FanPost

Finding Einemo: Meet the unknown soldier who may shock the world on June 11

Who?

That's the question many fight fans asked when the UFC announced that heavyweight contender and fan favorite Shane Carwin was fighting Jon Olav Einemo at UFC 131, a competitor with a 6-1 record and no mixed martial arts fights since 2006.

With the recent bookings of Pat Barry vs. Cheick Kongo, Brock Lesnar vs. Junior Dos Santos and Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft, it left the UFC scrambling to find "The Engineer" an eligible opponent.

UFC matchmaker Joe Silva dug deeper than perhaps he ever has when he found the former Pride FC fighter lingering around.

Just make no mistake folks, Einemo is looking to find his place in the crowded heavyweight division by swimming with a shark.

Can he do it at UFC 131: "Lesnar vs. Dos Santos" on June 11 in Vancouver?

The underdog is a world renowned grappler and the only man to have a win over Roger Gracie in the heralded Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) tournament. In 2003, Einemo won the 88-98 kg class finals against Alexandre Ferriera.

It would be his only division win to date.

Einemo is a solid 240-pounds and is a staggering 6' 6" which makes him test for anyone in grappling. He also trains out of the famed Golden Glory Gym, which also houses Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.

His career began in 2000 and was mostly situated in local shows in Finland. He would go a respectable 5-0 against the local talent, winning all fight by way of stoppage. Ironically, being such a highly regarded jiu-jitsu player, three of his five wins came by way of strikes.

His first jump in competition was at Pride 31 when he fought another highly regarded grappler, Fabricio Werdum.

The fight would go the entire three rounds with a decision win for Werdum. It would be the one and only showing for Einemo in Pride FC. He would fight for the last time in MMA (until UFC 131) when he squared off against Pride FC firecracker, James Thompson.

Thompson is seen more of a freak fighter but regardless he was still considered dangerous. Built like the proverbial brick shithouse and just a mean looking mugg.

Einemo would secure his first big win when he won via armbar over the "Colossus."

Now he faces a very lethal man in Shane Carwin. The fight could end up in prototypical fashion with a Carwin KO or could we see the element of surprise? Einemo has never faced a man of Carwin's mix of size and talent but coming off a huge loss, will Carwin be ready?

Einemo may have progressed his game and even added quite an arsenal at Golden Glory but can he take this fight to the ground and use his dominance of BJJ?

A lot of questions will be answered but does any Maniac feel we could see Einemo pulling off the upset?

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