Asgard interviewed Jon Olav Einemo in Stockholm when he held a seminar in Pancrase gym. We had asked about his past, present and - of course - the Pride contract.

Name: Jon Olav Einemo

Record: 6 - 1 - 0 (Submissions 83.33%)
Losses: 1 Decisions (100.00%)
Height: 6′6 (198cm) Weight 220lbs (100kg)
Style: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
DOB: 12/10/1975
City: Oslo
Country: Norway

Fight Record:

Win James Thompson Submission (Armbar) 2H2H - Pride & Honor 11/12/2006 N/A

Loss Fabricio Werdum Decision (Unanimous) PRIDE 31 - Dreamers 2/26/2006 3 5:00

Win Mindaugas Kulikauskas Submission (Armbar) Shooto - Wanna Shooto 2003 11/3/2003 1 0:47

Win Evert Fyeet Submission (Punches) Shooto Finland - Cold War 2/22/2003 1 1:54

Win Olaf in ‘t Veld Submission (Punches) Shooto Holland - Night of the Warriors 11/4/2001 1 1:07

Win Erkka Shalstrom TKO FF 4 - FinnFight 4 12/2/2000 1 2:22

Win Jan Jarvensivu Submission (Armbar) FFN 4 - Focus Fight Night 4 10/6/2000 1 4:20

Q: You fought James Thompson in 2H2H Holland Pride & Honour. With your own words – how was the fight?

E: Thompson was strong and powerful as I expected. So I had to put him down to the mat. I finished him with an armbar from mount.

Q: Where did you prepare for the fight?

E: I came to Pancrase gym (Stockholm, Sweden) and trained and sparred with Jörgen Kruth, Rickard Nordstrand and Martin Lidberg.

Q: How was the sparring to those Swedish fighters?

E: Kruth and Nordstrand helped me with my stand up and I wrestled with Lidberg. I enjoyed wrestling with Lidberg. It is not easy to submit him because he is so strong. He has good balance, solid game and a good attitude towards training – a type of attitude of weltrained athelete. I asked him for a sparring session for a while ago but he said he is too busy learning to dance … What is going on in Sweden?*

* Martin Lidberg won in TV dance show became dancing idol in Sweden.

Q: Where are you training now?

E: As I can’t leave Oslo (Jon Olav have a son to take care of) I stay in Oslo and been train with Teta (Eduardo Rios BTT black belt trainer). But I managed to train in Madrid for three weeks - with Fabricio Werdum!

Q: How was it to train with Werdum?

E: Some people say his style is boring and defensive but he can really make the game difficult.

Q: Did you submit him?

E: Ehhhh, we were rather even.

Q: Please tell us about ADCC 2007 in New Jersey.

E: I applied to ADCC but they said the start field was full. Then they called me up to give me a reserve spot. But I said no. Travelling to the states and maybe get a fight wasn’t an option for me. Then, as you may know, Ricardo Arona cancelled his super fight with Roger Gracie due to dengue fever. I was informed four days before the fight. That was it.

Q: How was the fight with Roger?

E: He has great control and attacks. I took his back and he took mine. I couldn’t make good stamina with that short notice. He has made 5 points in pass and mount. I don’t think that ADCC rules is the best for submission wrestling. I prefer to give the point not only to takedowns or positions but to strong holds as well - catch points. For example Sauli Heilimo lost his second fight in ADCC to an opponent that planned well to win the game by points. In my opinion you should have points but really – its called SUBMISSION wrestling, not point wrestling. Enough said.

Q: And now you have two fights left in Pride contract …

E: Yes. Pride called me like one week before the show in April 20^th and told me to get in shape and ready for a fight. Then they have called me again and told me that the opponent would be Gilbert Yvel. That was three days before the fight! How can anyone prepare with such short notice? It was very stressful for me and totally unprofessional of Pride. Then Zuffa bought Pride and the whole thing was called off. Pride has not called me since. However, Zuffa have sent me a new Pride contract but I haven’t signed it yet.

Q: Do you like to fight in the UFC instead?

E: It depends, but I prefer the ring. I like to use the corner when I fight. It is easier to escape in the octagon.

Q: What’s your future plans?

E: I definitely need good sparring partners in my size. I would love to go abroad for training. Brazil (Fabricio Werdum) or New Zeeland (Mark Hunt) but it is too far. I try to call around boxing gyms in Oslo but they don’t want to train with me and they always answer no. I don’t understand why. I am interested in boxing match. I would love to try. England is very active in boxing but I have no connection.

Q: Do you have someone special you want to fight?

E: … Return to ADCC … And I want a MMA match with Roger Gracie. I think it could be a great game. But really it doesn’t matter who I fight, cash comes first.

Q: Thank you for your time.

*Tips from Einemo “Triangle Escape”