Stolze celebrates cage comeback
The green mask is back
November 25, 2023, 8:14 a.m
Niklas “Green Mask” Stolze is one of the most famous German MMA fighters. The 30-year-old was already under contract with the industry leader UFC, and is now getting into the cage with the Czech organizer Oktagon. After an 18-month break, he celebrated his comeback in front of 19,000 spectators in Cologne – with success and impact. In an interview with ntv.de he talks about his return, why the East deserves a big MMA event and a fight with Christian Eckerlin could only take place under one condition.
The green mask as a trademark, hard rock and another homage to the Attitude Era of the WWE. Everything was already there in your intro. What was the experience like arriving in Cologne in front of 19,000 spectators?
The energy was extremely intense. I’m actually not a big fan of doing shows, but this time I had it planned out in my head the whole time. The music is a little tribute to my Hardy Boys. I’ve always been a fan of wrestling, from D-Generation X around Triple H. They were always good at show and entertainment, which then came into our sport. But you don’t have to trash talk and insult people because we really hit each other and then we don’t in the WWE. The march into the hall is intended to prepare the mood for the fight and entertain the people.
The fight against Andrej Kalasnik started the way your last fight in the UFC against Benoit Saint-Denis started. An early takedown resulted in the defeat. What was different this time?
On the one hand, Saint-Denis is now among the ten best UFC fighters in his weight class and is simply a little better. On the other hand, Kalasnik used a lot of energy right from the start and I noticed that. His body triangle and body lock were very strong. I would have had to use a lot of force to break the handle open. He then exhausted himself and I was able to sit up.
There was a knee to the head right away…
That was good – after that I was awake and was able to carry out my game plan. Kalasnik is not very well versed in footwork. That’s why we wanted to work with right straights instead of jabs. I hit two jabs directly and then had the distance. Then came a right and a left hook and then he was knocked out
In order to get back on the road to success, you tried everything in the sport of MMA: new scientific methods when it came to training and nutrition, you even starved yourself down a weight class to 70 kilograms and sweated. In Cologne, however, we experienced a different Niklas Stolze, especially in terms of charisma and character – you seem much more relaxed and calm. Is this your version 2.0?
This is now a new version. I’m just an adult. At 30, I feel like something clicked. You want to get a little more out of life. I have a great woman by my side and also a great team. I fought on such a big stage, millions of people saw my fights. Now the focus is on fun and I get a lot of energy from my team. We have a lot of young people at the La Onda Gym in Magdeburg, they all come up because I train them together with my coach Sascha Poppendieck. And yes, it is the new Niklas. Definitely that.
With 19,000 spectators in the Lanxess Arena, the stage has not become any smaller. What is it like at Oktagon MMA if you have previously experienced the UFC?
The process in the UFC is a little different. Everything when it comes to media, training sessions or press conferences is all so strictly planned. If it says: 7:14 p.m. you have to be there. Then you’ll be there at 7:14 p.m. and not a minute later. The financial possibilities for this are simply greater in the USA – regardless of the UFC. But I have a great contract with Oktagon and can earn good money. I’m super grateful for that because it’s a priority now. As an MMA fighter you train so much, you fight and get money that has to last for several months. You need planning security – especially because I want to start a family, I want to have a child, I want to be a dad.
Oktagon has already announced Oberhausen and Stuttgart as events for Germany next year. In both cases these are arenas with at least 10,000 spectators. Wouldn’t it be time for an event of this magnitude in the East?
There is a large hall in Leipzig and there is the Getec Arena in Magdeburg with 5,500 spectators. This is also a cauldron. I believe that with the talent that is there in the East, all of this can be achieved. The East also has a great fan culture. We’ll see what happens and whether I fight in Oberhausen. Like I said, I still have a few plans now. For me it will be back to South Africa. I would like to do ranger training. I would like to get a little involved in a project that a friend of mine opened.
From a sporting perspective, you talked about “One Last Run” on your social channels before the fight with Kalasnik. That sounds like the end of his career is foreseeable. Would you have hung up your gloves if you had lost?
That is hard to say. I toyed with the idea but didn’t voice it because I didn’t want to manifest it in my head. There was this back door. It was clear to me: If I put everything into this and then can’t beat this man, then I might not have what it takes to get to the top again. Then I would probably have stopped – but with a crying and laughing eye. Because I have already achieved so much in the sport. But we’ll do this last run until we strap the gold around our waists.
Christian Eckerlin or Christian Jungwirth – at Oktagon there are several German fighters in your weight class. Would that be an additional incentive, a German-German duel on German soil? That hasn’t happened at this level before.
I am good friends with Christian Eckerlin. The match will not take place. Many people have actually asked me that.
Not even if it were for the Oktagon title?
If it were about the title, then that would be something else. Then we also talk about more money. I don’t think that will happen due to the timing. Christian is now 36, I’m 30, there’s a few years difference and I think we can both be successful. He will be champion, I will be champion – but not in a direct clash in the cage.
Michael Bauer spoke to Niklas Stolze