Earlier this year, we traveled to Denmark to attend MMA Galla. The idea came from a conversation with my friend Lukas from MMA Snacket. He had been invited, and we thought it could be interesting to go together. Not with a fixed plan, but with curiosity. To see how another organization runs their event, discover new fighters, and explore the possibility of collaboration.
We arrived several days early. Partly to get settled, but mostly to understand the place, the fighters, and the overall atmosphere. It had been several years since I last visited Denmark, and taking time to absorb the environment shaped how we approached the work.
The team at MMA Galla couldn’t have been more supportive. From the start, they were welcoming, open, and accommodating. That gave us the freedom to move, observe, and work without friction.
We interviewed fighters, watched the fights up close, and captured a large amount of material. Several fighters stood out to me. Fighters I would absolutely be interested in seeing compete in Sweden. Not that I have any influence over that, but some performances were genuinely impressive.
Sometimes the most interesting stories appear when you’re not actively searching for them.
We went into the event without a clear idea of the final product. The goal was simple. Capture as much as possible. Speak to as many fighters as we could. In many ways, I was there more as a reporter than a filmmaker.
That approach taught me a lot.
We tested posting quickly and working slightly outside our comfort zone. The results varied, but the process was valuable. Being close to the event made it clear how much work goes on behind the scenes. Designers, photographers, videographers. All contributing to how these events are experienced and remembered.
Being close to the process builds respect for the people behind it.
Coming home, I felt more refined in how I think about our own work. There are many talented people out there. What matters is not doing everything, but doing the right things well.
For me, that means going deeper into storytelling. Taking time. Being intentional. Otherwise, the work loses its value to me. And more importantly, I believe these athletes deserve to be covered with that level of care, even if it means covering fewer of them.
We gathered a lot of material in Denmark. Enough to be shaped and revisited over time. And even as some fighters have since moved on to bigger stages, the stories captured there still matter.
Sometimes, you don’t find the story by planning it.
You find it by paying attention.
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