Niklas Stolze discovered martial arts during his youth in Schönebeck. image: Oktogaon
Interview
Niklas Stolze is one of the best MMA fighters in Germany. Before the fight against Christian Jungwirth, the 32-year-old talks to Watson in an interview about fatherhood, spirituality and his training to become a ranger.
21.11.2025, 07:5721.11.2025, 10:37
The name “Greenmask” lights up and the clock face shows 2:03 p.m. Niklas Stolze appears in portrait format, black cap, long beard – three minutes later than agreed.
The reason for his delay is somewhat unusual: a magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Cyprus. “My carport just collapsed on me,” says Stolze, sounding surprisingly calm.
Stolze has been living and training on the Mediterranean island for over a year. He built a new life there with his wife, child and dogs – far from his home in Schönebeck, where life shaped him into a fighter.
watson: Your fight against Christian Jungwirth on November 22nd is considered the highlight of the year in the scene. Are you feeling scared yet?
Niklas Stolze: I’m just happy – I’m not afraid of the fight. Things used to be different when I was a young boy. I took everything dead seriously. Today I’m 32, so you know there’s no point in driving yourself crazy. I’m only afraid of what I can’t predict. But I’ll put that aside. I live in the here and now – and everything is good right now: the baby is doing great, everything is going well.
How has being a caged father changed you?
Since becoming a father, I have felt a new motivation. When the coach calls: ‘Come on, last lap, think of the little one!’ – then that pushes me enormously. Now there’s someone I want to make proud.
You grew up without a father. How does this shape your own role as a father?
I try to be the best dad possible for my son. But if at the age of 18 he says: ‘Ciao, I’m pissing off now’ – then that’s okay. I don’t think children owe their parents anything. Likewise vice versa. My father was 19 when I was born and was in prison when I was little. He doesn’t owe me anything. When I think about what I was like when I was 19, if you had given me the little man back then, I would probably have crashed out. Now I’m 32, my life is on a stable foundation. Now I can care and be a good father.
Growing up without a father – how did you deal with it?
I couldn’t talk about it for a long time. Even last year it was still difficult. Every time I talked about my father, I almost cried.
“Too much ‘Peace, Love and Harmony’ can be dangerous in the cage.”
What helped you come to terms with this?
Actually, it all started in Cyprus when I emigrated to resettle myself. There I met Julian, who introduced me to breathwork – that was the starting signal for my overcoming trauma. I went on a breathing journey with him that was like therapy. We breathed and meditated for three hours. A lot of it was about my father.
Would you say you are a spiritual person?
Spirituality has been on my mind for years. It started with a documentary about pyramids. Later, a Canadian training partner helped me rediscover spirituality. But he also taught me to be careful: too much ‘Peace, Love and Harmony’ can be dangerous in the cage. As a fighter you must not lose your aggressiveness.
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Christian Jungwirth has announced that he will kill you. How much show is there in MMA – and how much is real?
Some promoters would like more trash talk, but that’s not my style. I have nothing against Christian and I’m not going to start insulting him pointlessly. We’ll hit each other in the face anyway – there’s no need to artificially light a fire beforehand. And honestly: kill me with two gloves? This will be difficult (laughs).
Does that mean: the type of production doesn’t actually suit you?
I’m one of the old school: I’d rather keep my mouth shut for six weeks and knock out my opponent in the first round – and only then tell me what happened. Sure, I understand the business aspect, MMA is ultimately a product to be sold. But all this pre-fight talk is just not for me.
Andrew Tate, Donald Trump and Joe Rogan are among the sport’s biggest fans. Why does MMA attract men like this?
MMA is a strongly male-dominated sport. It stands for toughness and intensity and naturally attracts people who identify with these characteristics. This also includes guys like Andrew Tate or Donald Trump, who embody a very traditional image of masculinity. People like her will always be part of the MMA world. There’s nothing you can do about that.
“Without martial arts I would definitely have ended up in the rocker scene. Or with the hooligans.”
Because you can’t change what sport stands for?
MMA is uncompromising. Sport does not allow for weakness. That’s what sets him apart. Things get tough at the age of 15 – in the end only the really tough guys survive. And many of them today come from Dagestan, where toughness is part of the culture. Fighters from the Eastern Bloc are increasingly shaping MMA, while Germans are becoming less common. But our sport is also a mirror of society, with all its challenges, but also with incredible potential for change. MMA is not the problem, for many it is the solution.
Why are there fewer and fewer top-level fighters in this country?
German fighters have become softer. I notice this myself in children’s training: Many people tell me they want to become a Twitcher or YouTuber. Kids today have completely different role models than we used to.
How did your career lead you to martial arts?
Actually, I was never the type of person who was predisposed to fighting. I was a track and field athlete and a soccer player. But my environment, the place where I grew up, shaped me into a fighter. Schönebeck wasn’t a crime hotspot, but it was rough. As a young guy, you often had to assert yourself – sometimes your fists would fly.
Then you discovered MMA.
Through MMA I managed to escape it. Suddenly I was no longer out and about in the nightlife, but instead went to the gym twice a day, ate healthily, and slept on the weekends so that I could train again on Mondays. Sport stopped me from doing stupid things.
Where would you be today without martial arts?
If Sasha had me [Poppendieck, Anm. d. Red.] If I hadn’t been approached at the club back then and told I should come to training – and if I hadn’t been so fascinated by the sport – then I would definitely have ended up in the rocker scene. Or with the hooligans.
Would you say martial arts has made you a better person?
100 percent. For me, he changed my life for the better. Fighting is something very emotional, very personal. You go deep within yourself, fight your own demons and face your fears. My girlfriend also tells me that I am a much better version of myself than I was seven years ago.
In South Africa you will train to become a ranger. What connects being a ranger and fighting?
I’m interested in being a ranger because it’s very similar to what I do anyway. Rangers put themselves in enormous danger every day to protect animals. So when you come across a group of six men with rifles, chainsaws and cleavers who want to kill a rhino – and you have to stop them – there’s a hell of a lot of thrill and adrenaline involved.
Niklas Stolze (m.) is training to become a ranger.image: private
As a trained ranger, you would be well prepared for the wilderness. Could you imagine taking part in 7 vs. Wild?
Unfortunately, my good friend Fritz Meinecke is no longer part of the format, so participation is rather out of the question for me. But Fritz is already working on new projects and we are in discussions. I think you will also see me in an outdoor format on YouTube in the future.
Through a partnership with Europe’s largest MMA organizer, OKTAGON MMA, RTL will show more than 15 events per year for the next three years as well as documentaries, detailed fighter portraits and deep insights into the world of mixed martial arts on RTL+.
