National gold medal winners are set to receive financial support in representing Team Finland on the international amateur platform. Familiar faces and impressive newcomers were in action and made their way to the podium, among them was 2018 IMMAF European Open champion and IMMAF-WMMAA World Championships bronze medalist, Jenna Horto, who picked up the 2019 national title in the women’s flyweight division.
In addition, European Open gold medalist and World Championships silver medalist, Janika Antinmaa, secured the women’s bantamweight title following her highly impressive debut year on the IMMAF-WMMAA platform in 2018.
Striking specialist Jenni Kivioja picked up the silver medal in the women’s featherweight division as Elisa Koivupuu (pictued above), who would be a newcomer to the national team, earned a unanimous judge’s decision to earn the 2019 Finnish title. Kivioja earned silver medals at the both the European Open and World Championships in 2018, in addition to winning ‘Performance of the Year’ at the IMMAF-WMMAA International Amateur MMA Awards.
In the men’s lightweight final, Eemil Kurhela showcased himself once again as a threat to any tournament favorite, stepping up to lightweight and calling on his vast international experience to go the distance with world silver medalist, Marko Sarasjärvi, who edged a split-decision.
Sarasjärvi stormed to the 2018 World Championships final where Irishman Lee Hammond survived an intense arm-bar attempt to go on and clinch a split-decision for his country.
By IMMAF.org lead writer: Jorden Curran
Finland’s 2019 National Championships medal winners listed below. For images visit MMAViking.com
Junior Men’s Flyweight
NO CONTEST (accidental knee strike)
Rasmus Ikonen, MMA UTTI
Juuso Renfors, Eura Fight Brothers
Junior Men’s Featherweight
1. Max Hynninen, Espoon Kehähait
2. Veeti Maksimainen, MMA Imatra
Junior Men’s Lightweight
1. Omar Tugarev, MMA Lappeenranta
2. Pyry Lyytikkä, Lahden Kamppailulajikeskus
Junior Men’s Middleweight
1. Nicholas Neuwerth, Sisu Gym
2. Badou Faal, Barreto Helsinki
Women’s Flyweight
1.Jenna Horto, GB Gym ry
2. Aino Kartela, Combat Society
Women’s Bantamweight
1. Janika Antinmaa, MMA Team 300
2. Emma Puro, Loop Martial Arts
Women’s Featherweight
1. Elisa Koivupuu, Kickboxing Team Oulu
2. Jenni Kivioja, Sisu Gym
3. Karolina Hulkko, RNC Sport Club
3. Jenna Roivas, Crest
Men’s Strawweight
1. David Pajunen, GB Gym ry
2. Toufan Ahmadi, BJJ Vaasa
3. Alireza Aholami, Kickboxing Team Oulu
Men’s Bantamweight
1. Roope Tuomi, Finfighter’s Gym
2. Karvan Ahmadi, BJJ Vaasa
3. Stefan Kok, MMA Joensuu
3. Robin Abdulhamed, Espoon kehähait
Men’s Featherweight
1. Tommi Alatalo, Lahden Gentai ry
2. Naser Garban, Espoon Kehähait
3. Mika Räsänen, MMA Kuopio
3. Verneri Hakkinen, Gladiator Factory
Men’s Lightweight
1. Marko Sarasjärvi, GB Gym ry
2. Eemil Kurhela, RNC Sport Club
3. Pauli Hämäläinen, Jyväskylän FightClub
3. Elmo Peltonen, Eura Fight Brothers
Men’s Welterweight
1. Jesse Liljeberg, Loop Martial Arts
2. Rene Katajalaakso, Jyväskylän FightClub
3. Otto Saari, MMA Team 300
3. Lemar Khan, Porin Kamppailu-urheilukeskus
Men’s Middleweight
1. Omran Chaaban, GB Gym ry
2. Jussi Turunen, Gladiator Factory
3. Matias Virta, Finnfighter’s Gym
Men’s Light-Heavyweight
1. Kirill Andreev, Finnfighter’s Gym
2. Brayan Aspegren, Loop Martials Arts
Men’s Heavyweight
1. Tomi Jaakkola, Ahjo Training Center
2. Kasper Virtanen, Combat Societ
