Finn Timo-Juhani Hirvikangas (9 wins, 2 losses, #1 Rank Bantamweight) is ready for his shot in the Octagon. With the UFC now solidifying its plans for a return to the Nordics in October, Tipi is hoping for the best. “I’m training so I will be in great shape in October, I will fight then, if not in the UFC, then somewhere else” says the FinnFighters Gym fighter to mmaviking.com.
With Sweden’s Sirwan Kakai (#2 Ranked Bantamweight) making his push to get on the card, Hirvikangas is open and willing to a Suomi-Ruotsi maaottelu (Finn versus Swede fight) to show who is the best in the Nordics. “I’m ready, too, how about me versus @irwan Kakai in UFC sweden? Would be an awesome fight” responds Hirvikangas on Twitter. A Hirvikangas versus Kakai bout would be the second such Finn versus Swede battle, as teammate Tom Niinimäki recently faced Niklas Bäckström at UFC FN Berlin, where Bäckström stopped Stoneface in the first round.
Hirvikangas has won his last 8 of 9 bouts. The FinnFighters Gym fighter most recently captured the Cage belt in April, but pulled out of June’s card on June 14 Fight Night Finland (FNF) due to injury. “I think I will wait, and see what happens.” says the submission expert who will be ready for his return after the summer.
With just over two months till the card, many top ranked Nordic fighters are keeping their fingers crossed that they can get their Octagon debut. Hirvikangas and Kakai are two of the most credentialed that aren’t signed to the top promotion.
