Joachim B. Hansen, known by his nickname "Hellboy," is a retired Norwegian mixed martial artist born on May 26, 1979, in Oslo, Norway. Hansen is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in Scandinavian MMA history, having blazed a trail for Nordic fighters on the global stage.
Hansen's passion for martial arts began after watching Jackie Chan films as a youth. He started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 19, and the grappling discipline became a foundational element of his fighting style. He holds a purple belt in BJJ.
His professional MMA career began in 1999, and he quickly made his mark in the Japanese fighting scene. In 2003, Hansen defeated Takanori Gomi to win the Shooto World Lightweight Championship, becoming the first Scandinavian to hold an MMA world title -- a landmark moment for Nordic combat sports. He went on to compete in Pride Fighting Championships before joining DREAM, where he won the 2008 DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix, cementing his legacy as one of the era's top lightweight fighters.
Hansen's professional record stands at 23 wins, 14 losses, and 1 draw, with victories coming by knockout (7), submission (8), and decision (8). He was good friends with fellow Norwegian and BJJ black belt John Olav Einemo, another pioneer who helped put Norwegian martial arts on the world map.
Hansen formally retired from professional MMA in December 2016, leaving behind a legacy as the fighter who proved Scandinavians could compete at the highest levels of the sport.