Martin Kampmann recently inked a new four-fight contract extension with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), according to FiveOuncesOfPain.com, ensuring that the Danish striker continues to throw down inside the Octagon against top flight competition.
However, “The Hitman” will do it as a welterweight — the former top middleweight contender will follow in the footsteps of Mike Swick and try his luck in the 170-pound division.
Kampmann was always undersized at 185 pounds. It didn’t stop him, however, from stringing together four consecutive UFC wins, including a unanimous decision over current top 185 performer, Thales Leites, back in November 2006.
His lack of size and strength really came into focus in his most recent tilt against Nate Marquardt at UFC 88: “Breakthrough” two months ago. Marquardt overpowered and bullied Kampman en route to a crushing 82-second first round technical knockout.
It marked the first loss for the X-Treme Couture-trained fighter inside the Octagon and just the second of his career.
Kampmann will certainly add more depth to the talent-laden welterweight division. His road to an eventual title shot, unfortunately for him, is likely now much longer. But it’s not crazy to assume that he could be in the thick of things sooner rather than later with a few impressive wins.
There is no timetable for his welterweight debut at this time.
