Katja Kankaanpää

Katja Kankaanpää (; born June 30, 1981) is a Finnish former mixed martial artist who competed in the strawweight division. She is a former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion. Kankaanpää started martial arts training in her teens when she was 15 years old with Goju-ryu karate. Later, she had interest about combat sports by training submission wrestling and other disciplines. In addition to her career in MMA, she competed in submission wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Her debut fight against Paulina Suska at Oulu Fight 2, was won by unanimous decision. In her next three fights versus Dalia Grakulskyte, Niina Aaltonen and Ekaterina Tarnavskaja Kankaanpää was able to achieve an untimely victory by submission or TKO. The next five fights went the whole distance with four unanimous decision wins against Karla Benitez, Mei Yamaguchi, Aisling Daly and Juliana Carneiro Lima. Only against Simona Soukupova she fought to a split draw. On May 17, 2014 Katja returned to the cage at Lappeenranta Fight Night 10 in Finland where she defeated Ukrainian Alyona Rassohyna via submission in round 2. This fight took place outside her InvictaFC contract.

Invicta Fighting Championships According to her manager, Kankaanpää took the fight against Daly in Cage Warriors to get Invicta's attention. Kankaanpää was offered a contract with Invicta Fighting Championships immediately after she emerged victorious from the fight with Daly. The bout was named "Fight of the Night". On January 17, 2015 Invicta FC announced the prolonging of the contract for 3 more fights.

Katja's first title defense took place at Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza on April 24, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. After dominating the first three rounds, she got caught by Brazilian Lívia Renata Souza in the fourth in a Triangle choke and had to tap out.

Kankaanpää fought DeAnna Bennett in Kansas City on September 12 in the co-main event of Invicta FC 14. Kankaanpää lost the fight via controversial unanimous decision and subsequently announced her retirement from MMA the following day.

Personal life Katja is married; her maiden name was Katja Kalliokoski. She studied electronic business and is currently working as a media person in charge.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Invicta Fighting Championships Strawweight Champion (One time) Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Stephanie Eggink Awards Nordic Female Fighter of the Year 2014 Sportswoman of 2014 (MMA)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

DeAnna Bennett Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 14: Evinger vs. Kianzad

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Lívia Renata Souza Submission (triangle choke) Invicta FC 12: Kankaanpää vs. Souza

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Stephanie Eggink Submission (D'Arce choke) Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Alyona Rassohyna Submission (armbar) Lappeenranta Fight Night 10

Lappeenranta, Finland Loss

Joanne Calderwood Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Win

Juliana Carneiro Lima Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 5: Penne vs. Waterson April 5, 2013

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Invicta FC Debut. Win

Aisling Daly Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors: 51 December 31, 2012

Dublin, Ireland Draw

Simona Soukupova Draw (split) BP 12 – Botnia Punishment 12 March 23, 2012

Seinäjoki, Finland Win

Mei Yamaguchi Decision (unanimous) BP 11 – Kankaanpää vs. Yamaguchi March 23, 2012

Seinäjoki, Finland Win

Karla Benitez Decision (unanimous) Cage 16 – 1st Defense October 8, 2011

Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland Win

Ekaterina Tarnavskaja Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage 15 – Powered by Reezig April 29, 2011

Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland Win

Niina Aaltonen Submission (D'Arce choke) BP 9 – Animal Factory October 9, 2010

Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland Win

Dalia Grakulskyte TKO (punches) BP Fight Night 2 – Rumble in Amarillo April 17, 2010

Vaasa, Ostrobothnia, Finland Win

Paulina Suska Decision (unanimous) OF – Oulu Fight 2 March 27, 2010

Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland