they officially weighed in for the 12-fight event. The Sommet Center also hosts Wednesday's Spike-televised UFC Fight Night 18 event, which is headlined by Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit. The weigh-ins offered a few surprises. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFN 18 Preview
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com At Mike Pyle's urging, Kampmann, 26, picked up his life in Denmark and relocated to Las Vegas earlier this year, after splitting training time between his home and Xtreme Couture. "The main difference between that and Denmark is I had some good training partners, but it was guys that aren't full-time fighters," Kampmann said. " It would be guys with jobs and kids and a lot of other stuff. Sometimes it was a hassle to set up training camp. Now, when you have a gym full of other full-time, professional fighters, there's always going to be somebody to work with when you come down to the gym. Now, I'm able to do what I love full time." Kampmann's move from middleweight, following his UFC 88 loss to Nate Marquardt, also has panned out thus far. Cutting to 170 pounds was not difficult for the 6-foot fighter, and a victory over Alexandre Barros at UFC 93 made the cut even more palatable. Now, he's landed a golden opportunity with the bout against Condit. It's a chance to beat a consensus top 10 welterweight in the world and to notch his most notable victory since beating Thales Leites back in 2006. "He's well-rounded and a long, lanky guy, so I got to get in on him to hit him," Kampmann said in sizing up Condit. "I got some tall guys to spar with. I just got to move my head and get in on him and use knees in the clinch, too. I think we're going to match up well." Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Kampmann vs. Condit Greenlit for UFC Fight Night
Originally posted on Sherdog.com World Extreme Cagefighting’s last welterweight champion on Tuesday was given the green light for his promotional debut. Carlos Condit checked in at a fit and ready 170.5 pounds for his welterweight main event against Martin Kampmann (170) at UFC Fight Night 18 on Wednesday at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. Twenty of the 22 other men booked to compete also tipped the scales without incident at Tuesday’s official weigh-in. Jeremy Stephens (158) and Gleison Tibau (156.5) failed to make weight for their scheduled lightweight tilt. They agreed instead to meet at a 158-pound catchweight. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFC Fight Night In-Depth: Kampmann vs. Condit
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com Former World Extreme Cagefighting champion Carlos Condit makes his dive into the deep end of the UFC welterweight pool Wednesday when he takes on newly minted welterweight Martin Kampmann at UFC Fight Night 18 in Nashville, Tenn. Condit will try to prove that he belongs with the elite division, settling the what-if questions of fans who've seen him dominate in his former home as its parent organization looms in the background. It's a riskier fight for Kampmann, who could instantly legitimize himself as a welterweight with a win over Condit, or slide further down the 170-pound ladder. The fight promises fireworks, with both fighters favoring the stand-up game. But don't be surprised if the action goes down and stays there – the stakes of a win are too high to risk quick defeat. Striking Kampmann comes from a European kickboxing and Muay Thai background, and consequently, has a very traditional, upright stance. On the feet, he’s the type of fighter that creeps in and waits for a mistake, waiting for an opportunity to return fire. His approach is often in a straight line, though he makes up for his exposure to punches with good head movement. Still, fighters that move laterally tend to give him more trouble. To counter, he often relies on his legs to do damage, firing off a high kick when opponents move. But it's a push of momentum: an opponent needs to move straight back to fall prey. Because he closes the distance so quickly, the clinch is a frequent position he finds himself in. Whether defending a shot or simply running out of space, he utilizes it to set up takedowns with double underhooks, or work knees to the midsection. Condit approaches the stand-up game in much the same way, though his posture and movement more closely resemble a traditional Muay Thai fighter. Like Kampmann, Condit patiently wades in, waiting for an opportunity to return fire when attacked. His legs are the difference in his striking; they are the cornerstone of his offensive game. Whether it’s a kick targeted at the leg, stomach, or flank, Condit keeps opponents at range with the strikes and baits them into striking exchanges. More importantly, they often set up his offensive work from a plumb, where his sharp knees do much damage. Lately, his boxing technique has grown by leaps and bounds; in his last fight against Hiromitsu Miura, his shoulder rolls and feints, as well as improved footwork, were on display. Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann and the Permanent Vacation
Kampmann comfortable in all phases of UFN 18 bout with Condit
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com For most MMA observers, the main event of Wednsesday's "UFN 18: Condit vs. Kampmann" in Nashville, Tenn., is full of questions. But as one of the bout's competitors, Martin Kampmann (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), his only question is how to finish the fight. "I'm happy either way," Kampmann said. "I'm going to try to knock [opponent Carlos Condit] out because the fight starts on the feet. But if that's not going to happen, then I'm going to try and submit him." The bout represents an interesting matchup for many reasons. Kampmann had a successful run in the UFC at 185 pounds before recently dropping to the welterweight division. Condit (22-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will be making his UFC debut after the WEC dropped the welterweight division with the "Natural Born Killer" reigning as champion. Both fighters have great striking ability, but each have shown a penchant for success on the ground. But Kampmann believes he's found Condit's Achilles' heel while working to improve his own overall game. "Lately I've been working a lot on my wrestling," Kampmann said. "That's really been one of my main focuses, is to improve my wrestling. I think it's definitely improved, but there's still a long way to go, of course. "I try to be all-around, and I try to work on all aspects of the game. My striking still needs to improve. I get sloppy sometimes and get punched in the head too much. I go home and I say, '[Expletive], I've got to start moving my head.' And also my [jiu-jitsu], I get caught. "But my wrestling has been my main focus lately. That's what I've been working a lot on. Condit, I think that's one of his main weaknesses, too, is his wrestling." Despite a unanimous decision win over current middleweight challenger Thales Leites in 2006, Kampmann has yet to nail down a signature win in his otherwise successful UFC run. The Danish striker believes Condit's notoriety as the final WEC 170-pound champion may help provide that milestone. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann "Coming to Nashville"
Originally posted on PunchDrunkGamer.com PunchDrunkGamer's Justin Bolduc sat down with UFC veteran Martin Kampmann to discuss his upcoming UFC Fight Night 18 bout with former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit on April 1 in Nashville, TN. PDG: You have a pretty big fight coming up with the WEC welterweight champion, and a lot of people consider him top ten in the division, Carlos Condit; what are your thoughts on him and what are you doing to prepare for him? Martin: I'm working on my stand-up, wrestling, and ground like always – I'm working on everything. Of course there are some things [Carlos] is good at. He's long and he has dangerous knees. He throws a lot of kicks and he is dangerous off his back. We've been working on that, but I've been doing what I always do and working on everything. PDG: How are you feeling now down at 170 pounds and is cutting the weight easy for you? Martin: It is very easy for me now. When I did my first cut I dropped so much weight that I haven't really put it all back on now. I'm walking around really light right now, even for [welterweight]. I'm trying to put some more weight on. PDG: What are you walking around at now? Martin: Right now I'm at 182 [pounds]. PDG: Oh, wow. Martin: Yeah, pretty light. So I'm trying to put some more weight on and not be so skinny! PDG: You had the successful fight in Ireland against Alexandre Barros; what were you able to take away from that 170-pound fight? Martin: I made a couple of mistakes in that fight. I tried to do a stupid takedown and ended up on the bottom. Just small things like that I did that I can come back to the gym and work on. Click here to read the entire article at PunchDrunkGamer.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Benji Radach and Martin Kampmann join MMAweeklyradio this Week
Martin Kampmann Talks Carlos Condit
Martin Kampman on the MMA Ring Report Podcast
Martin Kampman joined Arnold Lim on the MMA Ring Report Podcast and talked about his upcoming UFC Fight Night main event tilt against Carlos Condit, his predicitons on some of the UFC's upcoming main event fights, and some of the meager jobs he held before becoming a UFC fighter. Click here for the full interviewLabels: Martin Kampmann
Sommet Center to host UFC Fight Night 18 weigh-ins on March 31st
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com The Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., the home to the April 1 UFC Fight Night 18 event, will also play host to the event's official fighter weigh-ins. Weigh-ins take place on Tuesday, March 31, from 4 to 6 p.m. EST (3 to 5 p.m. CST local time). UFC Fight Night 18, which airs on Spike TV, features a main event between UFC veteran Martin Kampmann and the final WEC welterweight champion and recent UFC arrival Carlos Condit. As always the weigh-ins are free and open to the public. The first of the night's 24 competitors will hit the scale at 5 p.m. EST. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Kampmann Focused Condit's Welcome to UFC
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com The bar for success was set pretty high early on in Martin Kampmann's career. Whether it was stepping up on short notice or fighting in the middleweight division despite giving up size to a great many opponents, he was never a fighter to back down from a good challenge. The "Hitman" is ready to set that bar a little bit higher for his next fight, a main event tilt against the last ever WEC welterweight champion, Carlos Condit, in the headline fight for Spike TV's UFC Fight Night 18 event on April 1. While the move to the welterweight division made sense for Kampmann, who was arguably one of the smaller 185-pounders competing in the UFC, his string of wins over fighters like Thales Leites and Drew McFedries left no doubts that the Danish born fighter could go toe to toe with the best in the world. Following a TKO loss to Nate Marquardt in September 2008, the decision was made for Kampmann to move to the 170-pound weight class where he would finally be the bigger man in the fight. As he told MMAWeekly Radio recently, he made the cut with little problem. "That cut was no problem at all. It felt good fighting at 70, and I actually cut too much weight, I weighed in at 168," Kampmann commented. "I felt strong, I felt fast, I felt good. So no problem there." Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann in Studio for Today's MMAjunkie.com Radio
Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann Exclusive Interview
Originally posted on the theMMAfiend.com Martin Kampmann (14-2, 5-1 UFC) burst onto the UFC scene back in 2006 as a late replacement against Crafton Wallace at UFC Fight Night 6. Though he took the fight on short notice, the former Cage Warriors Middleweight champion (2005), FB-Submission Wrestling Tournament Champ +77 kg class (2004), Battle of the Vikings Thai Boxing Superfight Champ (2004), and Danish Thai Boxing Champion(2001) finished the fight within the first round by submission. Following his successful debut Martin put the UFC Middleweight division on notice, defeating current challenger to the belt Thales Leites by unanimous decision at The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale, and submitting heavy-handed Drew McFedries via arm triangle in the first round after a back and forth battle at UFC 68. Martin’s career hit a speed bump, however, when he was forced to pull out of a scheduled headlining fight against former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin at UFC 72. Following a rehabilitation period that had him sitting on the sidelines for over a year, Martin returned at UFC 85, submitting veteran Jorge Rivera by guillotine choke - another submission win in the first round. But after tough set back to Nate Marquardt at UFC 88, Kampmann decided to drop from the Middleweight division to fight as a Welterweight. No longer would he be one of the smaller guys in the division; at 170, he is huge. He successfully made his Welterweight debut with a dominant TKO victory over Alexandre Barros at UFC 95, and now that he has found his home in the stacked division, he is ready to make a statement. Martin will have his chance at the upcoming Ultimate Fight Night 18 on April 1st as he welcomes Carlos Condit, who was the WEC WW champ before the organization folded the division into the UFC a few months ago. We recently caught up with Martin and talked with him about his upcoming fight with Condit as well as how he deals with pressure, what he does for fun when he’s not training like a madman at Xtreme Couture, his opinion on the upcoming super fight between Champion Georges St-Pierre and Thiago Alves, and much more. The MMA Fiend: Alright, I’ll just get right into it. You mentioned that - Martin Kampmann: It’s not radio, right? No, it’s not radio. Cuz I’m almost done with my burrito here, so I hope you don’t mind if I’m finishing it up. No, man, go ahead, enjoy. How is your training going for your upcoming fight? Good, man. I went sparring today, and it’s going down really good. Without giving away your gameplan, how are you approaching this fight with Condit? I’m just looking at what he’s good at. He’s got dangerous submissions from the ground, and he’s got dangerous knees in the clinch. And he’s got long, lanky arms and dangerous stand-up. He’s got a long reach. So that’s pretty much what I am trying to work on, you know, to come up with a plan to put him away. This is your second fight at 170, are you comfortable making the weight now? Is it pretty easy for you? Yeah, no problem at all, it’s very easy. ************ (laughs) Awesome. Before we go, do you have any sponsors you’d like to thank? Thanks to Hitman Fight Gear, they give me some cool stuff to wear. Thanks to Xtreme Couture for giving me a cool place to train, and thanks to MMA Agents (mmaagents.com). Alright, Martin, I appreciate the interview. Thanks for having me. Click here to read the entire article at theMMAfiend.comLabels: Martin Kampmann, MMAagents
UFC Fight Night 18: Kampmann vs. Condit Preview Video
Martin Kampmann vs. Carlos Condit: Let the Judges Take the Night Off
Originally posted on BleacherReport.com When you have monikers like “Hitman” and “Natural Born Killer” meeting inside the octagon, it’s safe to assume the crowd won’t be booing. Carlos “Natural Born Killer” Condit and Martin “Hitman” Kampmann have traveled down different roads in their respective MMA careers. On Apr. 1, those roads will converge, when Condit and Kampmann collide in the main event at Ultimate Fight Night 18, shown free on Spike TV... Kampmann started his UFC career as a sinewy middleweight and in his sophomore performance out struck Thales Leites en route to a convincing decision victory. Martin went on to win his next two fights before running into a roadblock known as Nate “The Great” Marquardt. Marquardt peppered Kampmann with punches for just over a minute before the Danish born fighter crumpled to the canvas floor. The loss prompted his move to welterweight, which he received encouragement for, from many of his teammates, including team leader Randy Couture. Kampmann picked apart unknown Brazilian Alexandre Barros in his first fight at welterweight. Barros, who was making his UFC debut, was no match for Kampmann’s sophisticated striking assault, which facilitated a second round TKO victory. With the win, Kampmann improved his overall record to 14-2, 6-1 with the UFC. Martin has been involved in one fight that went to the judges' scorecards, which was against Thales Leites. It is safe to say that the fight on Apr. 1 is expected to be the biggest in both fighters’ careers. Click here to read the entire article at BleacherReport.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Between Rounds Radio: UFN 17's Condit, Kampmann
Carlos Condit, Martin Kampmann, Bruce Buffer and Robert Drysdale are on this week's edition of Between Rounds. Condit, the final WEC welterweight champ, makes his UFC debut against Kampmann on Wednesday, April 1 in the main event of UFC Fight Night 18 in Nashville Tennessee. Click here to hear the entire show at MMAfighting.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFC Fight Night 18 headliner Martin Kampmann - PRO MMA exclusive interview
Originally posted on proMMA.info PRO MMA’s (promma.info) Tim Thompson spoke with Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann (14-2) yesterday regarding his upcoming fight with former WEC Welterweight Champion, Carlos Condit (22-4), at UFC Fight Night 18 set for April 1st in Nashville, Tennessee. Kampmann is currently 5-1 in the UFC with his only loss coming from Nate Marquardt (28-8-2) at UFC 88. Kampmann has wins in the UFC over Alexander Barros, Jorge Rivera, Drew McFedries, Crafton Wallace, and number one middleweight contender, Thales Leites. Kampmann has only gone to decision one time in his career and it was a unanimous win over Thales Leites at The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale. Coincidentally, his upcoming opponent, Condit, also has only one decision (a loss). Kampmann shares his thoughts on how he feels he matches up with Condit, what fans can expect to see when the two face off in the Octagon, why he dropped to welterweight, and many more topics. Click here to listen to the entire interview at proMMA.infoLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFC Fight Night 18: Martin Kampmann preparing for war against Carlos Condit
 Originally posted on MMAmania.com Hard-hitting UFC welterweight Martin Kampmann breaks down his main event match at UFC Fight Night 18: “Condit vs. Kampmann,” featuring the Octagon debut of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Welterweight Champion and top-ranked 170-pound fighter Carlos Condit. The SpikeTV telecast is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on April 1 from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Click here to read the entire article at MMAmania.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Check Out These MMAagents' Fighters
 Looking for an interview? Contact Joe Kalawi at Joe@MMAagents.com. Any sponsorship inquiries can be sent to Danny@MMAagents.com. Please be advised the following fighters are available for interviews with regards to their upcoming bouts. The fighters have been listed chronologically with the soonest fight card first: Rob McCullough, Mike Budnik, James Thompson, Sean Salmon, Marc Cofer, Brandon Lee Hinkle, Martin Kampmann, Joe Scarola, and Josh Hendricks. “Razor” Rob McCullough returns to action after his fight of the year quality match. This time Rob faces Marcus “The Wrecking Ball” Hicks at WEC 39 on 3/1/09 in Corpus Christi, TX. Hicks brings an impressive 8-1 record into this bout with no fights going the distance. This match will help determine who is next in line for a shot at the WEC lightweight title. “Razor” has been training hard at Xtreme Couture for this bout and looks to showcase new skills in this bout. Mike “Wildfire” Budnik, a nine-time X Games inline skating medalist, is set to face John Franchi in a lightweight match at WEC 39 on 3/01/09. “Wildfire” brings an exciting and impressive 7-1 MMA record to this bout with only one of his fights going the distance. Budnik has shown slick submission skills and dangerous striking in his 8 fights. John Franchi is an exciting IFL veteran with a 4-0 record. 2 of his wins have come by submission and 2 by TKO. James “The Colossus” Thompson returns to action in Japan’s World Victory Road against “Big” Jim York on 3/20/09. Over 500 lbs of fighting mass will collide in the ring. In their combined 34 fights, only 1 match has gone the distance. Look for fireworks since both heavyweights are coming off losses. Sean Salmon is set to face Lucio Linhares in the main event of Fight Festival 25 in Helsinki, Finland on 3/14/09. Salmon is looking to improve his 15-6 record and Linhares would like to continue to make a name for himself internationally in this middleweight bout. Undefeated 3-0 Marc Cofer will also be competing on the Fight Festival 25 card in Finland on 3/14/09. He will be tested against 9-1 Timo Suhonen in this middleweight bout. Heavyweight UFC veteran Brandon Lee Hinkle is fighting in the main event at SNBCMMA: Beatdown 4 in New Town, ND against Chris Tuchscherer on 3/21/09. Tuchscherer has a 15-1 record and was a finalist in the YAMMA Pit Fighting inaugural tournament. Hinkle is fresh off a victory over Roman Zentsov and looks to rack up another W against a game challenger. Martin “Hitman” Kampmann steps up his welterweight competition as he faces WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit in the main event at UFC Fight Night 18 on 4/01/09. Kampmann’s impressive 14-2 record is full of exciting finishes, in fact, only 1 of his fights has gone the distance. The same can be said about Condit’s 22-4 record. This fight has knockout of the night and fight of the night written all over it. TUF alumn Joe Scarola returns to action at MMA Big Show in Bellaterra, IN on 4/11/09 against newcomer Rocky Bowman. With a 4-1 record, all wins by submission, Scarola will likely utilize his solid Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu background to submit Rocky. UFC veteran Josh Hendricks will take on Brian Heden at the main event in the MMA Big Show event on 4/11/09. Hendricks has a 15-5 record with 10 wins by submission and Heden is 10-6. Labels: Brandon Lee Hinkle, James Thompson, Joe Scarola, Josh Hendricks, Marc Cofer, Martin Kampmann, Mike Budnik, Rob McCullough
UFC Fight Night 18 fight card complete with 11 total bouts
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com The Ultimate Fighting Championship has officially revealed four additional preliminary fights for its upcoming April 1 UFC Fight Night 18 card at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. As we previously reported, the Spike TV-televised main card features a main event between final WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (22-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and Martin Kampmann (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC). The full card now includes: MAIN CARD (Televised) Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Kampmann vs. Condit signed for UFC Fight Night 18 main event
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Less than 24 hours after the WEC officially scrapped a March 1 co-main event between welterweight champion Carlos Condit (22-4) and challenger Brock Larson (24-2), the organization may be taking the preliminary steps in eliminating the entire 170-pound division. Sources close to the event have alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Condit has signed on for an April 1 main-event bout with Martin Kampmann (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC). Fiveouncesofpain.com first reported the possibility of the bout for UFC Fight Night 18, tentatively scheduled for Nashville, Tenn. ........... Kampmann will be making his second appearance in the UFC's welterweight division. Despite cutting little -- if any -- weight in previous contests, the Danish striker compiled a 4-1 record in the organization's middleweight division. The Xtreme Couture fighter elected to drop to welterweight after a September 2008 loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 88. Kampmann earned a second-round TKO win over UFC newcomer Alexandre Barros earlier this month at UFC 93 in his first bout in the 170-pound division. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
WEC likely to eliminate 170-pound class; Kampmann vs. Condit- Possible UFC Matchup?
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Cancellation of Condit vs. Larson II was first reported by fiveouncesofpain.com, which also stated that Condit is headed to the UFC and could headline UFC Fight Night 18 against Martin Kampmann (14-2). ........... His first test in the UFC could be a stiff one. Kampmann, a former UFC middleweight contender, recently dropped to welterweight and scored a second-round TKO of Alexandre Barros. The Xtreme Couture fighter has now won 10 of his past 11 fights, all but one via stoppage. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
UFC 93 Official Weigh-ins Come in Light
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Perhaps the biggest surprise was from the event's preliminary card. Veteran Martin Kampmann, who was making his first cut from middleweight to welterweight, had no problems with the drop and actually weighed three pounds under the 171-pound limit. Although he was noticeably slimmer, fans have no reason to worry. "He got here and started the cut at 173 pounds and just went a little deeper than he needed," his agent, Ken Pavia, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after the weigh in. "The cut was easy, and he's doing really well. No problems at all." Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Ken Pavia, Martin Kampmann
UFC 93 Winners & Losers
Originally posted on Sherdog.com Winners Anyone Nicknamed ‘The Hitman’ It was all aces for both Martin Kampmann and John Hathaway at UFC 93, as they notched impressive and important wins on the undercard. For Kampmann, it was his debut as a welterweight, and against Alexandre Barros he quickly showed that the weight cutting had done nothing to snuff out his livewire offensive arsenal. With all that pressure, at least Kampmann wasn’t a Brit fighting an Irishman in Ireland. That distinction belonged to John Hathaway, who rose to the occasion beautifully in his UFC debut by sending hometown hero Tom Egan to the pub for some counseling. Considering the success these two had, I’d like to announce I shall be known henceforth as Tomas “The Hitman” Rios. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: John Hathaway, Martin Kampmann
Kampmann Shines in Welterweight Debut; Hathaway Triumphant in UFC Debut
Originally posted on Sherdog.com The welterweight division welcomed a new threat at UFC 93. Martin Kampmann took care of business after a slow start to his debut at 170 pounds, as he stopped Brazilian Alexandre Barros on second-round strikes in preliminary action at UFC 93 “Franklin vs. Henderson” on Saturday at the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland. Kampmann (14-2) -- after he recovered from a low blow in the first round -- worked from the clinch early in round two and wound up in top position after the two men hit the mat during a scramble. The 26-year-old Dane peppered Barros with punches, transitioned to full mount and finished him from behind 3:07 into the second period. Based out of Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas, Kampmann has posted 10 wins in 11 fights, losing only to elite middleweight contender Nate Marquardt. The 32-year-old Barros (13-6), meanwhile, had won nine in a row entering the bout but left the Octagon empty handed, having tasted his first defeat since June 2004. Unbeaten John Hathaway, another UFC debutant, fared far better. Despite the hopes of his fellow Irishmen, Thomas Egan was overmatched against Hathaway, as he succumbed to elbow strikes 4:36 into the opening round. The 20-year-old Dublin, Ireland, native fought valiantly to stay on his feet, but he was taken down twice by his undefeated counterpart. Once the battle reached the ground a second time, Hathaway (10-0) moved to side mount. Egan (3-1) then surrendered his back, and subsequent elbows to the head prompted the stoppage, as referee Marc Goddard had no choice but to intervene. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: John Hathaway, Martin Kampmann
Kampmann is Ready for 170
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com After a disappointing showing in his last appearance, newly minted welterweight Martin Kampmann wanted somebody, anybody to fight. It didn’t matter if it was at 170 or 185 pounds – he just wanted another chance. “I (expletive) up, and don’t (expletive) up next time” was the lesson Nate Marquardt taught him at UFC 88. Going into his fight with Alexandre Barros, Kampmann seems to be more concerned about the Brazilian’s southpaw stature than how he fights. Since Vitor Belfort has been kicking around Xtreme Couture, he’s gotten more time to acquaint himself to a lefty, but it’s still a learning process. He's been working with resident boxing coach Gil Martinez, who holds the mitts southpaw as he tries to adjust. Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Bloodyknux.Com's UFC 93 Predictions
Originally posted on Bloodyknux.com Martin Kampmann (13-2) vs. Alexandre Barros (13-5) This is Martin Kampmann's first taste of 170 after his disappointing quick loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 88 in September 2008. Previously the Dane had worked his way up through European competition before entering the UFC and comfortably defeating talented fighters like Thales Leites and Jorge Rivera. Now he'll have to keep to his high standards to stay afloat at welterweight. Barros is a slight unknown from Rio de Janeiro but stayed 3 rounds with Matt Hughes, Aaron Riley and Dave Strasser back in 2002. His hands are light but he is clearly durable and tough. Kampmann is a helluva step up for him. While it's difficult to dismiss 'unknown Brazilians' after recently seeing Dos Santos demolish Fabricio Werdum, Kampmann takes his job professionally and will seek to put his name in the hat at WW. His grappling and Muay Thai belts highlight a roundedness that Barros will be unable to handle. Round 1 KO. Tom Egan (3-0) vs. John Hathaway (9-0) I don't know much about 20 year-old Tom Egan. His 3-0 record tells us little except that he likes to throw his hands and is so far successful at it. John Hathaway comes into this welterweight fight full of promise. He ends his fights on the mat, working methodically to pound out the win. Coming through the Cage Rage Contenders ranks untroubled is a clear indicator of his talent. He has come a long way in two years and will continue his progress here. If he can avoid Egan's early combinations, Hathaway should get this fight to the mat, work position and score enough damage on novice Egan to keep the locals jeering the English. First round stoppage win for Hathaway. Click here to read the entire article at BloodyKnux.comLabels: John Hathaway, Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann: “185 or 170, I don’t care”
Martin Kampmann is finally ready to pick on someone his own size. Not that the man nicknamed “The Hitman” has ever made it a habit to pick on smaller men but exactly the opposite. On Saturday night Kampmann will make his welterweight debut against Alexandre Barros who will be making his first appearance in the octagon. Kapmann had previously campaigned at 185 pounds for the bulk of his career but will be moving down to 170 pounds for the match up with Barros. Kampann confessed in an exclusive interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com that there are times at the gym that he walks around lighter than some of the guys that compete at 155 pounds. In today’s age of cutting weight, that’s a problem. “I’ve always been kind of light for a middleweight,” admitted Kampmann. “When I go down to the gym some of the guys that fight at 170 are heavier than me. Even some of the guys that fight at 155, when they’re out of shape, they would be heavier than me. I figured I would give it a try and try the welterweight division out.” Barros has been in the game for more than a decade, went to the third round with former UFC welterweight Champion Matt Hughes back in 2000 and is currently riding a nine fight win streak. Even considering all of these factors it has been extremely difficult for Kampmann to do any homework on his opponent but he has a pretty good idea of what he can expect. “I’ve seen a little video on him but not much,” said Kampmann. “I’m just expecting for him to be a really tough guy.” “He’s been fighting for a long time. He’s been fighting since before I even knew what MMA was. He’s been in the game for a while so I’m expecting a really tough fight.” .......... “I just want to thank all of my fans back home, Hitman Fight Gear for supporting me and MMA Agents for helping me out.” Click here to read the entire article at FiveOuncesofPain.comLabels: Martin Kampmann, MMAagents
Performify's Picks for UFC 93
Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com Kampmann vs. Barros Martin Kampmann (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) looks to rebound from a brutal first-round knockout at the hands of Nate Marquardt at UFC 88. The Danish Muay Thai specialist trains at Xtreme Couture. Alexandre Barros is a Brazilian fighter under Gracie Barra with a 13-5 MMA record and is riding a nine-fight win streak. He holds a black belt in Muay Thai and blue belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. However, Barros is being overrated here in my opinion thanks in no small part to a padded record developed against low- and mid-level Brazilian fighters and very little experience outside of Brazil. His nine-fight win streak includes a 20-month layoff from 2006 to mid-2008, the combined record of those opponents is 65-42, and nine of his past 13 fights have gone to decision. He's also lost all three times he's been outside of Brazil, which included a 2000 fight against Matt Hughes in which Barros submitted due to exhaustion. Kampmann is dropping down to 170 pounds for this fight, and there's certainly a legitimate concern about his first fight cut down from middleweight. However, that is essentially the only real concern I have for this fight. Barros hasn't demonstrated anything of significance in his past fights; he does have decent Muay Thai skills, but Kampmann has a significant reach advantage (Barros is only 5-foot-9) and should be able to leverage that reach advantage to pick apart his opponent and secure a one-sided victory. I predict Kampmann wins by second round TKO in a one-sided fight. Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Sherdog Predicts Hathaway and Kampmann Victories
 Photo and Post courtesty of Sherdog.com John Hathaway vs. Tom Egan The breakdown: This one is simple for Hathaway: Don’t go mucking it all up by trading with Egan. From what I’ve seen of Hathaway’s striking, it’s mostly telegraphed punches that have all the force of a pillow-fight behind them. Keeping the boxing to a minimum would be in the best interests of his baby-face mug. If Hathaway is serious about keeping his teeth securely in his mouth, he needs to get after Egan early with takedowns and swarm his inexperienced quarry with strikes and submission attempts. From there, Hathaway’s strong positioning and accurate striking should be all he needs to tip the balance in favor of the Britons. * * * The bottom line: I’ve never been too keen on doubling down with unproven boxers in MMA, and this bout is no exception. Egan may have the edge on the feet, but he’s not Ireland’s answer to Floyd Mayweather, and Hathaway’s tremendous pace on the mat is something Egan is unprepared for. Irish Mayweather goes down in the first round thanks to British ground-and-pound. Damn, I shouldn’t have read that Ali biography. Martin Kampmann vs. Alexandre Barros The bottom line: In case you haven’t surmised it by now, I think I’ll be picking Kampmann to win this fight pretty easily. The long and short of it is that Barros’ sloppy striking and mediocre grappling are nowhere near enough to make it in the UFC -- a lesson that he’ll learn via knockout. Afterward, expect Kampmann to go after John Hathaway for stealing his nickname. Things will get real ugly, though, when Thomas Hearns and Bret Hart join the fray and we end up with a freestyle tag team match headlining UFC 100. Please believe. Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.comLabels: John Hathaway, Martin Kampmann
Kampmann expects the Unexpected in 170 Debut
 Originally posted on MMAweekly.com Martin Kampmann will be making his welterweight debut against Alexandre Barros at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland. Kampmann had a solid run at middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but after a loss to Nathan Marquardt back in September, he decided to give welterweight a shot. “It's something that I considered for a long time, cutting to 170,” explained Kampmann in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I pretty much walk around at 185 and on weight for the weight class. I didn't really cut weight for 185, so I considered dropping to 170. I got a loss, so I thought I'd give it a try.” “The Hitman” always walked around pretty light at middleweight, but he never saw a reason to drop down a weight class. After all, he was a perfect 4-0 in the Octagon before his loss to Marquardt. There's a famous saying that goes, “If it isn't broke, don't fix it.” Kampmann believed that to be the truth until his recent loss. “A lot of people were telling me to drop down to 170 before the loss, but I was like, don't fix what isn't broken,” he said. “I was doing good. I think I could still do good at 185, but we'll try this out and hopefully I'll be even better at 170.” Some fighters won't even look at the video of a loss, but the Danish fighter did view his first loss in the UFC. That doesn't mean he wants to watch it repeatedly though. “I've seen it, but I don't like watching it to be honest with you. I made a mistake and I shouldn't have been caught the way I did, but I got a little shaky legs and he hurt me. He was really good at keeping the pressure on me once I got hurt. He never let me back in the fight and I give him credit for that. I shouldn't of have been hurt in the first place.” Since Kampmann had never had to drop any weight before, he felt like he should do a test cut. However, after training as rigorously as he does, he found that the weight actually comes off pretty easy for him. “I did a test cut for 170,” said the 26-year-old fighter. “I'm actually really light right now from the training. I don't think it will be any problem cutting to 175.” Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann’s Drop to 170
Originally posted on MMAopinion.com For those who haven’t taken note of Martin Kampmann, you’re missing out. He’s 13-2 in his career, and 4-1 in the UFC. His only loss former #1 contender and King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt. Marquardt is no slouch, but what’s more impressive about Kampmann’s record is that he’s smaller than all of his opponents, and he wins by virtue of superior technique. He’s a fantastic kickboxer with solid ground skills (he’s finished three of his opponents in the UFC by submission). His only real shortcoming has been his lack of power, and he’s seemed completely unable to finish an opponent on his feet since joining the UFC roster, though he’s been perfectly good at hurting them. In dropping to 170, Kampmann may finally be able to starch opponents who will be relatively the same size. At six feet tall, Kampmann will still be lanky and probably slim compared to most opposition, but he won’t look small. Click here to read the entire article at MMAopinion.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
MMAweekly Radio featuring Chris Lytle, Martin Kampmann, and Ken Pavia
Martin Kampmann Confident Heading Into Welterweight Debut
 Originally posted on FightLine.com Martin Kampmann (17-3) has long been considered one of the top middleweight fighters in the world. Going into his fight with Nate Marquardt at UFC, Kampmann had not lost in over 4-years; reeling off nine straight victories over the likes of Thales Leites, Andrew McFedries and Jorge Rivera. But after being overwhelmed by the clearly bigger Marquardt, Kampmann, at the urging of his camp has decided to try his hand at the welterweight division. “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.” Click here to read the entire article at FightLine.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
Martin Kampmann vs Alexandre Barros UFC 93 fight possible Jan. 17
 Originally posted on MMAmania.com Former top middleweight contender Martin Kampmann (13-2) could make his welterweight debut against Octagon newcomer Alexandre Barros (13-5) at UFC 93: “Franklin vs. Henderson” at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on January 17, acoording to MMA Insider Blog. The “Hitman” recently had his nine-fight win streak snapped after getting wrecked by Nate Marquardt in short order via bruising first round technical knockout at UFC 88: “Breakthrough” back in September. It was apparently a wake up call for the Danish kickboxer that perhaps he is better suited to compete in a division 15 pounds lighter. This will mark the first time ever that Kampmann will compete at 170 pounds. And if he is able to adjust and perform well he could facing some top competition in the category sooner rather than later. His possible opponent, Barros, is currently enjoying a streak of nine consecutive victories. In fact, the Brazilian product has not dropped a bout since 2004. He is coming off a unanimous decision win over Udi Lima at Watch Out Combat Show 2 in September. Click here to read the entire article at MMAmania.comLabels: Martin Kampmann
New welterweight Martin Kampmann to meet UFC newcomer at UFC 93
 Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com After a loss to middleweight Nate Marquardt in September at UFC 88, Martin Kampmann will now drop a weight class and make his welterweight debut at UFC 93. The event takes place Jan. 17 at The 02 in Dublin, Ireland. With the night's televised, pay-per-view main card already announced, Kampmann will likely fight on the night's preliminary card. And his manager said it'll likely come against a UFC newcomer. "They haven't (released his opponent)," Ken Pavia of MMAAgents.com told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He is fighting in Ireland definitively, though. There's a couple different guys we're tossing around. They'll be new guys to the UFC." Kampmann (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) debuted in the UFC in 2006 and posted four consecutive victories as a middleweight. The streak, which included a 16-month layoff from March 2007 to June 2008 due to a substantial knee injury, pushed his overall win streak to nine straight wins. After the knee injury, Kampmann defeated Jorge Rivera at UFC 85, but three months later at UFC 88, he suffered an 82-second TKO drubbing to Marquardt. MMAjunkie.com reported after the fight that Kampmann was considering a move to welterweight, and earlier this week, fiveouncesofpain.com reported that his 170-pound debut would come at UFC 93. Although Kampmann was never one of the division's bigger middleweights, the drop to welterweight hasn't been an easy one. "We did a trial cut to 171 (pounds)," Pavia said. "And (Phil) Baroni helped him. He says, 'Kampmann made it.' I said, 'How did he do?' He goes, 'Oh, man. He was a bitch. He was crying. He never cut (weight) before.' I called Kampmann. I go, 'How did the cut go?' He goes, 'Man, I was a bitch. It was terrible.'" Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.comLabels: Ken Pavia, Martin Kampmann
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