The green mask is back
Niklas "Green Mask" Stolze is one of the best-known German MMA fighters. The 30-year-old was already under contract with industry leader UFC, but now steps into the cage with Czech promoter Oktagon. After an 18-month break, he celebrated his comeback in front of 19,000 spectators in Cologne - with success and power. In an interview with ntv.de, he talks about his return, why the East deserves a big MMA event and why 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. Your intro already had it all. How was the experience in Cologne, performing in front of 19,000 spectators?
The energy was tremendous. I'm not really a big fan of putting on a show, 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, of the D-Generation X around Triple H. They've always been able to put on a show and provide entertainment, and that's something that's come into our sport. But that doesn't mean you have to make trash talk and insult people, because we're already hitting each other properly and not in the WWE. The entrance into the arena should get people in the mood for the fight and entertain them.
The fight against Andrej Kalasnik then started in the same way as your last fight in the UFC against Benoit Saint-Denis. An early takedown led to the defeat back then. What was different this time?
For one thing, Saint-Denis is now one of the ten best UFC fighters in his weight class and is simply a bit better. Secondly, Kalasnik used up a lot of energy right at the start and I noticed that. His body triangle and bodylock were very strong. I would have had to invest a lot of strength to break the hold. He then exhausted himself and I was able to stand up.
I got a knee to the head straight away...
That was good - after that I was awake and was able to implement my game plan. Kalasnik isn't that good with his footwork. That's why we wanted to work with right straights instead of jabs. I hit two jabs straight away and then had the distance. Then came a right and a left hook and then he was already knocked out.
To get back on the road to success, you tried everything in the sport of MMA: new scientific methods in terms of training and nutrition, you even starved and sweated your way down a weight class to 70 kilograms. In Cologne, however, we saw a different Niklas Stolze, especially in terms of charisma and character - you seem much more relaxed and calm. Is this your version 2.0?
It's a new version now. I've simply grown up. At 30, I have the feeling that something has clicked. You want a bit more out of life. I have a great wife by my side and a great team too. I've fought on such a big stage, millions of people have seen my fights. Now the focus is on having fun and I get a lot of energy from my team. We have a lot of young people at La Onda Gym in Magdeburg, they all come up because I train them together with my coach Sascha Poppendieck. And yes, it's the new Niklas. That in any case.
With 19,000 spectators in the Lanxess Arena, the stage hasn't gotten any smaller now. What's it like at Oktagon MMA if you've been to the UFC before?
The process at the UFC is a bit different. Everything concerning media, training sessions or press conferences is so strictly planned. If it says: you have to be there at 7:14 pm. Then you're there at 19:14 and not a minute later. The financial possibilities are simply greater in the USA - regardless of the UFC. But I have a super cool contract with Oktagon and can earn good money. I'm super grateful for that because it's now a priority. As an MMA fighter, you train so much, you fight and you 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 size in the east?
There is a large hall in Leipzig and there is the Getec Arena in Magdeburg with 5500 spectators. That's also a cauldron. I believe that with the talent available in the East, it can all be managed. The east also has a great fan culture. We'll see what happens and whether I fight in Oberhausen. As I said, I still have a few plans. I'm going to go to South Africa again. I want to do a ranger training course. I want to get involved in a project that a friend of mine has started.
In sporting terms, you talked about "One Last Run" on your social channels before the fight with Kalasnik. That sounds like a foreseeable end to your career. Would you have hung up your gloves if you had lost?
That's 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 a back door. It was clear to me that if I put everything into it now and can't beat this man, then I might not have what it takes to get to the top again. Then I would probably have quit - but with one eye crying and one eye laughing. Because I've already achieved so much for myself in the sport. But we'll keep going on this last run until we strap the gold around our hips.
Christian Eckerlin or Christian Jungwirth - there are several German fighters in your weight class at Oktagon. Would that be an additional incentive to have a German-German duel on German soil? It hasn't happened at this level yet.
I'm good friends with Christian Eckerlin. The match won't happen. Many people have actually asked me that.
Not even if it was for the Oktagon title?
If it was for the title, then that's something else. Then we'd also be talking about more money. I don't think that will happen in terms of time. Christian is 36 now, I'm 30, there's a few years difference and I think we can both be successful. He'll be champion, I'll be champion - but not in a direct clash in the cage.
Michael Bauer spoke to Niklas Stolze
Source: www.ntv.de
