Posts tagged: Katja Kankaanpää

Sports, by their nature, are about the spirit of competition. Yet, the reasons that athletes choose to participate vary greatly from one to the next.

For some, it’s the drive for first place. Those are the same people that race from stoplight to stoplight like their life depends on it. Others seek an outlet from the daily grind, a way to separate from reality, even for a moment.

Then there’s the unexpected success stories. Where an interest turns into a hobby and before long, the hobby turns into a career. This is where you’ll find Finland’s Katja Kankaanpää.

The 33-year-old Invicta FC strawweight champion started her foray into martial arts with karate. Then submission wrestling. And finally MMA. But she never expected to stand atop the 115-pound division.

“My intention was to take just a few amateur fights,” explained Kankaanpää. “But plans changed along the way.

“I didn’t even dare to imagine that I would be fighting at such a high level and be a champion.”

Fighting professionally since 2010, “Killer Bunny” tore through the competition in Europe, earning her a place in the Invicta cage. In her third appearance with the promotion, Kankaanpää was tabbed to compete for the vacant strawweight belt.

The Finn battled opponent Stephanie Eggink into the fifth and final round at Invicta FC 8 last September. Even with the stakes at their highest, Kankaanpää remained calm, cool and collected.

“I had no pressure going to the fifth round. My corner gave me simple direction: just fight, not to give up,” explained Kankaanpää.

“I knew that I had to finish the fight to win. Even if I won the fifth round, I probably would’ve lost by decision.”

In the final round, Kankaanpää ensured there would be no need for the scorecards, submitting Eggink with a D’arce choke and capturing the title.

“It felt amazing,” recalled the champion. “It was something that I couldn’t imagine beforehand. Think I will never feel the same again cause it was something so unique.”

By winning the belt, Kankaanpää became not only the first Finnish title holder in Invicta history, but also the first European to wear gold. Despite the history-making performance, she humbly discounted the achievement.

“There are good fighters from Europe and Finland and I’m one them,” she declared. “When you have a good team behind you, you’re motivated and have high level skills, you will succeed wherever you’re from.

“[I] just want to show that dedication and hard work pays in the end; that I earned my place at the top.”

On Friday, April 24, Kankaanpää will again have the chance to showcase her skills and her hard work. She’ll defend her title for the first time against unbeaten Brazilian Livia Renata Souza in the main event of Invicta FC 12 in Kansas City, Mo.

“She’s a very good opponent for me and will put my skills to the test,” proclaimed the fighter. “I think there are no easy fights at this level anymore. She is very active and will want to submit me, but I’m not an easy win.

“I want to show that I’m the champion.”

Against Souza, Kankaanpää will find herself facing another grappler. It’s a change of pace after facing decorated stand-up practitioners Joanne Calderwood and the aforementioned Eggink in her last two Invicta contests.

“It’s nice to be able to fight against different type of fighters,” said Kankaanpää. “My last two fights have been against strikers and now I get to fight against same type of a fighter as me and I feel very good about it. I’m looking forward to the fight.”

To add to the challenge of defending her belt, the bout with Souza will mark the first time that Kankaanpää will headline an Invicta card. However, the bigger stakes aren’t affecting the champion.

“[There’s] no extra pressure. Actually I’m very excited about it and I’m very honored for this opportunity,” said the Finnish fighter.

“I hope to put up a good fight for all the fans. Hopefully I won’t be in such dangerous situations in this fight that I was in the last one, but hope the fight will be full of action.”

If Kankaanpää’s past fights are any indication, she’ll put on a show on April 24. And like so many aspects of her career, it’ll once again eclipse what she expects to happen.

Katja would like to thank all of her fans and family who have supported and encouraged her along the way. Also her teammates, manager and coaches, and her sponsors who have supported her throughout her career.

The “Killer Bunny” Katja Kankaanpaa returns to the Invicta FC cage in search of gold when she challenges Stephanie Eggink for the vacant World Strawweight Title September 6th at Invicta FC 8.

 
Corey Smith: Your last appearance in the Invicta FC cage, you suffered the first defeat of your career, a decision loss to Joanne Calderwood. Most athletes agree you learn more from your defeats than your wins. What did you learn?
KK: Most of all, I learned a lot on the mental side. The fight was tough and if I had been mentally stronger, the decision could have gone the other way. I thought that I was ready, but didn’t trust myself enough to take the win.

 
CS: You bounced back with a submission victory this past May. How important was it for you to stay active outside the Invicta cage?
KK: It was very important because otherwise the pause from fighting would have been too long. When fights are in steady intermissions you can keep a good touch to fighting. It also was very nice to have a fight at my home country, especially since it had been so long since my last fight here in Finland.

CS: Most fighters list the weight cut as the hardest aspect of being a fighter. Setting that aside, what do you consider the hardest aspect of being a fighter?
KK: Lack of time. Sometimes it’s hard to schedule my day. I have a day job and when I add in training to my day schedule, I haven’t much free time left.

CS: Invicta FC recently signed a content distribution deal with the UFC, specifically all future Invicta bouts will be available via UFC Fight Pass. What were your thoughts when you first heard about the deal?
 KK: Its huge thing and big step for Women’s MMA.

 
CS: Your bout on September 6th at Invicta FC 8, will be for the vacant Strawweight championship. How familiar are you with your opponent, Stephanie Eggink? What do you believe is the key to the matchup?
KK: I’m not so familiar. I just watched a couple of fight videos of hers, so that’s it. I just need to believe in myself and do my own things in the fight. I’m a well rounded fighter and I think if I just fight on my own level I can win the fight.

CS: The bout will see a new champion crowned in the Invicta FC Strawweight division. Does this carry any added pressure for you?
KK: I hope not =) I try to think that this fight is just one fight among others but I’m not sure if that works because I’m excited being in the title fight.

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage? What type of feedback and coaching do you prefer from your corners?
KK: My manager and one of my coaches are with me in the cage.  I just need simple instruction in a fight.

CS: For those that have not experienced it, how would you describe the walk out to the cage?
KK: I’m excited and focused on the fight. All the training is behind me and it is time to fight.

CS: Outside of the gym and MMA, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun? What helps you to relax?
KK: There are so many things that I would like to do, but sadly I haven´t much free time to do them. But just to mention a few: Climbing, swimming, cycling and running. I feel I’m always  going somewhere but when I’m a home I just relax watching movies with my husband and playing with our dog.

CS: Lastly, MMA takes a team to succeed alone inside the cage. Who would you like to thank?
KK: My team, coaches, manager and all my training partners who have helped me with training.  My family, my husband and my sponsors. I am very happy and pleased that I have people like you around me.

Invicta FC 8 takes place September 6th live from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The full card will air live via UFC Fight Pass. Click below for tickets, or to subscribe to UFC FightPass.

Katja Kankaanpää ventures across the Atlantic once more, this time looking to determine who the best Straw weight in all of Europe is when she takes on Scottish striker Joanne Calderwood December 7^th at Invicta FC 7.

With a background in submission based wrestling and rapidly improving standup, the “Killer Bunny” will attempt to remain undefeated and prove that she belongs at the top of the Invicta FC Straw weight division.

Corey Smith: You started out in martial arts learning Karate, before moving on to submission based wrestling. What drove you to want to compete in MMA?

Katja Kankaanpää: At the beginning I thought that I will never compete in MMA but I changed my mind when I had trained submission wrestling and MMA for about two years. I wanted to test my skills in the ring/cage.  I just thought that I will take a couple of amateur fights and that’s it. But MMA is very challenging and after competing in MMA I started to feel it’s my thing to do and I started my pro career.

CS: Thus far you are undefeated in your MMA career. What do you feel like are your biggest strengths? What do you feel like you need to work on the most?

KK: I like wrestling very much and cause of that, I like to train it and I feel very confident in the fight in that area, so I have to say wrestling is my biggest strength. I have said that I need to work on my standup skills most and I have done that, so nowadays I feel pretty confident in my standup also. I need to work all MMA areas if I want to be the best I can and improve myself all the time. My goal is to be a well-rounded fighter.

CS: With training camp injuries a common occurrence in MMA, how do you balance getting the full amount of training that you require but still guarding against injury? What does a typical day of training camp entail for you?

KK: I’m pretty precise who I train with because I train all the time with bigger guys than me. My training partners are very good, have high level techniques and they have had long training careers so they know how to train with me.  Training is hard enough that I can improve myself but smart so that we can minimize injuries from happening.

KK: I have a day job so I train first time in the morning before work or just go straightaway to work and train just one time in the evening after work. Morning training is usually more techniques base training and evening training entails sparring, along with strength and conditioning training. And after evening training I have muscle maintenance; stretching etc, at home.

CS: Your last bout for Invicta FC was your first trip to the United States. Were you able to enjoy your time here? Was there anything that stood out to you as different from your native Finland?

KK: I enjoyed my last trip a lot. I met very interesting people, fight went good and I had time even to do some shopping in the mall. I think the United States and Finland aren’t so different. In the United States everything is just bigger and gasoline cheaper =)

CS: What are your goals for 2014 in MMA?

KK: Win the fights of course and keep evolving my skills all the time. I like to take my career one fight at a time, so I don’t know yet what the year 2014 brings.

CS: Your opponent on December 7^th at Invicta FC 7, Joanne Calderwood, also hails from Europe. How familiar are you with Calderwood? What do you think the key is to this matchup?

KK: I have watched a couple of videos of her so I know her style. Many people say that the fight is wrestler vs striker base fight and I think it is too, although I have improved my standup skills. I think now we see who’s the best female fighter at Straw weight in Europe. =)

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage on fight night? What type of coaching and feedback do you prefer during a bout?

KK: My manager and one of my coaches are in my corner.  They know me best and they know what to say to me. I’m very good keeping with the game plan and I just need basic instructions when I fight.

CS: Aside from fight prep, how much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment? Anyone in particular that you are a fan of?

KK: Nowadays I don’t have so much free time to watch all events for example in the UFC but I try to watch as much as possible.  I try watch also CWFC (biggest in the Europe) and Finnish events.  Usually I watch via internet but a couple of times in the year I try to go and watch live some Finnish event.

CS: Your coach orders you to take a day off from training. How are you spending that day?

KK: I would spend my day off with my family just relaxing. Watching movies with my husband and walking out our dog Rocky.

CS: Lastly, it takes a team to succeed alone inside the cage. Who would you like to thank?

KK: I want thank my team, manager, coaches and training partners. Especially thanks to Hannu, my wrestling and strength and condition coach who has put me to the limits and pushed to carry on.

KK: Thanks to my family and friends. Also I want to thank my sponsors( Lapuan Piristeel OY, Aquaplast, PPT Peltiteos, GapCon, Fairtex, Manninen nutriceuticals, Puhdistamo, Top Level LTD, Studio Street, MyShot , Fight Sport Magazine, SJK). They have made my training a bit easier.

With a record of 7-0-1, Finland’s Katja Kankaanpaa, makes her US debut at Invicta FC 5 on April 5^th.

Facing fellow undefeated prospect Juliana Carneiro Lima, Kankaanpaa wants to establish herself firmly as a factor in the Flyweight division. On April 5^th, the world will learn who Katja Kankaanpaa is, and why they call her “The Killer Bunny!”

Corey Smith: How long have you been involved in MMA, and how did you get started in the sport?

Katja Kankaanpaa: I started to train MMA about 7 years ago. Before that I did Karate but submission-wrestling started to interest me more and more, which led me to MMA. The first couple of years I focused more on submission-wrestling and I thought that I’ll never compete in MMA. But eventually I wanted to test my skills in competition, and I’m still on that road.

CS: What is your favorite discipline to train? Which aspect is more work than fun?

KK: It’s hard to say any specific discipline, because I really like to train everything! Maybe that’s “the thing” for me in MMA; that the training is so diverse and I won’t get bored with it. It only depends on the day whether or not I’m having fun with training. Luckily those days happen rarely, when I really hate to drag myself to the gym to work my butt off.

CS: You hail from Finland, which seems to be rather rare in the world of MMA. How popular is the sport in Finland?

KK: MMA is still pretty marginal sport in Finland, but the number of newcomers grows steadily year after year. The media coverage is better than what it used to be, but there’s still a lot of work to do. We need fighters who are entertaining and who have a good personality, so it’s easier to get the sport more well-known here. There’s really good MMA-events all around the year, such as Cage, Fight Festival and Botnia Punishment.

CS: What is the level of popularity for MMA in Europe? What countries seem to produce more fighters than others?

KK:United Kingdom is a really strong MMA-country in Europe, and they have a lot of great fighters. Cage Warriors FC is a big and well-known organization in Europe. MMA is a growing sport in Europe and UFC has visited in England, Germany and Sweden, and they have always had sold-out arenas. England is probably the biggest marketing area. Of course East-Europe with the lead of Russia is another story and there is the M1 organization, for example.

CS: I’ve read that you generally have to train with men, because women in your weight class are hard to find in your area. What are the advantages and differences of training with male fighters, but obviously then competing against a female opponent? Where do you train?

KK: Yes, usually I have to train with men and they’re bigger than me, because it’s hard to find guys who are as small as I am. Training with men definitely has its pros and cons. I have specific training partners and they know me really well. They know how to train with me in a way, which is beneficial and hard for me but also keeps the risk of getting hurt at minimum. Because men are physically stronger than women and their level of strength differs, they have to train more technically with me in some drills. There are a few female-fighters in Finland who I train with and I always try to finish my training season with them. The problem is that we live in different parts of Finland, so if I want to train with them I have to travel a lot.

KK: I train at two different gyms, in my hometown at MMA Seinäjoki’s gym and in Kauhajoki, at Kauhajoen-Kamppailu-urheilijat gym where my MMA-coach is Jarkko Latomäki. It takes me about an hour to get from Seinäjoki to Kauhajoki.

CS: Where did your nickname “The Killer Bunny,” come from?

KK: We have a bunny who is 8,5 years old and her name is Alice. She’s like a dog to us. She’s housebroken and when we are at home she can run and jump around the house. The thing is, that she can’t stand other female bunnies. Once my husband and I were visiting one of our friends who also have a female bunny. After we got back home I said to my husband that we have to change our clothes, so Alice won’t smell the other bunny. Well, my husband didn’t change his jeans and it didn’t take long before Alice noticed the smell and she attacked my husband and he got bit in his ankle! Ever since we’ve called her Killer Bunny, and eventually it became my nickname too. The difference is that I won’t bite.

CS: Your fight on April 5^th, at Invicta FC 5 will be your first fight in the United States. What does fighting in the United States for the first time mean to you? When will you arrive in the United States?

KK: I will arrive in US with my corner men on Monday (April 1^st). This really is my first time in the US and I’m very excited about that! I hope that me and my opponent will have a good and entertaining fight and that after the match it will be clear to everybody who Killer Bunny is.

CS: This will also be your first fight under the Invicta banner. How has your experience with the company been so far?

KK: I have heard only good things about Invicta and our cooperation has been really good so far. They have been very professional in all they have done, and I’m grateful for the opportunity they have given me.

CS: How familiar are you with your opponent on April 5^th, Juliana Carnerio Lima? Have you been able to view any film of her previous bouts?

KK: I have seen some of her fights on YouTube, I have watched on what kind of a fighter she is but that’s about all I know. I don’t watch many videos, I just want to focus on my training and prepare myself for the fight. It’s my coaches’ job to watch all the videos, in my opinion.

CS: On the day of the fight, do you have any superstitions or routines that you have to perform? What is your mood like on fight night?

KK: I have no rituals or anything like that before my matches. When it’s time to warm-up, I usually start to focus more on my match and everything else disappears around me. Then all I can think about is the fight ahead of me.

CS: Most fighters would list the weight cut as the hardest part of being a fighter. Setting that aside, what do you consider to be the toughest aspect of being a fighter?

KK: For me, it’s the lack of time. I have so little free time because I also have a day job. Sometimes it’s hard to schedule my life with work, training and family.

CS: Outside of the gym and the cage, what do you enjoy doing for fun? What helps you unwind after a long day of training camp?

KK: I just like to be at home and spend my free time watching movies with my husband, for example.

CS: Lastly, MMA is as much a team sport as it is an individual one. Who would you like to thank?

KK: I would like to thank my manager, coaches and teammates, who have taken very good care of me and trained me towards top condition! Special thank goes to my husband who has encouraged me to go forward. I would like to thank all my fans and sponsors too!