Martin Kampmann hails from Aarhus, Denmark. As a kid he liked Bloodsport and wanted to learn how to fly through the air and do ninja moves like they do in the movies. So he took up Karate at age 14. From Karate he moved to Thai boxing and began competing both in Thai and Western boxing as an amateur. In 2000 Martin started training in Submission Wrestling with Shooters MMA (a major Martial Arts organization in Europe).

Martin began fighting as an amateur in Shooters MMA where he compiled a record of 8-1. He turned pro in 2003 while in college. It was during this time that a Danish MMA reporter gave him the nickname “Hitman”. The name stuck.

In July 2006 he took a trip to the U.S. to hang with buddy Mike Pyle and train with Team Couture. While in the U.S. the WFA offered him a fight on two days notice. Martin said yes and stopped Edwin Aguilar in the first round due to punches. The UFC took notice and offered him a three-fight deal. The first fight was set for the day he was set to fly back to Denmark. Martin extended his ticket and made his UFC debut (while still an engineering student) on Ultimate Fight Night 6 where he made Crafton Wallace tap to a rear naked choke midway into round one.