When former judoka Kristjan Tõniste began his MMA journey, the transition wasn’t easy. His diverse background in multiple combat sports helped him adapt, and now he has reached a point where he wants to go as far as possible. On 20 September, he will face an experienced opponent in front of a home crowd at Evecon RAJU 18 — a matchup he has every intention of winning.
Kristjan was interviewed in mid-August by Lenel Karu. (Editor’s note: Kristjan Tõniste’s opponent for RAJU 18 has changed — while this article references Norway’s Joachim Tollefsen, he has withdrawn due to injury, and Kristjan’s new opponent is Portugal’s Rivaldo Pereira.)
Early Inspiration and Moving from Judo to MMA
MMA fighter Kristjan Tõniste heard about Raju competitions already as a young boy. Although he was drawn to MMA back then, he was committed to judo and continued on that path.
“I had several acquaintances among wrestlers and judokas who competed there. I trained in different grappling disciplines and saw MMA fighters in the gym. Raju was — and still is — an extremely cool event, especially because it takes place in Estonia,” Tõniste adds.
Photo: Kristjan Tõniste (in blue kimono), judo.
He transitioned to MMA after a long and successful judo career, where his best results were 9th place at both the World and European Championships. As an MMA amateur, he collected 12 wins and four losses, earning a bronze medal at the World Championships two years ago. Previously, he had returned from the European Championships with a silver medal.
Remarkably, he became the first Estonian ever to win a medal at the adult MMA World Championships. After that, Tõniste began his professional career and now has five pro fights behind him.
Understanding the Opponent Matters
Tõniste has competed at RAJU twice, winning both times. He has been repeatedly named a crowd favorite in the domestic league and holds an exclusive contract with RAJU. In September at Tondiraba Ice Hall, he hopes to continue his winning streak at Evecon Raju 18.
His opponent is Norway’s Joachim “Slenderman” Tollefsen, a veteran of his country’s combat sports scene. While Tõniste hadn’t studied his opponent deeply at the start of summer, preparation became much more strategic in August and September.
“It’s always important to know the opponent — what style he has, whether he is tall or short, and what his character is. For example, it matters a lot whether he has a background in wrestling, boxing, or Muay Thai,” explains Tõniste.
When he’s not preparing for a specific fight, he stays active and maintains a lifestyle that rarely allows for long breaks.
“I have such an active lifestyle that doing nothing would drive me crazy. Throughout my career I’ve almost never taken long breaks — I’m nearly always getting ready for the next event,” he says. For him, sport is a way to recharge, and combat sports remain close to his heart.
In Estonia he trains with other fighters, but his main team is 03 Fight Team in Finland. He has nothing but praise for his coach, Aleksi Toivonen.
Dreaming of a Head Coach in Estonia
“He has a lot of experience and a great ability to guide athletes strategically. For me, the team is extremely important, especially since I haven’t yet found a coach in Estonia. But we’ve put together our own group — we train with Maikel Astur and Raigo Kutsar, for example. We must keep building at home, because this field is developing fast, and Raju helps MMA grow significantly,” Tõniste adds.
His diverse martial arts background is exactly what helped him transition smoothly from judo into MMA.
“Adapting took time, and everything happened quite quickly — I dove headfirst into the unknown. At the Estonian Championships I competed with only one week of preparation. I wasn’t completely confident, but everything turned out better than expected. Big competitions helped me adjust faster,” explains Tõniste.
The Appeal of Variety: Why MMA Hooked Him
What drew him into MMA was the variety and constant possibility to learn something new.
“I’ve never been someone who can stick to just one thing — I always want to do several things at once. I’m a fanatic who finds something enjoyable in everything. When I did judo, I trained freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, or something else on the side,” Tõniste says.
In June, Tõniste competed in Slovenia at the Brave Combat Federation event, where he defeated David Foster via unanimous decision. He is the only Estonian who has competed — and won — in this promotion. He says he learned a lot from the Slovenia bout.
“Every venue and atmosphere is different. My opponent had a classic boxing background. It’s good for me to prepare for fighters with different styles because it keeps things exciting. Since I’ve wrestled all my life, I feel most comfortable there and can maintain control on the ground. I’ve done much less boxing or Muay Thai, so in the stand-up I’m still experimenting and trying to find the right approach,” Tõniste explains.
Combat Sports Have Taught Him Discipline and Emotional Control
MMA is mentally tougher and more stressful, but learning to manage one’s thoughts is crucial.
“There’s a higher risk of injury, and of course you want everything to end well — that can create anxiety. But overall, it isn’t new to me. I believe combat sports have taught me to handle my emotions. As athletes we experience things daily that irritate us, but we’ve learned to pull back and recognize when we’ve stepped in the wrong direction,” says Tõniste.
Replacing Olympic Gold with New Ambitions
When he practiced judo, the ultimate goal was an Olympic medal — something MMA doesn’t offer. But that doesn’t make ambitions any smaller. “This sport has major events where you can set very high goals. Everyone sets their own bar and finds what motivates them. I want to go as far as possible,” Tõniste says.
“I’m already at an age where I can’t do this professionally for too many years. Right now my passion is strong, and my motivation is sky-high — I’ll give everything I have,” he adds.
Sporting MMA is becoming increasingly visible in Estonia, and people are gaining a deeper understanding of it. “UFC has become more popular and sparked interest, but people are finally starting to understand that MMA isn’t just brawling — it’s something much more. I see young fighters coming up, and that helps the sport grow,” Tõniste confirms.
Follow Kristjan at Evecon RAJU 18 on 20 September
Fans can follow Kristjan’s performance live on 20 September at Tondiraba Ice Hall, where the biggest MMA event in the Baltics — Evecon RAJU 18 — will take place.
Fight card: https://mmaraju.com/
Tickets: https://mmaraju.com/tickets/
Livestream: https://mmaraju.com/watch-live/
To learn more about Kristjan, listen to the Üks Kaks Maks podcast episode recorded in early August.