Finland’s Joni Salovaara (10-4) is currently ranked #5 in the European featherweight division. The 25 year old Finn’s MMA career begun with mixed results but once Salovaara found his rhythm, victories have followed. Salovaara has now won his seven last fights, most of them in dominant fashion, so it could be time to up the ante soon.
MMAViking: Tell us little about your background in sports?
JS: I’ve always been into sports. I played football most of my childhood and then switched to floorball as a teen. Action stars like Bruce Lee, Steven Seagal and Van Damme were really popular back then. Because of them I also wanted to try judo and karate when I was in elementary school but unfortunately I didn’t stick to those.
MMAViking: How did you end up in combat sports?
JS: When I was in school I used to watch these amazing fight highlights on the internet. Bas Rutten for example was one of the guys that got me interested in full contact sports. I noticed that there was a kickboxing beginners course starting at the Vantaa Kamppailukeskus so I signed up and I was hooked. For a year I trained in Vantaa but then I switched to my home gym Espoon Kehähait. After another year of training striking arts I then signed up for MMA class and have kept training MMA ever since.
MMAViking: What’s your typical training week like?
JS: I use a varying training schedule which means that I got one or two days off in a week. In the morning I run and ride a bike to work where I do a full day. After the work day it’s time for the main training of the day at our gym. I usually train for couple hours and then maybe an hour or two of coaching after that. Strength and conditioning training at the weight room is also part of my program. I do MMA related training also at other gyms in the Helsinki area.
MMAViking: Last summer you and Marcus Vänttinen had a training camp at the London Shootfighters gym in London, England. What did you think about training there and how does it compare to training in Finland?
JS: Unfortunately I had few nagging injuries the whole summer so I couldn’t train as much or as hard as I would’ve liked in London. The gym is really nice and coaching is on a really high level. It’s tough to compare the level of fighters but I thought that the coaches from different combat sports worked better together than here in Finland. It was also nice that almost every day the gym had visitors from different places training there.
MMAViking: The Espoo posse, meaning Niko Puhakka, J-P Vainikainen and you, has done really well during the last couple of years. You guys have stepped up your game and every one of you is riding a long winning streak. What’s the secret behind this success?
JS: We have just been able to stay health and we have kept grinding hard from day to day. We’ll continue on the same course and you will see the results when we fight.
MMAViking: You are now on a seven fight win streak. Any glue where and who you are fighting next?
JS: I haven’t talked to my team or the promoters about it yet but I would believe that step up in competition will happen again. I will probably fight next at Cage 18 in February or Fight Festival 32 in March or even in both of them.
MMAViking: European rankings have you at the fifth spot in the featherweight division. What are your thoughts on fighting in an international promotion?
JS: Of course I’m interested in fighting at international events but succeeding on that level demands more training and improvements on my game. I definitely want to be successful where ever I fight.
MMAViking: Anyone to thank or give a shout out to?
JS: I got the best sponsors and partners in CoCoVi, Go4fit, Matinkylän huolto Oy, DKS-Trukkihuolto Oy and Fighterplaza.com. These companies have really supported me and made it possible for me to develop as a fighter. Big thank you goes to them! Also check out our Kehähait Pro Team page in the Facebook.
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