The Cologne "Pistolero" speaks through his fists once more.
Thrilling and energetic, Deniz Ilbay storms the cage. His distinctive fighting style captivates many spectators in mixed martial arts. In an interview with ntv.de, he discusses his career, anticipates a "spectacular future" and shares the story behind his peculiar nickname.
At a 2023 event in Cologne's Lanxess Arena with 20,000 onlookers, Ilbay marches in decked out in a Mexican skull mask and sombrero. Combining brutal combat sports and carnival music might seem unusual to non-locals, but the 29-year-old mixed martial artist revels in it. Having endured an almost enchanting career shift from boxing to the cage, "El Pistolero" vows to create a memorable impact at a stadium showdown in Prague in front of 28,000 spectators as he unleashes his fists.
During a chat with ntv.de, Ilbay recollects the origin of his moniker. "In the 2014 World Cup, Luis Suarez scored a goal for Uruguay by mimicking a pistol gesture, and the commentator stated: The Pistolero has struck again. My dad loved it so much that he assumed my overhead punches were as swift as that of someone drawing a revolver. A few months later, I got a matching tattoo on my chest. We've stuck with the nickname, and it represents Cologne, carnival, Mexican culture, and my Mexican-style boxing which is particularly aggressive."
Fans of mixed martial arts would identify Ilbay's boxing style in any of his matches. He drives his opponents into a corner, launches rapid punch combinations, and tries to reduce distance. He also showcases explosive rushes, which allow opponents to retaliate but earns Ilbay endurance points.
A passion for sports was introduced to him by his father, his trainer, mentor, and closest friend. "There's no one in the world who yearns to outperform you than your father. My dad has been that person for me. He's my training partner, coach, mentor, and friend rolled into one. It's incredible to have that support in my sporting journey." Family plays a prominent role in Ilbay's life. "I'm a family man through and through. Many may find it tiring to have two children, yet it's invigorating for me. When I hear the kids calling in the morning, it boosts me - and soon a third one is on the way," Ilbay shares, anticipating parenthood.
Since 2021, Ilbay's livelihood depends on MMA (5 wins, 1 loss). An unsurprising move, given his success in other areas of combat sports such as kickboxing and boxing. "I was the German and European champion in kickboxing. However, I had to switch to boxing due to injuries. I gathered 22 victories out of 25 bouts as a professional boxer. But then Coronavirus occurred, canceling boxing events. MMA events were still active at Dusseldorf's UFD Gym, prompting me to make a switch. My dad and I agreed that if we expanded and refined our techniques, we could thrive there."
To polish his skills, Ilbay spent months in wrestling and grappling. "The strength of a champion like me lies in striking," Ilbay remarks. "I possess sharp eyesight and sometimes feel that I comprehend things quicker, like a fly, and respond appropriately." Any fighter who can match his speed will not survive the first round in MMA.
Ilbay's last bout saw the British Corey Fry attempting to stay on his feet in Cologne but not standing against Ilbay's strong attacks, resulting in his first premature loss in over two decades of professional sports due to an arm lock. "That was my misstep," Ilbay admits today. "I intend to demonstrate that it was a mere aberration."
His upcoming event is scheduled for Oktagon 58 in Prague on June 8. Taking on the Slovak Denis Tripšanský in the featherweight division (up to 66 kilograms), Ilbay predicts a showstopping performance. "He loves to stay on his feet," he assesses his enemy, who boasts a win-loss record of 5-3 so far. "This works to my advantage. I'm confident I'll knock him out in the first round or have him in a submission hold. Something stunning is coming."
Up next, Ilbay stated, "In Frankfurt's stadium, I'd love to be there in October." The Waldstadion is expected to host the emerging sport in Germany on October 12th, with about 55,000 spectators anticipated. This could serve as a stepping stone for larger MMA organizations. Consequently, Ilbay doesn't anticipate a German-German duel. "That would be unfortunate. You could introduce numerous young German fighters into other organizations this way. If you fight each other, one of them will suffer a loss on their record – and the opportunity is gone."
Ilbay also remains connected to kickboxing and boxing. "I'm still involved in those sports," says the 29-year-old. He's particularly enthused by the achievements of boxing European champion Agit Kabayel, who's increasing the prominence of the sport in Germany. "We train together, and he continues to motivate me to return to boxing. Yet, for the present, I'm concentrating on MMA. It promises to be an extraordinary and thrilling career."
