Tom Niinimaki Returns at Euro FC 01
Tom Niinimaki Returns at Euro FC 01
By Chamatkar SandhuAfter almost two years away from the sport, former UFC fighter Tom Niinimaki is making a comeback in his home country of Finland as one
By Chamatkar Sandhu
After almost two years away from the sport, former UFC fighter Tom Niinimaki is making a comeback in his home country of Finland as one half of the Euro FC 1 main event in Helsinki this weekend.
Having not been beaten in his home country in nine fights since 2006, the Fin has spent the last few years staying active, but a return to MMA has been playing
on his mind.
"The first year after my UFC contract was cancelled I was just resting," said Niinimaki. "The last year I've been training. Doing BJJ and grappling tournaments, and thinking about coming back."
Euro FC has a Finnish CEO in Jarno Kukila and their inaugural event is taking place in Helsinki so naturally Niinimaki's name up in discussions. He hopes the fans show up for him and his fellow Finnish fighters competing on the card.
"It's a small circle in the Finnish MMA scene," said Niinimaki. "Everyone knows everyone. Hopefully a good atmosphere. I hope people will come and support their favorite athletes."
Euro FC is the latest group to join the list of European based MMA promotions which include BAMMA, Cage Warriors, ACB just to name a few. Niinimaki has been impressed with the outfit, how they've treated him thus far and the way they've run things so far during fight week.
"There's a lot of things that are different," said Niinimaki. "Maybe Euro FC is one of the most professional. Everything is on point and going well. There aren't any
surprises."
Originally scheduled to fight former UFC fighter Johny Bedford, there was change up earlier this week as Bedford had to withdraw due to a neck injury. His replacement is season 12 Ultimate Fighter winner, Jonathan Brookins. For Niinimaki things like this is just business as usual.
"I heard about Bedford during the weekend," said Niinimaki. "Of course I was a bit nervous 'Do I get a fight?'. There was a week to fight day and I was nervous I wouldn't get a fight. But that's the business. The last days of camp are hard and people get injured. I'm used to it. I've been training a long camp, and of course I want to fight. I was just waiting for an opponent."
Brookins in to save the main event has Niinimaki over the moon, but does require a slight change in game plan and strategy.
"Yes, really, really happy," said Niinimaki. "Brookins is a top level fighter with huge wins. The opponent is the opposite of Bedford. Bedford is my height. Right handed. A conservative fighter. Brookins is tall, left-handed, and unorthodox. I never predict the outcomes. I just hope I get a good mood in the cage when the referee says fight. I hope I have a good relaxed mood and we'll see where my instincts take me."
So what does the future hold for the veteran? For now, he's just happy to get back in the game and in a main event spot, in his back yard. One things for sure and that's his commitment to Euro FC.
"I have an exclusive deal with Euro FC," said Niinimaki. "I'm in my mid 30s, so mainly I'm enjoying the fight life. The training. The lifestyle. I enjoy the training, the sweating, eating good, staying healthy. So I'm going to take it one fight at a time."
After almost two years away from the sport, former UFC fighter Tom Niinimaki is making a comeback in his home country of Finland as one half of the Euro FC 1 main event in Helsinki this weekend.
Having not been beaten in his home country in nine fights since 2006, the Fin has spent the last few years staying active, but a return to MMA has been playing
on his mind.
"The first year after my UFC contract was cancelled I was just resting," said Niinimaki. "The last year I've been training. Doing BJJ and grappling tournaments, and thinking about coming back."
Euro FC has a Finnish CEO in Jarno Kukila and their inaugural event is taking place in Helsinki so naturally Niinimaki's name up in discussions. He hopes the fans show up for him and his fellow Finnish fighters competing on the card.
"It's a small circle in the Finnish MMA scene," said Niinimaki. "Everyone knows everyone. Hopefully a good atmosphere. I hope people will come and support their favorite athletes."
Euro FC is the latest group to join the list of European based MMA promotions which include BAMMA, Cage Warriors, ACB just to name a few. Niinimaki has been impressed with the outfit, how they've treated him thus far and the way they've run things so far during fight week.
"There's a lot of things that are different," said Niinimaki. "Maybe Euro FC is one of the most professional. Everything is on point and going well. There aren't any
surprises."
Originally scheduled to fight former UFC fighter Johny Bedford, there was change up earlier this week as Bedford had to withdraw due to a neck injury. His replacement is season 12 Ultimate Fighter winner, Jonathan Brookins. For Niinimaki things like this is just business as usual.
"I heard about Bedford during the weekend," said Niinimaki. "Of course I was a bit nervous 'Do I get a fight?'. There was a week to fight day and I was nervous I wouldn't get a fight. But that's the business. The last days of camp are hard and people get injured. I'm used to it. I've been training a long camp, and of course I want to fight. I was just waiting for an opponent."
Brookins in to save the main event has Niinimaki over the moon, but does require a slight change in game plan and strategy.
"Yes, really, really happy," said Niinimaki. "Brookins is a top level fighter with huge wins. The opponent is the opposite of Bedford. Bedford is my height. Right handed. A conservative fighter. Brookins is tall, left-handed, and unorthodox. I never predict the outcomes. I just hope I get a good mood in the cage when the referee says fight. I hope I have a good relaxed mood and we'll see where my instincts take me."
So what does the future hold for the veteran? For now, he's just happy to get back in the game and in a main event spot, in his back yard. One things for sure and that's his commitment to Euro FC.
"I have an exclusive deal with Euro FC," said Niinimaki. "I'm in my mid 30s, so mainly I'm enjoying the fight life. The training. The lifestyle. I enjoy the training, the sweating, eating good, staying healthy. So I'm going to take it one fight at a time."