After knockout win over Jake Ellenberger, Martin Kampmann wants to work on getting hit less

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Martin Kampmann's win over Jake Ellenberger on Friday night at "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" Finale didn't come without a price. The welterweight continued a string of slow starts, getting knocked down in the first round, then bloodied and beaten in the second before finally bouncing back with a huge flurry of knees against the cage.

The knockout win was a huge statement as to his place in the welterweight division, but there's one thing in particular he'd like to improve upon after notching the win.

"I would definitely prefer to get hit less," Kampmann said after the fight in an interview with MMAJunkie.com. "I don't know [why I start so slow] – [expletive] stupid. I've got to work on it. I've got to get Ray [Sefo] to punch me more in the [locker room] – more than he already does. But Jake, he's a beast, and he can definitely throw a punch. That definitely woke me up."

The welterweight Title picture is a bit murky at the moment, with Interim Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit holding out for a returning Georges St-Pierre, while Johny Hendricks moved his name into the mix with back to back wins over John Fitch and Josh Koscheck. For Kampmann, he'll be happy to get a fight against any of them.

"Of course my goal is to fight for the title," Kampmann said. "That's where I want to go. Johny's got some great wins, too. If I have to fight him to get that shot, then that's what we'll do. But of course, I'd love to get the fight with Condit or GSP or the winner of that fight."

"I'm going to have to take some time off to heal up and go back to Denmark for a little summer vacation. I look forward to that, but I definitely want to fight for the title."

Penick's Analysis: Kampmann definitely needs to find a way to strike first, rather than being the one to weather the storm in order to come back. Against an improved Carlos Condit, who he barely edged by split decision three years ago, he's not going to be given the same openings that Thiago Alves or Ellenberger left open for him. Hendricks would make for a very interesting opponent in a No. 1 contender fight, and it's a little crazy that Kampmann's moved himself into position to be in a No. 1 contender fight. Friday's win was fantastic, though, and he'll have earned it if he can get past Hendricks.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13501.shtml

Josh Burkman  Mikey Burnett  Murilo Bustamante  Grant Campbell