The European Combat Sports Festival, taking place October 20–24 at Unibet Arena in Tallinn, will culminate with The Clash 5 on October 24. One of the event’s main organizers, Mihkel Mihkelson, is tasked with putting together the fight card for the evening—a job that involves months of negotiations, communicating with clubs, and finding the right matchups.
According to Mihkelson, most of the matches are already in the works, but in combat sports, you have to be prepared for last-minute changes. “As of today, most of them are already set. In combat sports, you have to plan very far in advance for anything to happen here at all. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that some matches might not be finalized until just a few days before the event. That’s just how this business works,” he says.
"In combat sports, you have to plan well in advance for anything to happen here at all."
— Mihkel Mihkelson, chief organizer
The higher the level, the more difficult it is to put together matches
When putting together matches, it’s not just the athletes’ level, weight, or past results that matter. For Mihkelson, a match must also have a clear narrative that gives the audience a reason to get excited about it. “The higher the level, the more complicated it becomes to put together matches, because there are more and more different factors that might prevent a certain match from happening,” he explains. “For me, the most important thing is that there’s a story. We’re not just there to fight—it’s a sport. It’s absolutely essential that there be some kind of story and a rivalry even outside the ring. It’s always friendly, of course, but that’s what matters most to me.”
According to Mihkelson, however, this doesn’t mean artificially created drama. A fight night includes a show, but it has to come from the athlete themselves and feel natural. “Everyone knows it’s a show and that you have to put on a show. How much someone puts into it is up to them. Those who put on a bigger show will get more invitations in the future. But we definitely don’t pay anyone to create something fake—that wouldn’t be right. It has to come naturally.”
A fight night includes a show, but it has to come from the athlete themselves and come across as natural.
In combat sports, a high level of athleticism alone is no longer enough
In addition to the matches, the educational program plays an important role at the European Combat Sports Festival. Mihkelson highlights athletes’ personal branding and self-expression skills as key topics. “To make it in combat sports today—for better or worse—it’s unfortunately not enough to just be a good athlete. If you can’t express yourself and promote yourself in front of a microphone, that’s exactly why we have a separate workshop designed to help athletes take their game to an even higher level.”
The festival will also cover topics such as training, nutrition, and mental health. According to Mihkelson, athletes must understand that results aren’t achieved solely through the work done in the gym or in the ring. “Sports aren’t just about what your hands do. It’s about what’s going on in your head and what you put in your mouth. Everything has to be in balance.”
- The 2026 European Combat Sports Festival will take place October 20–24 at Unibet Arena in Tallinn. The festival will culminate on October 24 with the Main Event, The Clash 5.
- Co-funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the Education, Audiovisual, and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.