Niklas Stolze

Niklas Stolze (born December 28, 1992) is a German former mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division. A professional since 2014, he most notably competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Oktagon MMA.

Background Stolze began his career in Combat Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 15, then switched to kickboxing two years later through his coach Sascha Poppendieck. But the goal was always MMA, deciding in 2014 to pursue a career as an MMA professional. On top of MMA, Stolze also completed training as a welder.

He is the first East German to be signed to the UFC.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Stolze spent most of his pre-UFC career fighting on the European regional scene, compiling a 12–3 record, with two of his losses coming the way of unanimous decision at BAMMA, losing to Terry Brazier at BAMMA 27 and Chris Stringer at BAMMA 30.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Stolze made his UFC debut, as a replacement for Shavkat Rakhmonov, against Ramazan Emeev on July 26, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till. Stolze lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Stolze was scheduled to face Mounir Lazzez on July 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland. However, Lazzez pulled out just a few days before the event due to visa issues and was replaced by Jared Gooden. He lost the fight via knockout in round one.

Stolze faced Benoît Saint-Denis on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik. Stolze lost the bout after getting submitted in the second round.

On June 9, 2022, it was announced that Stolze was released from the UFC.

Oktagon MMA Stolze faced Andrej Kalašnik on November 18, 2023, at Oktagon 49, winning the bout via first-round knockout.

In his sophomore performance, Stolze faced Máté Kertész on Marc 23, 2024 at Oktagon 55, being submitted in the second round via rear-naked choke.

Stolze faced Matouš Kohout on September 7, 2024, at Oktagon 60, winning the bout via flying knee TKO in the first round.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Tyrone Pfeifer TKO (punches) Oktagon 90

Berlin, Germany Loss

Christian Jungwirth TKO (punches) Oktagon 80

Munich, Germany Loss

Jessin Ayari Submission (rear-naked choke) Oktagon 73

Hamburg, Germany Win

Matouš Kohout TKO (flying knee and punches) Oktagon 60

Oberhausen, Germany Loss

Máté Kertész Submission (rear-naked choke) Oktagon 55

Stuttgart, Germany Win

Andrej Kalašnik KO (punches) Oktagon 49

Cologne, Germany Loss

Benoît Saint-Denis Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jared Gooden KO (punch) UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ramazan Emeev Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Omar Jesus Santana Decision (unanimous) Nova FC 1

Balingen, Germany Win

Christian Draxler TKO (punches) Cage Fight Series 9

Graz, Austria Win

Jan Janka Submission (rear-naked choke) Oktagon 7

Prague, Czech Republic Win

Johannes Michalik Submission (rear-naked choke) Hype FC 8

Bremen, Germany Loss

Chris Stringer Decision (unanimous) BAMMA 30

Dublin, Ireland Win

Mahmod Faour Decision (unanimous) Magdeburger Cage 1

Magdeburg, Germany Loss

Terry Brazier Decision (unanimous) BAMMA 27

Dublin, Ireland Win

Maxime Vanelstraete Submission (rear-naked choke) Imperium FC 5

Leipzig, Germany Win

Johannes Grebe Submission (armbar) Superior FC 14

Düren, Germany Win

Rastislav Hanulay Decision (unanimous) Imperium FC 4

Leipzig, Germany Win

Florent Conte TKO (punches) Imperium FC 3

Leipzig, Germany Loss

Sebastian Reimitz Decision (split) Ravage Series: Finest MMA

Hamburg, Germany Win

Max Rose KO (head kick) Imperium FC 2

Leipzig, Germany Win

Nils Fischer Submission (guillotine choke) La Onda Fight Club: MMA Gladiators

Magdeburg, Germany Win

Lauris Leitans TKO (punches) Imperium FC 1

Leipzig, Germany