Marko Leisten is a BJJ black belt and one of the key figures behind ADCC World Submission Fighting Championship.

Can you tell us about your martial arts background?
I started off training boxing, ju-jutsu, aikido etc when I was a ”kid”. 1997 I started training judo and my first BJJ training was 1996. I was living in Helsinki at that time and my first teacher in BJJ was my good friend Asko Hattuniemi. I got my BJJ black belt 2008. Sauli Heilimö and me are FFG/Hilti Turku black belts under Rikard Andersson. I have not been training MMA for many years now because I like BJJ and Grappling more.

Have you competed in BJJ or SW?
If I remember right the last time I competed was in 1998.

You run Finn Fighters Gym in Turku, can you tell us about FFG?
I can’t say I run FFG, we have group of people who run it. We start FFG year 2000. Before that we used the name NHB Turku (1997-1999). We was few guys who wanted to get our own academy, most of that group still training and make classes every week, me, Arttu Nyman, Harri Niva and Sauli Heilimö. We have now around 200 students. At FFG you can train BJJ, Submission Fighting and MMA. Once a week we also have Judo and Thaiboxing classes.

Hilti BJJ Team.

You are also responsible for Hilti BJJ team in Finland. How many Hilti gyms are there in Finland?
Hanko: Hilti Hanko, Joachim Bergman
Turku: FFG, Marko Leistén
Vaasa: BJJ Vaasa, Benny Öhman
Tampere: TJJK, Teemu Launis
Kuopio: Gladiator Factory, Jussi Paananen
Vantaa: MMA Vantaa, Ilari Grönholm & Jaakko Hahtokari
Jyväskylä: Jyväskylän fight club, Sami Markkanen
Tammisaari: Hilti Raasepori, Jaakko Vilander & Magnus Fagerström
Maarianhamina: Hilti Åland, Dexter Mäkelä
Hollola: Holjutai, Harri Haapahuhta
Viitasaari: Proeliator Jiu-Jitsu, Janne Maunonen
Saarijärvi: Proeliator Jiu-Jitsu, Janne Maunonen
Iisalmi: NHB Iisalmi, Ville Huttunen
Kajaani: KJJS, Karri Jarva

What do you think of Finland’s achievements at the ADCC European Championship 2010?
We were the best country again and HILTI was the best team, what else I can say? : ).

What does the ADCC organization look like today?
It’s like this, ADCC committee (Sheikh Tahnoun, Sheikh Hazza, Renzo Gracie and Guy Neivens) will say how federation will work and I run World federation. Under ADCC federation we had now 38 member countries who organizer national federation. It’s getting bigger all the time, tomorrow I will fly to Hong Kong with ADCC head referee Peter Ivanow and we will open, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines.

Marko and Renzo Gracie.

As ADCC is a global grappling event that plays an important role in the development of the sport, will you push for any changes or is it perfect already?
It’s never perfect. There are things that you always can improve and make better. In Europe we have a commission and we think all the time how we can get better.

Do you think we will see ADCC world championship take place in Scandinavia in the future?
I hope so, maybe very soon.

What can we expect from ADCC World Championship 2011?
Fight level are better every year so for sure 2011 will be best so far.

Can you announce any superfights?
Since ADCC started its like this, who win Absolute weight class will fight vs super fight winner. 2011 super fight is Braulio vs Jacare.

Where will ADCC World Championship 2011 take place?
Sheikh Tahnoun hasn’t made a decision yet but we have couple options already.

Any Finnish grapplers we should look for at ADCC World Championship 2011?
We already have four spots in next World Championship and for sure we will get more spots after European championships the 2nd of April in Turku. Who I think can really surprise and go to semifinal is Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen.

Prior ADCC 2009 news circulated that Georges St. Pierre, Fedor Emelianenko & Gregard Mousassi would participate. What happened? Was there any truth behind the “rumors”?
I had a meeting in Holland with Fedor and Mousassis manager like six month before World Championship. They got big fights in MMA at the same time as the World Championship and that’s why they didn’t come. GSP got injured, that’s what happened.

FILA now have its own grappling world championship, what are your thoughts on that?
We can’t forget IBJJF, Grapplers Guest and NAGA. In my book IBJJF is second biggest after ADCC. All of them make a great job and that’s good for the sport. ADCC was first and if we look competitors and level for finals ADCC is strongest and the only who pay fighters flights, hotels and good price money.

The backs of Marko and Pedro Duarte.

You have started a management company. Can you tell us about it?
It’s coming. Right now I’m super busy with ADCC. After our last trials in Brazil at end of April I will focus on the management. We have couple good guys already and sponsors. I have good relationship with UFC, Dream, Sengoku, Strikeforce, Shooto, M-1 and IFC.

What are your personal goals for the future?
Live a normal life, spend time with family and friends, training jiu-jitsu and make ADCC and Hilti stronger.

Your favorite submission?
Omoplata.