MMA Viking catches up with Swede Lina Eklund as she heads out to San Diego.  The up-and-coming professional MMA fighter notched her debut victory in April at Superior Challenge 7 in Stockholm, where she impressively defeated Kristina Talvosaite with a rear-naked-choke in the second round.  After starting with gymnastics as a youth, Eklund turned to her competitive energy into body building and then body fitness.  Today her focus is MMA.

Learn more about Elund, the the 60kg / 132lbs fighter, in this exclusive interview with MMA Viking’s Kaoru Tsukamoto.

Interview

MMA Viking: How is Body Fitness, different from Body Building?

Lina: Body Building is to make a big muscles, while Body Fittness is to build a balanced feminine body.

MMA Viking: I saw your photo of Body Fitness. Awesome! What is your body fat at this time?

Lina: May be less than 5 %, that was my most extreme time.

MMA Viking: Why and how did you start MMA?

Lina: After Body Fitness I began lifting weights and I wanted to to more.  I was interested in MMA but first I went to kickboxing gyms to warm up my body.  Then Pancrase Gym.  I have many friends in this sport and it was easy to get information within my network.

MMA Viking: What is your parents saying about this sport?

Lina: They understand me but they are not so happy about this and they wish me to do another things (smile).

MMA Viking: I want to hear your story of your first MMA fight with Talvosaite at Superior Challenge 7.

Lina: It was my first MMA bout and I was training MMA for 2 years.  I was very excited to try my ability which was totally unknown.

I shot takedown and controlled the opponent on the ground. I hit knee shots to the ribs. We went back to standing. Then 2RD I finished her in RNC. I had no special fight plan because I couldn’t get any information about my opponent.

I prepared to be able to do all round fight. It was an awesome experience, so cool. Fantastic to learn that I love to fight MMA and I really enjoyed the whole thing!

MMA Viking: Did you have any problems making the weight?

Lina: Not much. I am 64kg. Eating less carb. in 8 weeks I made 60kg for the fight. In Body Fitness time I had controlled my weight very hard, no sweets and no fat. But now I know more about my body.

MMA Viking: How much are you training in a week? 

Lina: 3.5 hours x 6 days. I don´t run. I keep my cardio in wrestling training. I like wrestling much and enjoy whole training menu.

MMA Viking: What are you doing in your free time?

Lina: Meeting my friends chatting relaxed.

MMA Viking: What is your worst injury?

Lina: It was last summer. I popped out my left knee in the training. It happened in the takedown going down to the ground.  The partners whole weight came on my knee twisted somehow. I heard the sound of breaking the tissue in my knee capsule. My knee was totally dislocated. I couldn’t walk for 3 weeks. But fortunately I recovered. I had to box standing on one leg for a while after recovering. ha! ha!

MMA Viking: What is your fight style? 

Lina: Yes, I want to find it out my style!  I want to be not only technical, I want people to enjoy my game too.

MMA Viking: What is your future goal?

My goal is to get the top female in MMA. I am training so hard for that. I am going to San Diego The Arena Gym for 6 weeks.

I will train with Christina Cyborg. Yes, she is a monster. She is going to fight in Strikeforce soon.  I will go with her. Yes, Christina is the world top female fighter and I want to learn best of her. Coming back from the, US I want to show new Lina Eklund.

I also want to fight in Japan.

For more information about the Personal Trainer, Nutrition Counselor and Professional MMA fighter, visit  www.linaeklund.com.

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