MMA fighter Christian Eckerlin helped Brighton and fills stadiums in Frankfurt
Former footballer turned MMA star Christian Eckerlin shared his combat sports expertise with Brighton players and is preparing for what could be his final fight in Frankfurt.
OKTAGON OKTAGON
39-year-old MMA fighter Christian Eckerlin was brought in by Brighton & Hove Albion last season to assist with their set-piece training. Using his expertise from mixed martial arts, he taught the squad wrestling, head control, and hip positioning to help them physically challenge opponents more effectively.
Eckerlin, who was a professional footballer in Germany before his transition to MMA, believes the Premier League is highly physical and that players often lack the specific body awareness used in grappling. He noted that players like Danny Welbeck, James Milner, and Lewis Dunk particularly excelled in grasping the techniques he demonstrated.
The collaboration was facilitated by Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, who knows Eckerlin through a mutual friend. While Eckerlin remains modest about his role, he feels his training provided the players with essential tools for the pitch.
Looking ahead, Eckerlin is preparing for Oktagon 94 in Frankfurt, where he is set to fight David Kozma in front of nearly 60,000 fans. With this potentially being the final fight of his 26-bout career, Eckerlin describes competing at the Waldstadion as a career-defining moment, fulfilling a childhood dream that began when he attended matches at the stadium as a boy.