| Jon
Olav Einemo 
He's
the big guy bottom left by
Carl Fisher 18 June 2003 Jon
Olav Einemo is a giant Š both in physical size and in his status as a grappler;
hailing from Norway, Einemo blazed a trail at the 2002 Mundials in the blue belt
Absolute division winning five fights out of six via submission. Such is his fearsome
reputation in the NHB scene, no opponent was willing to step into the ring at
Finnfight 5 in 2001 Š wise men indeed, as when one actually meets Einemo face
to face ringside, he clearly casts a menacing figure. Einemo has been dogged by
niggling injuries since his appearance at ADCC 2001, yet this did not stop him
travelling to Brazil this year to enter and win the 99k division, taking out black
belts Roger Gracie and Cacareco along the way, a feat that even Einemo finds incredible
and it is this humbleness and lack of ego that separates him from the pack Š meet
Jon Olav outside of the ring and you will meet a quiet and polite young man, but
step into the cage with him and itÕs a different story, as Evert Fyeet found out
to his cost in the recent Shooto Cold War event in Finland, earlier this year
- read on and enjoy.
CF:
Jon, congratulations for your victory in Brazil this year from myself and many
of the fans in Europe and Japan Š please tell all! Jon
Olav Einemo : First of all thank you, itÕs nice to know I have fans out there;
I had four fights, the first guy was Brandon Welsh from the US, a wrestler. We
started standing for a few minutes and I pulled guard and he tried to stand up
in the guard and I caught him with a straight arm bar from the guard; the second
fight was with the Australian, Popadopolous and that lasted three minutes I think.
I took him down quite early but we went off the mats and we went back to the middle,
standing; he tried to take me down and I sprawled and I went to the side to take
his back and choked him out. The next fight was my hardest and that was with Roger
Gracie and it went to OT onto points, it started I think that I took him down
and passed the guard and I was in side mount a while and he tried to escape, but
as he turned I took his back and I had a standing back mount for maybe a few minutes
and he turned me and I went under his guard and I flipped him again and I go over
him and went for his back again and I really donÕt recall everything but I think
I got turned again and at the last minute I was working my guard and he was trying
to pass and at the end I won with two points. CF:
How did you react, knowing you were in the finals? Jon
Olav Einemo : It was great you know as it was a very hard day, the first two fights
were OK as they did not last long, but after the third fight with Roger I was
very tired, but it was a good feeling to know you were in the finals and I would
be facing Cacareco again, the guy I lost against in 2001. CF:
So you were looking for revenge?
Jon Olav Einemo : Oh yeah (laughs) well I had my chance at least you know, so
we went home and relaxed and came back the next day and tried to chill out and
when I went on the mats I wanted to be more tactical than the last time; we almost
went the distance nineteen minutes and forty seconds, but there wasnÕt a lot to
look at in the fight as he didnÕt really want to fight, he was stalling a lot
you know and we did about seven or eight minutes standing and then I went for
the takedown and then I was in the open guard for most of the match so we both
got minus points, him for passivity and me for going to the guard, which I found
a little confusing, as I really made the takedown but when he defended I had to
go back. In the early stages of the fight he tried to pass my guard and I almost
took his back and right at the end he tried again and this time I got his back
and choked him out and he tapped, a major feeling, like a dream. CF:
Did you party afterwards? Jon
Olav Einemo : A little bit, not too much CF
: Did you meet the Sheik? Jon
Olav Einemo : No, I donÕt think he was there to be honest, as I didnÕt see him,
just all the fighters. CF:
How long did you stay in Brazil? Jon
Olav Einemo : We came out a few days before the event and after that we went to
Rio and had nine days there and I trained a few times at MarceloÕs place, just
easy. CF:
How did this year compare to the 2001 event? Jon
Olav Einemo : It was good but of course but it was more luxurious in Abu Dhabi;
there was a lot of stress in the Brazilian organisation as there were many Brazilian
guys running around screaming you know; theyÕd say you would be fighting in ten
minutes and you would be hanging around for fifty minutes and nothing happened,
but it was a big event and you had to expect some complications. CF
: Where did you prepare for the event? Jon
Olav Einemo : Here at the Finnfighters Gym, training with the big guys who got
me into shape. CF:
How have you improved so much since 2001? You beat some top names in 2003 out
there Š whatÕs the secret? Jon
Olav Einemo : (Laughs) I have no idea, prior to this I wanted to go and wanted
to fight and I really did not think this was the year I would win, as I have had
many injuries and have been back and forth from training and I felt my stamina
wasnÕt the best, so I was amazed myself you know. CF:
How did you manage with the heat out there? Jon
Olav Einemo : It was OK but my problems were that I had to lose weight for the
event and in the last week I had to lose six kilos and lose a lot of water, so
when I got there and it was hot I was already dehydrated and I suffered a lot
from cramps in my legs and I had an infection in my foot that bothered me a lot
as well. CF:
Was Marcelo there? Jon
Olav Einemo : Yes. He was there cornering for me and I was in the corner for Joachim,
who was very unlucky this year; as soon as we landed he started being sick all
the time, he was not feeling well and lost all his energy. CF
: Have you managed to overcome your niggling injuries? Jon
Olav Einemo : More or less I can say, but I have still have some problems that
keep me away from training as hard as I would like; I think itÕs under control
and listen to my body, as when you go these events you put your body through a
lot of damage just to get there, so itÕs good to rest. CF:
LetÕs talk about your Shooto fight? Jon
Olav Einemo : Yes, again I felt I wasnÕt in the best shape you know, but it went
well; I got the flu a week before the fight but I didnÕt want to back out, but
in the end the fight went well for me, a little over two minutes. The guy didnÕt
know that much on the ground and he didnÕt know many good escapes from the positions
so I was able to take him out from the mount. CF:
With Joachim doing so well in Japan, are the guys interested in you? Jon
Olav Einemo : I think so you know, but itÕs hard for them to find me opponentÕs
as they donÕt have any real heavyweights; I think itÕs a great organisation for
someone like Joachim with many good fighters but not so much for me, I think the
only place would be Pride? CF:
Are the rumours true then about you fighting in Pride? Jon
Olav Einemo : Yes a little, I did have a couple of offers but that was in my injury
period. CF:
Who did they offer? Jon
Olav Einemo : First time it was Tom Erickson and then the second it was a Japanese
Pro Wrestler CF:
Would you still be interested? Jon
Olav Einemo : Oh yes CF:
What about the UFC, have they shown any interest? Jon
Olav Einemo : Not directly, but I had an offer through some other guys not directly
the UFC, they wanted me to fight Pedro Rizzo a year ago, but I was injured again
Š I have had a number of chances to fight in 2H2H and have had to cancel through
injuries. I need to feel my body feels good and in 100 per cent shape before I
take these big fights. CF:
How long have you been in Finland and why did you come here? Jon
Olav Einemo : I have been here since February and I wanted a change in the environment,
plus there are a lot of big guys here I can train with, there are not so many
in Oslo you know. CF:
TheyÕre certainly strong out here arenÕt they? Jon
Olav Einemo : Oh yes they are without a doubt (laughs) CF:
How does a giant like yourself cope with these Vikings? Jon
Olav Einemo : If you compare the guys who go to the gym and lift weights thereÕs
no competition, but luckily for me in this game, it does not count for everything
and I have different power, not gym power; I have never felt pure power has been
a problem for me, as you have your techniques to deal with the power. CF:
When are you going back to Oslo? Jon
Olav Einemo : I am not sure; I have son back there and I have not seen him for
two years and I really want to be part of his life. CF:
What would happen to your training? Jon
Olav Einemo : IÕd train in Oslo I guess CF:
Would you split your time up between Norway and Finland? Jon
Olav Einemo : To be honest I have no idea, my life is a mess (laughs), I have
no plans and organisation in my life. CF:
How do you think Joachim will do against Gomi? Jon
Olav Einemo : I think he will go all the way in Shooto, I have 100 per cent confidence
in him; he has many qualities and is young and hungry and he likes to fight. CF:
ItÕs time for the Vikings then? Jon
Olav Einemo : I think so, of course Gomi could win, anything can happen, if he
does win heÕll have a hard time doing it you know. CF:
Last word to the Asgard fans? Jon
Olav Einemo : Are there any? (Laughs) thatÕs really nice to hear you know; I would
like to thank Asgard and all the others out there who have been supporting the
Scandinavian fighters and bringing the info to the outside world, thank you to
everyone and we are going to try to keep on working hard. CF:
Jon thanks for the time, nice to see you again Jon
Olav Einemo : Thank you Carl
SFUK
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