Sander Kaju will step into the cage again in October at The Clash 5 event. For Kaju, who trains at the Invicta sports club in Pärnu, competing has been a goal even before he began regular combat sports training. “I also just enjoy training, but competing is still the reason I do it. Celebrating a victory after a match is a feeling that makes all the hard work worthwhile.”
This interview with Sander Kaju was recorded on June 16, 2026, at the Invicta Sports Club in Pärnu.
His interest in combat sports began in childhood
Kaju’s first encounters with boxing took place when he was about 12 years old, while he was living on Saaremaa. “My friends and I split the cost of a pair of boxing gloves and started sparring with each other. Even then, I felt like I wanted to take it more seriously.”
However, it wasn’t possible for him to train in MMA on Saaremaa at that time. When he moved to Pärnu at age 17, the situation changed, and since then, training has been a constant part of his daily life. “When I moved to Pärnu, I started training regularly almost immediately. Since then, I’ve been at the gym almost every day.”
Preparing for a competition requires a heavy training load
Kaju’s competition preparation can mean nine to ten training sessions a week. In addition to his usual gym routine, reaching competition weight makes this period even more challenging. “When preparing for competitions, I have nine or ten training sessions a week. Gaining weight and handling the heavy training load are quite difficult, both physically and mentally.”
In addition to technique and physical training, weight loss must also be factored in, which makes the preparation demanding for both body and mind.
At the same time, he sees these periods as opportunities for growth. “Every time you get through it, you come out stronger for the next round of preparation.”
Losses Are Part of Competition
For Kaju, development doesn’t end with a loss. Rather, a poor result provides extra motivation for future training sessions. “Losing isn’t pleasant, but after every loss, I’ve come back stronger. It gives me more drive to keep working.” Alongside victories, he considers losses an inevitable part of competitive sports—especially when the goal is to constantly test oneself against stronger opponents.
"Losing is never pleasant, but after every loss, I’ve come back much stronger."
— Sander Kaju
The Next Goal Is The Clash 5
At the time of the interview, Kaju was first preparing for a summer competition and then for The Clash 5. Instead of making very long-term plans, he prefers to focus on the next match. “First, I want to win my next competition, and after that comes The Clash 5. I’ll keep training and competing—time will tell where it all leads.”
Ahead of the match in Tallinn, Kaju promises he has no plans to hold back. “It’s going to be a very tough battle. I won’t give in, and I’ll fight until the end.”
The Clash 5 will take place on October 24, 2026, at the Unibet Arena in Tallinn as the final night of the European Combat Sports Festival.
- The European Combat Sports Festival 2026 will take place October 20–24 at the Unibet Arena in Tallinn. The festival will culminate on October 24 with the Main Event, The Clash 5.
- Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.