John-Olav Einemo
Norwegian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner
title: "John-Olav Einemo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1975-births", "living-people", "norwegian-male-mixed-martial-artists", "heavyweight-mixed-martial-artists", "mixed-martial-artists-utilizing-brazilian-jiu-jitsu", "norwegian-practitioners-of-brazilian-jiu-jitsu", "people-awarded-a-black-belt-in-brazilian-jiu-jitsu", "norwegian-submission-wrestlers", "martial-artists-from-oslo", "norwegian-people-of-finnish-descent", "ultimate-fighting-championship-male-fighters"] description: "Norwegian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John-Olav_Einemo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Norwegian mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox martial artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | John-Olav Einemo |
| other_names | The Viking |
| image | Jon Olav Einemo.jpg |
| caption | Einemo in 2011 |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Oslo, Norway |
| nationality | Norwegian |
| height | |
| weight_lb | 253 |
| weight_class | Heavyweight (265 lb) |
| reach_in | 81 |
| style | Submission wrestling |
| team | Golden Glory |
| rank | black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| years_active | 2000–2003, 2006, 2011–2012 (MMA) |
| mma_kowin | 1 |
| mma_subwin | 5 |
| mma_koloss | 1 |
| mma_decloss | 2 |
| sherdog | 2873 |
| :: |
| name = John-Olav Einemo | other_names = The Viking | image = Jon Olav Einemo.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Einemo in 2011 | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = Oslo, Norway | death_date = | death_place = | death_cause = | residence = | nationality = Norwegian | height = | weight_lb = 253 | weight_class = Heavyweight (265 lb) | reach_in = 81 | style = Submission wrestling | stance = | fighting_out_of = | team = Golden Glory | rank = black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | years_active = 2000–2003, 2006, 2011–2012 (MMA) | mma_kowin = 1 | mma_subwin = 5 | mma_decwin = | mma_koloss = 1 | mma_subloss = | mma_decloss = 2 | mma_draw = | mma_nc = | url = | sherdog = 2873 | footnotes = | updated =
John-Olav Einemo (born 10 December 1975) is a Norwegian retired mixed martial artist. He is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, with the highlight of his career being the win in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in 2003 (88–98 kg weight class). He is the only man to defeat multiple-time BJJ champion Roger Gracie in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship tournament. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Einemo made his professional MMA debut in the year 2000. He fought for a number of promotions in Finland and the Netherlands, quickly amassing an undefeated record of 4–0. He made his Japanese debut in 2003 for the Shooto promotion in 2003.
Einemo did not compete from 2003 to 2006 due to complications of contracting a flesh-eating bacterial infection on his left foot following surgery. He completely recovered and returned to fighting in early 2006. He experienced his first professional loss in PRIDE Fighting Championships where he lost to Fabrício Werdum by unanimous decision at Pride 31.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On March 7, 2011, Einemo signed with the UFC to join their Heavyweight Division.
Einemo was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Shane Carwin on June 11, 2011 at UFC 131. However, once Brock Lesnar pulled out of his fight against Junior dos Santos after again suffering with diverticulitis, Carwin stepped in to take Lesnar's place in the main event. Einemo instead fought fellow UFC newcomer Dave Herman. Einemo lost via TKO (punches) at 3:19 of round 2. This fight earned him Fight of the Night honors.
On August 3, 2011, Golden Glory announced that Einemo had been released from his contract by the UFC. The UFC later reversed the decision, reinstating Einemo.
In his second UFC fight, Einemo faced Mike Russow on January 28, 2012 at UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. He was subsequently released from the promotion.
Retirement
Einemo announced his retirement from mixed martial arts on April 3, 2012. He said he would continue to stay involved in the sport as a coach and help the sport grow in his native Norway.
Championships and accomplishments
ADCC career
- 2007 Superfight – Lost against Roger Gracie
- 2005 88–98 kg weight class – Quarter Finals – Won against Vitor Vianna
- 2003 88–98 kg weight class – Final – Won against Alexandre Ferreira
- 2003 88–98 kg weight class – Won against Roger Gracie
- 2001 88–98 kg weight class – Quarter Finals – Won against Rolles Gracie
- 2001 Under 99 kg weight class - Semi-Finals - Lost against Ricardo Arona
MMA career
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Dave Herman
Mixed martial arts record
| draws= | nc= | ko-wins= 3 | ko-losses= 1 | sub-wins= 3 | sub-losses= | dec-wins= | dec-losses= 2 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=
| other-losses= |
|---|
| Loss |
| align=center |
| Mike Russow |
| Decision (unanimous) |
| UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis |
| | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 6–2 | Dave Herman | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC 131 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:19 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| Fight of the Night. |
|---|
| Win |
| align=center |
| James Thompson |
| Submission (armbar) |
| 2H2H: Pride & Honor |
| | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:18 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |- | Loss | align=center| 5–1 | Fabrício Werdum | Decision (unanimous) | PRIDE 31 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 5–0 | Mindaugas Kulikauskas | Submission (armbar) | Shooto: Wanna Shooto 2003 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:47 | Tokyo, Japan | |- | Win | align=center| 4–0 | Evert Fyeet | TKO (submission to punches) | Shooto Finland | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:54 | Turku, Finland | |- | Win | align=center| 3–0 | Olaf in 't Veld | TKO (submission to punches) | Shooto Holland | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:07 | Deventer, Netherlands | |- | Win | align=center| 2–0 | Erkka Shalstrom | TKO (punches) | Finnfight 4 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:22 | Turku, Finland | |- | Win | align=center| 1–0 | Jan Jarvensivu | Submission (armbar) | Focus Fight Night 4 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:20 | Hämeenlinna, Finland |
Submission grappling record
References
- "Sherdog Fight Finder – John Olav Einemo".
- (2007-05-04). "MMA News: Roger Gracie Fighting at ADCC Grappling Tournament". MMAUniverse.com.
- (2011-03-08). "UFC Signs Norwegian ADCC World Champion John Olav Einemo". Sherdog.com.
- (2011-03-08). "UFC Signs Norwegian ADCC World Champion John Olav Einemo". sherdog.com.
- Helwani, Ariel. (2011-03-07). "UFC Officially Signs John Olav Einemo". MMAFighting.com.
- "John Olav Einemo's UFC debut uncertain following Shane Carwin's promotion at UFC 131".
- (2011-08-03). "Marloes Coenen and Valentijn Overeem cut from Stikeforce, Jon Olav Einemo released from UFC". MMAmania.com.
- (2011-09-21). "Alistair Overeem Splits With Golden Glory, Possibly More to Follow". MMAFighting.com.
- Mike Chiapetta. (November 29, 2011). "John Olav Einemo Back in UFC, Likely to Face Mike Russow at UFC on FOX 2". mmafighting.com.
- Mike Chiapetta. (April 4, 2012). "UFC Veteran John Olav Einemo Retires". mmafighting.com.
- Sherdog.com. "John Olav".
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