In an exclusive interview with MMA Viking, Lina Eklund let’s us learn more about MMA’s newest woman’s professional fighter. Starring as the lone Swedish woman on the stacked Superior Challenge card, this lifelong athlete will make her pro MMA debut against Victoria Sivinskaya (0 wins and 1 loss) from the Ukraine on April 30.
Trained by Omar Bouiche at Pancrase Gym in Stockholm, Eklund will embark on her third successful athletic venture, as she started with gymnastics at the age of 4 (eventually becoming an elite gymnast and then coach) and later moving to body fitness competing at the World Championships. Today, as she looks to step in the Superior Challenge cage, Eklund makes time for her training around her day job as a personal / group trainer and nutritionist.
For the first time, you can read answers in Swedish (English translation was done by MMA Viking, so be kind =)
MMA Viking : How do you feel with your professional debut being on the same card as UFC title contenders plus Sweden’s best fighters?
Yes, it is a good fight card and I’m very thankful for letting me make my professional debut at Superior Challenge 7.
Ja det är ett bra fightcard och jag är väldigt tacksam för att jag får göra min proffsdebut på Superior Challenge 7.
MMA Viking : How do you think your gymnastics and body fitness background will help you in fighting?
My background helps me an awful lot of fighting, especially gymnastics. As a gymnast, you get very many qualities also needed in the martial arts including agility, strength, explosiveness, and especially body control. I see a lot of similarities between gymnastics and martial arts. From fitness I have gained strength through all the weight training.
Min bakgrund hjälper mig otroligt mycket i fightingen, speciellt gymnastiken. Som gymnast får man väldigt många egenskaper som även behövs inom kampsport bl.a. smidighet, styrka, explosivitet och inte minst kroppskontroll. Jag ser en hel del likheter mellan gymnastiken och kampsporten. Från fitnessen har jag fått styrka genom all styrketräning.
MMA Viking : You are trained by Omar Bouiche and train with Hanna Sillén. Have they given you any advice for your first professional fight?
Omar coaches me and helps me a lot, and Hannah is the best training partner I could have. They are both amazing and give me advice, tips and help all the time for the match.
Omar tränar mig och hjälper mig otroligt mycket och Hanna är den bästa träningspartnern jag kan ha. Dom är fantastiska båda två och ger mig råd, tips och hjälp hela tiden inför matchen.
MMA Viking : Can you share any goals for your MMA career?
As I said in an earlier interview, so my goal with MMA to get as far as possible, without boundaries.
Som jag sa i en tidigare intervju så är mitt mål med MMA att komma så långt som möjligt, utan gränser.
Please support Lina Eklund’s sponsors Superior Wear, ComeOn, and BudoFitness. Also, support local MMA by buying a ticket to Superior Challenge through Ticnet.se.
