MEET THE FIGHTERS
Welterweight
Jussi Halonen
AGE: 22 – 23/09/1992
BIRTHPLACE: Helsinki, Finland
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5´10”(178 cm)
REACH: 178 cm
STANCE: Unorthodox
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 5-3
STRENGTHS: Power, athleticism, solid wrestling
Pro since 2011. Made his international debut in March 2014 at Cage Warriors 66 (win vs. Frodi Hansen).
Light Heavyweight
Marcus “Caveman” Vänttinen
AGE: 27 – 23/07/1987
BIRTHPLACE: Porvoo, Finland
HEIGHT: 6´4” (194 cm)
REACH: 6´5” (197 cm)
STANCE: Orthodox
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 24-6
STRENGTHS: Condition, Experience, Athleticism
Pro since 2004. 6 wins by KO/TKO, 12 by submission. 11 first round finishes. On 3 fight winning streak.
Welterweight
Mikko “Maniac” Ahmala
AGE: 22 04/08/1992
BIRTHPLACE: Oulu, Finland
HEIGHT: 6’2 (188)
REACH: 184
STANCE: Orthodox
PPROFESIONAL MMA RECORD: 4-3-0
STRENGTHS: Aggressiveness, grappling, finishing mentality.
Pro since 2013. Had six fights in his first 13 months as a pro. The only professional MMA fighter in Northern Finland before joining the HardKnocks.
Lightweight
Rasul Khataev
AGE: 26 – 6/5/1988
BIRTHPLACE: Gudermes,Chechnya
HEIGHT: 180
REACH: 186
STANCE: Orthodox
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 5-2-0
STRENGTHS: Striking, power, Chechnyan fighting spirit.
Pro since 2013. Long-time training partner to Vänttinen brothers, has spent several years in Finland with his family.
Lightweight
Aleksi Mäntykivi
AGE: 21 – 22/4/1994
BIRTHPLACE: Joutseno, Finland
HEIGHT: 5’10″176)
REACH: N/A
STANCE: Orthodox
PROFESSIONAL MMA RECORD: 9-4-0
STRENGTHS: Standup
Aleksi is a well-rounded tactically smart fighter. His strengths are in standup fighting but he has been making giant leaps of progress in his ground game lately. Aleksi moved to Helsinki and started training with the HardKnocks team in October 2015.
MEET THE TEAM
Head Coach
Jaakko Dahlbacka
Jaakko has over two decades of experience from different combat sports. As a fighter, Jaakko won world championship bronze in kickboxing, he has also fought in Muay Thai and MMA. Jaakko has been coaching on different levels for the past 15 years. He has collaborated with the Vänttinen brothers for several years.
General Manager
Oscar Eklöf
Oscar is one of the owners of the Macaco Branco Center – the home the Hardknocks – and he has a long background in BJJ. Oscar is an economist who is willing to take Finnish MMA to the international level, whether it is building a pro team or bringing UFC to Finland.
Strength and conditioning coach
Johan Lahti
Address
Takkatie 7 • 00370 Helsinki, Finland
Phone
+358 (0)40 860 9238 (Oscar Eklöf)