Joachim Christensen (born November 7, 1978) is a retired Danish

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

. He was the Superior Challenge light heavyweight champion, as well as the German Mixed Martial Arts Championship (GMC) light heavyweight champion. He also competed in the

light heavyweight Light heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Professional In professional boxing, the division is above and up to , falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight (boxing), cruiserweight. The light heavyweight class has ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC). He currently signed to

Absolute Championship Berkut Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), formerly known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), is a Chechen mixed martial arts, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu organization and one of the leading promotions in Europe. To date, most events have been ...

(ACB).

Background

Christensen was born and raised in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

, Denmark. He worked as a social worker and served in the Denmark Army while fighting professionally.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Christensen fought in European fight circuit and Middle East MMA promotions such as Adrenaline, Fighter Gala and Royal Arena promotions, Hard Fighting Championship, Cage, European MMA, Superior Challenge, German MMA, Abu Dhabi Warriors and M1 Challenge prior joining UFC. He was the Scandinavian and European C-Shoto champion.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After being one of the top ranked light heavyweight fighter in Europe, Christensen was signed by UFC on late 2016 at the age of 37. Christensen amassed a record of 14-3-0 prior signed by

(UFC).

2016

Christensen made his promotional debut at October 1, 2016, at UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson. He lost the fight to Henrique da Silva after da Silva locked an arm bar and submitted him.

2017

Christensen next faced Bojan Mihajlović at UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn on January 17, 2017. He won the fight after threw an upper cut and knocked out Mihajlović on round three. On May 13, 2017, Christensen faced

Gadzhimurad Antigulov Gadzhimurad Antigulov (born January 1, 1987) is a Russian mixed martial artist who currently competing in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional since 2009, he has fought for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), M-1 Global, and Abso ...

UFC 211 ''UFC 211: Miocic vs. dos Santos 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on May 13, 2017, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Background The event was the fourth that the UFC has host ...

. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke on round one. Christensen was expected to face promotional newcomer

Azamat Murzakanov Azamat Anzorovich Murzakanov (; born April 12, 1989) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 10, 2025, he is #11 in the UFC ...

on June 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Lee. However, Murzakanov was removed from the fight for undisclosed reasons and replaced by

Dominick Reyes Dominick Reyes (born December 26, 1989) is an American professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light heavyweight (MMA), Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of Ap ...

. Christensen lost the fight via TKO on round one.

Absolute Championship Berkut

Christensen joined

(ABC) and his debut was on November 24, 2017, at ACB 75: Gadzhidaudov vs. Zieliński against Döwletjan Ýaşgymyradow from

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...

. He lost the fight on round one via knock out.

Return To German MMA Championship

After a one fight stint in ACB, Christensen returned to the GMC and faced Stephan Puetz for the GMC light heavyweight championship on March 23, 2019, at GMC 19 in

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

European circuit

Christensen faced Miloš Petrášek at Oktagon 15 on November 9, 2019. He won the fight via majority decision. Christensen was scheduled to face Łukasz Sudolski at Babilon MMA 20 on March 26, 2021. He pulled out of the bout after falling sick the day of the bout. Christensen faced Evgeniy Erokhin at an Parus FC event on November 6, 2021. He lost the bout via ground and pound in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

*Superior Challenge ** Light Heavyweight Champion (One times) vs. Matti Makela *** One successful title defense vs. Max Nunes *German MMA Championship ** Won the German MMA Championship Light Heavyweight title (One time) vs. Jonas Billstein

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, 15–9 , Evgeny Erokhin , TKO (punches) , MFP Parus Fight Championship , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:34 ,

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Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (; ; born 22 May 1989) is a Turkmenistani mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he is the current light heavyweight champion. He h ...

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Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Oklahoma, most populous city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat ...

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, Submission (rear-naked choke) ,

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:21 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 14–4 , Bojan Mihajlović , TKO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 2:05 ,

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 13–4 , Henrique da Silva , Submission (armbar) , UFC Fight Night: Lineker vs. Dodson , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:47 ,

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–3 ,

Anthony Ruiz Anthony Ruiz (born November 3, 1977) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight divisions of MMA. A professional since 2003, he has competed for Bellator MMA, Strikeforce (mixed m ...

, Submission (armbar) , Abu Dhabi Warriors 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:47 ,

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

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Castrop-Rauxel Castrop-Rauxel (), often simply referred to as Castrop by locals, is a former coal mining city in the eastern part of the Ruhr Area within the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. Geography Castrop-Rauxel is located in Germany between Dort ...

, Germany , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3 , Max Nunes , Decision (split) , Superior Challenge 12 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Malmö Malmö is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, third-largest city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg, and the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, sixth-largest city in Nordic countries, the Nordic region. Located on ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 , Matti Makela , Decision (Split) , Superior Challenge 10 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Helsingborg Helsingborg (, , ), is a Urban areas in Sweden, city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Scania County, Scania (Skåne), Sweden. It is the second-largest city in Scania (after Malmö) and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, ninth ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 9–3 , Stephan Puetz , Decision (Split) , European MMA 8 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Hovedstaden The Capital Region of Denmark (, ) is the easternmost administrative region of Denmark, and contains Copenhagen, the national capital. The Capital Region has 29 municipalities and a regional council consisting of 41 elected members. As of 1 ...

, Denmark , , - , Loss , align=center, 8–3 , Marcus Vänttinen , Decision (Split) , Cage 23 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Vantaa Vantaa (; , ) is a city in Finland. It is located to the north of the capital, Helsinki, in southern Uusimaa. The population of Vantaa is approximately . It is the most populous municipality in Finland. Vantaa is part of the Helsinki Metropoli ...

, Finland , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 , Matti Makela , Decision (unanimous) , Royal Arena 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Denmark , , - , Loss , align=center, 7–2 ,

Maxim Grishin Maxim Grishin (born 2 May 1984) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional since 2008, he has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was the former M-1 ...

, Decision (Majority) , M-1 Challenge 32 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

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, Denmark , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 , Pierre Guillet , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , Fighter Gala 23 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:55 ,

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Martigny Martigny (; , ; ) is the capital city of the district of Martigny (district), Martigny, cantons of Switzerland, canton of Canton of Valais, Valais, Switzerland. It lies at an elevation of , and its population is approximately 20,000 inhabitants ( ...

, Switzerland , , - , Win , align=center, 4–1 , Rowan Tol , TKO (punches) , Fighter Gala 16 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:55 ,

Helsingør Helsingør ( , ; ), classically known in English as Elsinore ( ), is a coastal city in northeastern Denmark. Helsingør Municipality had a population of 63,953 on 1 January 2025, making it the 23rd most populated municipality in Denmark. Helsin ...

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Hvidovre Hvidovre is the main town in Hvidovre Municipality, Denmark. The town, a suburb of Copenhagen, is about 10 km southwest of the capital's center. It is the 2nd biggest suburb of Copenhagen, only beaten by Frederiksberg. History Hvidovre has ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Christensen, Joachim Living people 1978 births Light heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Danish male mixed martial artists Danish practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu Martial artists from Copenhagen Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters