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5 weeks came and went here in the USA. I still have some time left for a few training sessions, x-mas shopping and the last rays of sun. Then I must pack my bags again, say bye to my friends, spend my last night in style, and fly back home via NYC arriving just in time for the GB Gym pre-x-mas party. It’s definitely good to go back home again to my loved ones and back to my home gym to pick up from where I left off over here. I will return home with an empty wallet, but having gained a wealth of experience, tricks and new ideas.

This training camp has been an all-around learning experience. I have had a lot of fun at the gym and outside it, all over Southern Florida. Training and spending time with Jeremy Stephens during his time here training and enjoying life for two weeks was a blast. Last weekend we were cooling off with and escorted through the lively night life of Palm Beach by Thiago Alvesin. The training has been multifaceted and challenging and some sport related challenges were also included in the form of injuries, but I have overcome those well and put on a good fight against the ATT stars over here. I have not once had to feel ashamed about my own doings and with a good amount of self-confidence, I get to continue my path to the top of this ever evolving sport.

Jorge getting ready, and liking McDonald’s..

Jorge took off to San Diego today where he will be up against Gilbert Melendez this Satuday at the StrikForce event. The guys have been getting ready for this fight since July. Jorge’s conditioning and confidence are at such a great level that I think Gilbert might want to run back to mom when they meet in the UFC cage. The preparation has been eventful, including injuries and training when not quite at 100%. Thats how it is.. The skill differences at this level are very small and in the end it’s the technical skills, game plan and psyche that are the decisive factors in who takes the win and belt back home.

I have had the chance to gain some great experience being at an arm’s length of some seriously professional preparation for a fight at the last minutes and have done my best to ensure that Jorge is not given any slack. Having now seen, from a very close distance once again what these top ATT fighters are made of, I have no doubt in my mind that I am able to compete at the same level and develop to become an ever better fighter than I am today. This is said with the utmost respect for these rock hard and world class fighters that I have had the great pleasure to befriend over here.

I am sure I will return to these hoods as soon as my life and situation allows for it. Now I can nonetheless return back home for x-mas and training with my homies, some crazy finnish talent. I am looking forward to my next fight and hope to be able to give an update on that very soon. The Finnish MMA scene is accelerating at a great pace and we have have every possibility to start producing some world class fighters of our own in the near future. It’s great to be part of this developement and to have the chance to put Finland on the MMA map. Hard work, faith, courage and cooperation as friends are the tools to be used and we will be recognized and respected. And you always need to remember to have fun while doing it – otherwise this and life itself makes no sense at all.

Tony Halme continues to be the only Finnish fighter to ever have briefly entered the UFC octagon…

The training camp here in sunny Florida is progressing well. One of my good training partners here and the mma veteran Ywes Edwards fought last Saturday, losing a close fight against the tough Tony Ferguson. I*ve watched Ywes’s fights in Japan’s Pride Bushido events back when I was only starting my bushido… Jorge Masvidals fight is getting closer and he is starting to be in pretty amazing shape, as he must be in order to capture the Strikeforce belt in San Diego, California on December 17th from the reigning Californian champ. Gilbert melendez is currently one of the world’s best lightweights and a tough opponent for anyone and anywhere.

Jeremy Stephens was flown in last week to strengthen the already world class camp and perfect any issues at these last moments. Jeremy is staying at the same hotel as I, rides with me to training and wherever else we may head. He really enjoys this place and the training, as do I. We spent the weekend getting acquainted with the local nightlife in a great crowd, just having a blast. In between location we visited an awesome penthouse fight studio checking out the UFC- and boxing fights. Definitely a good change from the daily training routine.

I bumped into a Finnish honeymoon couple a few days ago. Jyri and Sari Manninen, who came to this hood after having spent two weeks in Puerto Rico and the Dominikan Republic. We met at the beach in Fort Lauderdale for a morning swim. From the we cruised over for food and shopping at the endless shoppinghell called Sawgrass Mills and finished Sunday night off by eating huge main courses and amazing desert at the Cheescake Factory.

Training here has been versatile and challenging in many ways. The focus has been on mma training and refining of different areas. Being around such talented coaches and sparring partners gives a wealth of skill and knowledge to learn from on a daily basis. I had to take a short break from sparring as I seem to have received a slight concussion that manifested itself in headaches and dizziness. In between training I have been expanding my knowledge of the strategic dimension of martial arts by reading Sunzi’s, Art of War – book that dates back a few millenia. I borrowed this book from a friend of mine called Jasse Junkkari who owns a vast amount of martial arts related literature. For those of you who do not yet know Jasse, he is one hell of a lifestyle-ninja and skilled sports masseuse. You can find him at GB-gym. That’s where I go to get smoothed out each week, putting my body back into shape after tough training sessions.

Now I am off to the Fighter’s House to do some recovery and laundry. The House is owned by Liborio, right next to the gym, and currently home to a few training partners and Mirzads skateboarding bulldog.

Last Satuday, after a tough week of training we went to check out a Bahaman kitchen, that offered a great selection of sea food.

From there we continued to the Hard Rock Casion, where we met Dan, ATT’s owner (along with Liborio) and manager of the ATT’s toughest fighters. We played cards and then went to see the Bellatorr 58 event along with some twenty guys and cheer other ATT fighters. Almost every match was damn good, but the final fight was truly phenominal! Alvares and Chandler taking it on for the lightweight title! An amazing fight where in the fourth round Michael Chandler finished with a submission securing the title. Then we continued by having a dinner at the Casino gourme-Steak house, also at the expense of Dan. It was a good weekend, relaxing from the training and enjoying the locale and the sun. Laundry, laying in the jacuzzi and talking on Skype. The new week started again with some tough wrestling, where round after another I get a better understanding of the secretes of american freestyle-wrestling. This is Ywes last hard week, his last before the pre-fight week, which he will spend back home in Texas zoning in and getting his weight right. on the 3rd of December he is up against the tough Tony Ferguson, in the UFC TUF 14 Finale.Ywes kid Ivan flew over from Texas to make sure dad is in shape as the fight gets closer.

Yesterday I was greatful for everything in my life that I have had the chance to enjoy, and to appreciate the fact that I actually have one. Thank you to everyone for everything because today is Thanksgiving Day. Here is a short history lesson for you who don’t yet understand what the whole party is about: the story of thanksgiving . For me it basically met that after morning practice all the restaurants where shut, I got to seek my nourishment from Burger King. That reminded me again of the holy trinity of nutrition, quality, price and taste. You rarely get everything you want. Food is either cheap and healthy, but it doesn’t have tha taste. Or its healthy and tasty, but you have to pay a fortune for it. In most places the food is cheap and good, but damn unhealthy! Rich Attonito from New Jersey who moved to Floridan 6 years ago is the Raging bull, who got into the UFC through TUF 11. Sometimes he loses it when things don’t go to plan.. Grappling gets tough on selfesteem, when Mike Brown at 15kg lighter, controls as he wishes when on top, and raging bull says he has not once escaped from under Mike Brown in 6 years. Mike Brown, a bulldozer from Portland, former WEC champion and current UFC fighter, is the supreme title holder of the top control..