UFC’s Martin Kampmann not retiring, but after concussions, in ‘no rush’ to return
UFC welterweight Martin Kampmann is burned out, in need of time away from the daily grind of being a high-level MMA fighter. That’s why he’s taking an undetermined hiatus from competition.
To be clear Kampmann (20-7 MMA, 11-6 UFC) isn’t retiring, but after four fights in 17 months, the past two of which resulted in knockout losses, “The Hitman†has decided some personal time is a necessity.
“I’ve had a lot of tough fights, and even the ones I win, I sometimes make them tough for myself,†Kampmann told MMAjunkie Radio. “I’m just taking a long break. No rush to get back in the cage. Let my body recover and get good.
“I’m just going to kick back, and whenever I feel like coming back, I’ll come back.â€
With the 11-year anniversary of his MMA debut quickly approaching, Kampmann has started to realize how much of his life has been dedicated to combat sports in general. By no means does the Danish athlete have regrets about his career choice, but at the same time, he’s aware his passion isn’t the same as what it once was. In his opinion, that’s one telltale sign to take some time off.
“I enjoy fighting, but I’ve just had my 10-year anniversary as a professional fighter,†Kampmann said. “I feel a little burned out right now. That’s why I’m taking a break. I don’t want to get in there unless I feel like it. I love training, I love fighting, but I want to have the fire again to go in. If I don’t have the fire, then I think that means I need to take a break.â€
After being on the receiving end of highlight-reel knockouts to top 170-pound contenders Johny Hendricks and Carlos Condit in consecutive fights, Kampmann was even further convinced that jumping back into the cage would be a foolish mistake.
The reality of the situation is that Kampmann has been stopped with strikes in five of his seven career defeats. Ultimately that punishment catches up with a fighter, and Kampmann recognizes that. He said not feeling fully mentally cognizant only backed up his decision not to fight for a while.
“I’ve had my share of concussions, and sometimes I didn’t take the correct amount of time, and that catches up to you,†Kampmann said. “I feel OK. I’ve been better, but I feel I want to take a break. That’s why I’m taking a break.â€
Kampamnn has been a mainstay on the UFC roster since his promotional debut in 2006, having fought 17 times with the promotion to date.
Even though he has accomplished more than a majority of the athletes in the sport ever will, Kampmann insists there’s still gas left in the tank and that the break isn’t a retirement. It’s more the chance to get healthy, rediscover his motivation and even pursue other aspects of life he enjoys.
“I’m not retiring yet,†Kampmann said. “I’m trying to pursue other things right now too. I’m not training so much. I’ve been in the gym coaching some guys, probably going to corner some guys coming up, and also I’m starting an affiliation program to certify trainers and gyms under me, so I’m helping the MMA program.â€
While Kampmann is more than content with his decision to put his gloves aside for the time being, he does still have goals and aspirations in life that can only be fulfilled by stepping in the cage. One such goal is to get a fight with now former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who also recently walked away from the sport with no clear timetable for a return.
The fight with St-Pierre may be more unrealistic than ever before, but Kampmann says a matchup with “Rush†has eluded him for so long that he would jump at that opportunity.
“I’d still love to fight GSP since he’s been at the top of the division for long time,†Kampmann said. “He’s always been there, and I’ve always been at the top, but every time I’ve gotten close to a title shot, I’ve kind of f–ked up.
“Of course I’d still love the opportunity, but it looks like it’s never going to happen now. I’m not fighting anytime soon, and he’s not fighting any time soon.â€
Kampmann has never had the chance to compete for a UFC title, so the opportunity remains a huge motivating factor at this point in his career. With St-Pierre out of the welterweight title picture for the foreseeable future, the division is unpredictable. The possibilities intrigue Kampmann, especially because he’s already fought most of the division’s top contenders.
“There’s a big shakeup [in the welterweight division], and that also gives the desire to come in and fight again,†Kampmann said. “I’ve been close to the top several times, but I’ve been able to maintain a top ranking for a lot of years. I’ve fought a lot of tough guys.â€
As of now, Kampmann doesn’t know when he’ll fight again, but he’s almost certain that fans haven’t seen the last of him inside the octagon.
“I think when I make the decision not to fight, I’m not going to fight at all,†he said. “I’m just taking a break, and I think in the past, I should have taken more breaks because it catches up to you.
“Once I retire, I’m going to retire. You stick to it once you make the decision.â€
