Mathias Säwert from Luckenwalde lives his dream as an MMA trainer

Luckenwalde. October 12th, when MMA will be in the spotlight in Frankfurt am Main in dimensions never seen before, will be a milestone in the history of extreme martial arts, Mathias Säwert has no doubt about that. “Around 60,000 spectators are expected at the fight night,” says the 34-year-old coach about a major stadium event organized by Oktagon in the Main metropolis. “There has never been a mixed martial arts event like this in Germany, this is a big step for our sport.”

October is still quite far away and Frankfurt am Main is a long way away when Mathias Säwert is doing basic work in Luckenwalde on a Friday evening in August. In the afternoon, the beginners’ class at the “4Fight” martial arts school sweated and hit, now sparring is on the agenda for the advanced students. Rap ​​music floods through the training room in the background and somehow adrenaline is in the air. Bass and the dull sound of blows hitting the protectors mix to create the typical gym beat.

“30 seconds left,” calls Säwert, and during the break he advises a fighter to be “a bit more relaxed, more technical.” Then he says for the interview: “Sparring is the simulation of the competition. You use the techniques you have learned during the week.” In martial arts, you could also say that it is the simulation of an emergency, when the time comes in the ring or, as in MMA, in the cage where the opponent is lurking – when everything has to work at the limit.

Mathias Säwert trained with Daniel Weichel, who is world-famous in the scene

Säwert worked as a roofer for ten years, and for the past year he has been working full-time as a mixed martial arts trainer, moving between the basic and professional levels like a punching bag being hit in the gym. Three days a week he coaches amateur fighters in Luckenwalde, and he also looks after professional athletes in Berlin who compete for the MMA organization Oktagon, which has Czech-Slovak roots, among others.

His crew also includes Niko Samsonidze, an up-and-coming talent with star potential. “Niko should start in Frankfurt,” says the Luckenwalde native, who began wrestling at preschool age and later tried weightlifting.

But MMA was his calling. “It appealed to me that it basically combines all the elements of martial arts,” says Säwert, who later moved to Frankfurt am Main and trained and learned from 2012 to 2015 with the pioneers of the extreme sport at “MMA Spirit”, a martial arts and fitness studio and one of Germany’s top addresses for mixed martial arts.

“That’s how I got into this MMA thing. I trained there with the most famous athletes – like Daniel Weichel, who is world-famous in the scene. “That’s where I got the foundation for MMA knowledge,” says Säwert, “and I’m even happier that I can introduce people to my sport here in my hometown, where it all started.” I would be happy if we had talent here at some point that we could send to the big octagon stage.”

Protagonists in the ZDF documentary “Fight Hard, Fight Fair – MMA Fighters in Germany”

In the meantime, Säwert from Teltow-Fläming has managed to make the leap from the edge of the big stage into the limelight: Along with Niko Samsonidse, he is one of the protagonists in the three-part ZDF documentary “Fight Hard, Fight Fair – MMA Fighters in Germany”, which was broadcast a few weeks ago.

“The report was even shown in the cinema in Luckenwalde,” reports Säwert, “it was quite full.” Thanks to the media work, acceptance has increased, many no longer see the sport in such a negative light. “It is respected that the fighters train very hard,” says Mathias Säwert.

Mathias Säwert watches an MMA fight in the cage.

Source: private, Lars Sittig

The MMA fighters not only fight in the cage, but also against a lot of criticism and prejudice. Critics complain that the fights are too brutal and the risk of injury is high. In Luckenwalde, fighters use MMA sparring gloves with padding and shin guards.

“Of course, it can happen that you get a bloody nose,” says Säwert about the duels in the district town’s gym, “but the fighters are protected by padded gloves and shin guards and they don’t hit with full force. It’s not about us hurting each other.”

MMA fighters like Irishman Conor McGregor have become superstars

Things are different in the cage: The fighters only wear light gloves and on the ring floor, when a boxing match is interrupted, the MMA fight continues with punches and kicks. Amateur fights last three times three minutes – in professional duels, three rounds of five minutes each are completed. The duel ends prematurely with a submission by “tapping out”, a knockout or a stoppage by the referee. A point victory is also possible.

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After its early days, MMA became increasingly popular in the 1990s thanks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s largest MMA tournament organizer, and TV broadcasts of the competitions. MMA has now long since developed from a niche sport with a backroom image into a global crowd puller, with the industry’s poster boys earning millions.

Fighters like the Irishman Conor McGregor have become superstars. The increasing popularity is also creating jobs in the back rows – like for Mathias Säwert. “The most obvious sign of the increasing popularity is that large halls or even stadiums are now being filled,” says Säwert, “but even here on a smaller scale things are progressing little by little.” More people are coming to train, including from other cities.”

In Germany, the “German Mixed Martial Arts Federation” (GEMMAF) was founded in 2014

In Germany, the “German Mixed Martial Arts Federation” (GEMMAF) has now been founded, which “has been pursuing the vision of recognizing MMA in Germany since 2014,” according to the website. Together with the UFC and the world umbrella organization IMMAF, they are committed to making MMA an Olympic sport.

On October 12th, when it’s not balls that fly in the arena of the Bundesliga soccer club Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main, but fists and feet, Mathias Säwert will live his dream a little more: Then he’ll be right in the middle of it all, in the heart of German MMA country, down at the ring.

But first of all, the end of training in the gym in the south of the Teltow-Fläming district is approaching. In any case, the fighters do not seem like rivals, but rather like a community that indulges in the same passion, pulls together, hits the same punching bag and fights towards the same goal: being ready to compete. “Some of the guys have already competed in amateur competitions and I believe that other fighters will soon be able to fight a fight,” predicts coach Säwert.

As a roofer high above the rooftops, the feeling of freedom comes from a cage. “I can’t imagine anything that would liberate me as much as this work.” There is nothing better than doing something you are passionate about professionally and working with people who have the same passion. I get to live my dream, absolutely.”

MAZ