Joakim Engberg Interview

Since the fight with Weichel EVT4 you havn’t seen Joakim Engberg fight for sometime, but I’ve see him in the ringside coaching. Yes, I know many would still remember that he was undefeated for 25 shootfighting bouts and 4 times champion, the highest rated for the skill in Scandinavia performed many exciting fights. I am not only the one for sure who have been fascinated of Joakim’s devastated tough heart. Before going to Japan Joachim Hansen Norway had chosen him to sparr with to prepare for Pride. So I felt it was time to contact him and ask about his recent days. I think you are interested in him too.

Record: 3 - 4 - 1 Association: GBG MMA - Goteborgs mma Height: 176cm Weight: 170lbs (77kg) City: Gothenberg Country: Sweden

Loss Daniel Weichel Decision EVT 4-Gladiators 9/26/2004 3 5:00

Draw Landon Showalter Draw AFC 7-Absolute Fighting Championships 7 2/27/2004 2 5:00

Win Ski Skirskis TKO EVT 1-Genesis 12/6/2003 1 2:58

Loss Musail Allaudinov Submission (Strikes) M-1 MFC-Russia vs the World 6 10/10/2003 1 6:59

Loss Eduardo Guimaraes Submission (Rear Naked Choke) FE 4-Fighter Extreme 4 9/28/2003 1 0:24

Win Javier Garcia Decision (Unanimous) FE 3-Fighter Extreme 3 5/2/2003 N/A

Loss Fabricio Nascimento Decision (Unanimous) IE 1-Italia Extreme 1 2/28/2003 1 6:00

Win Christian Sandberg Decision Shootfighting Skagen-Neoblood 2 12/14/2002 1 8:00

Q: Good to see you, Joakim! I often see you around the ring side to coach your fighters and I heard you got your own gym. What’s happened since 2004?

J: There had happend so many things in my private but now I got my own gym being happy with my crew working hard.

Q: Glad to hear that. Can you tell us about your gym?

J: Yes, sure. It’s been 2 years since. It sits in the middle of the city which is very close to Goteborg MuayThai gym. The location is pretty good to exchange trainings. There are many gyms in the area. I have about 80 to 90 students now. And the mat is 90 sqrm. Yes, It is too small for students pretty filled up now. I feel sorry to say “no” to the peoples who wants to join now.

Q: So it is suceeding. Nice to know that. So you have separated from August Wallen? What happend?

J: Yes, I have been together with him for 8 years. He had helped me a lot. Yes, he is a very technical fighter and a clever coach but things happens, you know. I had to separate and sorry I can’t talk much about it. . . .

Q: OK. Things happens anytime anywhere. Wasn’t it hard to start your own gym all by yourself?

J: Not much. Because almost all the students have left to come with me and opened GBG MMA together.

Q: Good to have friends. GBG means Goteborg, I see. What is your weight now?

J: 82 after Christmas.

Q: Wow,, 82? Such a big Christmas you had indeed! I remember you have been fighting in 76kg.

J: Actually 76kg was too hard for me. I realized so in Florida. The American guy was pretty strong giving me a hard pressure.

Q: It was AFC 7 Landon Showalter,you are talking about? I heard he was a high rated fighter. The kind of local hope. And you did a good fight stormed a hot battle giving him lots of punishment and impressed peoples there.

J: Yes, we went up and down in many take downs and side mounts. But when Landon takes the top,he accidently hits a head butt and I cut my left eyebrow big and got 6 stiches later. So it went draw.

Q: I didn’t know the head butt. What about Weichel(EVT 4)? I still remember being very excited about the fight. A prince of Shooters vs upcoming tough Weichel the best German. The fight has been supposed a war with speed and the technique, I thougt.

J: Yes, I have dominated the 1RD with take-downs and pounds. But I had not so good training situation at that time in mess so I gassed out in the 2RD.

Q: That’s the reason of the upset. Sorry to hear. All right. Can you introduce your students?

J: Assam 84kg, Hamid 76kg, Andreas 76kg, ex.national wrestling team William 100kg, Meher 70kg,he is a brother of Osama. And I have a training mate Chriss a pro Thai boxer. Except William they are close to my weight. So good to sparr. Assam and Andreas got the European Shooto Amateur champions.

Q: I have heard you got the sparring with Joachim Hansen. What was double Joakim sparring?

J: I am 10kg bigger than he is. So I felt quite stable against him. Of course he is such a great fighter and fun to sparr. He taught me G&P. I didn’t know what the real pound was. Due to his help my pound went much better. Also I have brushed up my standing in these 2 years. I really look foward my next fight.

Q: Did you see Jocke’s fight with Aoki?

J: Yes. it was not like Joachim. The killer Hansen was not there. I don’t know why Hansen has waited like that on the mat.

Q: I was shocked to see him like that too. Weird. Let me ask your personal things. How do you spend your free time?

J: Hang out with friends and my girlfriend

Q: Do you have hobby besides mma?

J: No not really

Q: Favorite music, the band?

J: I love most kinds of music

Q: .Favorite Swedish food and favorite Christmas food?

J: Meatballs and meatballs

Q: Favorite vegetable?

J: Tomato

Q: Why did you hooked in mma?

J: I just love to fight always have and always will

Q: Favorite 3 fighters in the world? Why the reason.

J: 1. Fedor 2. Gomi 3. GSP They are all complete fighters but not just that they all have that “thing” that make you win fights. Its hard to explain.

Q: Favorite 3 Scandinavian fighters?

J: 1. Joachim Hansen 2. Bielkheden 3. Assan Nije

Q: Most precious 3 things in your life.

J: My family, my girlfriend, my friends

Q: Must chose one to fight. Bielkheden or Gonzales. Why?

J: I think Bielkheden because he is a bigger name

Q: Must chose one to fight. Fedor or Chuck Liddell. Why?

J: Fedor this is one of my all time favorits. It would be a great honnor

Q: You are a girl and must date all xxxx included. Wallen or Knudsen?

J: Hmm weird question…I think i have to go with Knudsen…

Q: What kind of fight do you want to show?

J: I always want to show, aktion, technique and heart

Q: What is your fight plan coming ?

J: I hope to fight in xxxx in March. I can’t mention the name but waiting for the call.

Q: Glad to hear that. It is not only me waiting for your fight. There must be many. Good luck,Joakim!

J: Thanks!