Martin Kampmann: If I Feel Like Taking A Fight In A Couple Of Months, I’ll Call Up Joe Silva

Longtime UFC welterweight contender Martin “The Hitman” Kampmann was last seen losing to Carlos Condit via technical knockout at last August’s UFC Fight Night 27 from Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Danish kickboxer stayed out of the limelight for the rest of 2013, and when this year came around, “The Hitman” stated that he wanted to take an extended break from fighting after a nearly 10-year grind. He hasn’t set a timetable for his return, but Kampmann recently told MMAFighting.com that he’s been enjoying his time off by helping other fighters get better and shoring up some business ventures to provide for his family:

“You know, as a fighter you never really want to retire. I’ve always enjoyed fighting. It was a hobby of mine that I was able to make into my living. So I feel very fortunate that I’ve been able to do that.

But, I just knew that I wanted some time off and at the same time I didn’t want to waste it, so I’m pursuing other possibilities that can benefit me and my family for the future. I’ve been coaching. I like to give back to the guys who have the hunger, and the dreams to go out and try to make something of themselves in the sport. Because I started out like that.”

Kampmann’s words portray a man with a clear viewpoint in mind, and it’s never a bad idea to cultivate some other interests outside of fighting .If he doesn’t have the hunger that he once did as a younger competitor, then it’s a good idea to take a step back and focus on helping those who do, something that Kampmann touched on.

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However, that doesn’t mean he is gone for good. Kampmann described the situation by saying he’s just taking a break, noting that he will call the UFC once he feels ready to climb back into the cage:

“You never know. I don’t want to say I’m retired and then six months later come back. I’d rather say I’m taking a break, and if I feel like taking a fight in a couple of months, I’ll call up Joe Silva and I’m sure he’ll have a fight for me.”

And it sounds like he may indeed be coming back, because he detailed some of the things he’s currently working to improve upon from the Condit loss:

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“Usually when I fight I fight very relaxed, sometimes too relaxed and it causes me to get beat up in the first round and I have to come back, but at least I can keep going forever because I start out very relaxed.

That time with Condit, just the opposite. I didn’t come in relaxed, I was amping myself and going hard from the beginning. In return I didn’t last the whole time. I’ve got to find a happy medium, a middle ground somewhere.”

Kampmann found a bit of a rough patch in his last two UFC fights, getting knocked out by Johny Hendricks in the fight directly before his bout with Condit. Prior to that, however, Kampmann had racked up an impressive three-fight win streak over solid competition in Rick Story, Thiago Alves, and Jake Ellenberger.

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He most likely still has the skills to contend with most of the elite in the toughest division in all of MMA. But will he find the motivation to come back and do just that?