One of Estonia’s best-known heavyweight combat sports athletes, Uku “Estonian Thunder” Jürjendal, will step into the cage for the main event of The Clash 5, taking place on October 24 in Tallinn. Jürjendal’s addition means that one of the fighters for the most important bout of The Clash 5 has been confirmed. He is an Estonian combat sports athlete whose recent years have brought major victories, a professional boxing debut, and training sessions with Tyson Fury, one of the world’s top heavyweight fighters.
Jürjendal is known for his aggressive and crowd-pleasing fighting style. He has also said himself that he doesn’t go into the ring looking for a safe result.
“You have to land the knockout punch and go all the way. Always all the way,” Jürjendal has said, describing his fighting philosophy.
"You have to land the punch and go all the way. Always go all the way."
— Uku Jürjendal
According to him, timing is just as crucial as strength in the heavyweight division. “A very important nuance is knowing how to land a punch in between—at the exact moment when your opponent is coming at you and hitting you.”
Fury’s training camp confirmed Jürjendal’s level
One of the most notable periods of Jürjendal’s career came this year, when the Estonian trained at Tyson Fury’s camp in Thailand. Jürjendal trained with Fury for two months and sparred with him three times a week. He had to prove himself right from the very first training sessions at the camp.
“They didn’t give me time to adjust. I had to show right away who I was,” Jürjendal has said.
In his own words, the experience also confirmed that he can compete with the world’s top fighters in professional boxing.
Jürjendal has attracted a lot of international attention this year. His training sessions with Fury were covered by several publications, and Fury himself has recognized the Estonian as a sparring partner.
Jürjendal: Progress
Makes Me Happy One of the greatest achievements of Jürjendal’s career is his 2023 TKO victory over kickboxing legend Badr Hari. This past June, he ended his bout against Finnish fighter Sebastian Johansson in Tallinn in the very first round, knocking out his opponent with a right hook.
Alongside his success, Jürjendal emphasizes his steady progress.
“Progress makes me happy. If I can get even a little better every day, that’s all that matters. Everything else is secondary,” he has said.
"Progress makes me happy. If I can get even a little better every day, that’s all that matters."
— Uku Jürjendal
The same principle is reflected in his approach to training. According to Jürjendal, the work of a top athlete cannot depend on whether he feels motivated on any given day.
“If I promise or tell myself to do something, there’s no getting out of it. I just have to go and do it.”
The Clash 5 will take place on October 24 in
Tallinn The Clash 5 will take place on October 24, 2026, in Tallinn as part of an international combat sports festival. Jürjendal will compete in the main event of the evening, but the organizers have not yet revealed the name of his opponent.
Given Jürjendal’s career so far, we can expect an aggressive fight in the main event. He has previously said that even as he works toward his biggest goals, he focuses first and foremost on what he can control.
“I always do my best and give it my all. I leave everything that’s beyond my control up to the Creator.”