By Frank Bonada
Finland’s Sani Brännfors has solidified her status as a dominant force in amateur MMA, holding both IMMAF Youth and Junior World titles, along with an impressive 12-1 record. Yet, despite her success, the pinnacle of amateur MMA remains just beyond her reach.
Finland has emerged as a rising force in the IMMAF scene in recent years, thanks to a strong team of coaches supporting its talented amateur athletes. A key figure in this development is Brännfors’ head coach, Matias Pahkala, who has been instrumental in nurturing talent from the Northern region of Oulu. Alongside her teammates Isla Fono and Henri Pyyny, Brännfors will represent her gym, Oulun Kamppailuklubi, on the global stage at the 2024 IMMAF World Championships.
Another pivotal member of the Finnish coaching team is Janika Antinmaa, a trailblazer for Finnish MMA and a former IMMAF European Champion. Brännfors is set to carry on Antinmaa’s legacy as she aims for the pinnacle of amateur MMA: the IMMAF Senior World title.
At the 2023 IMMAF World Championships, Brännfors debuted in the Senior division, building on her Junior World Championship victory from the previous year. She launched her campaign with a decisive win, securing a spectacular guillotine submission against Estonia’s Alisha Bostan.
In the semi-finals, she faced Sweden’s Millie Eriksson, a fellow IMMAF veteran with a significant size advantage. This encounter served as a rematch, as Brännfors had previously edged out Eriksson via split decision on the Finnish regional circuit.
Despite starting strong and drawing confidence from her past victory, Brännfors found her takedowns increasingly ineffective against her larger opponent as the fight wore on. In the final round, Eriksson capitalized on her size advantage, taking top control and unleashing a barrage of strikes, forcing the referee to intervene. Though Sani Brännfors earned a bronze medal in her first Senior IMMAF competition, a commendable achievement in itself, she left the tournament with a desire for more.
When registrations opened for the 2024 IMMAF European Championships, Brännfors seized the opportunity to gain further experience at the Senior level. With a limited pool of athletes in her weight class, Brännfors started her campaign in the semi-finals, where she faced Ukraine’s Viktoriia Panchenko.
Coming off the first loss of her amateur career, Brännfors entered the bout with renewed determination and intensity. She overwhelmed Panchenko with relentless pressure, dominating the exchanges and securing a unanimous decision victory to earn her spot in the final.
In the final, Brännfors faced a familiar opponent, Alisha Bostan of Estonia. Bostan had clearly refined her skills since their last meeting, effectively fending off Brännfors’ submission attempts this time. However, Bostan was not the only one to have levelled up in the months since the World Championships.
Brännfors’ evolution was evident as she maintained constant pressure, executed relentless takedowns, and controlled the pace of the fight, never giving her opponent a moment to regroup. As the final round ended, it was clear Brännfors had outclassed her opponent. The judges confirmed it, and Finland had a new Senior European Champion.
As impressive as Brännfors’ performance at the 2024 IMMAF European Championships was, her toughest challenge lies ahead. The 2024 IMMAF World Championships are just weeks away, and Brännfors will aim to secure her legacy as the first female athlete to claim IMMAF Youth, Junior, and Senior World titles.
Catch all of Sani Brännfors’ bouts live at IMMAF.tv.
