Christian Eckerlin, a 39‑year‑old MMA veteran, helped Brighton’s set‑piece training with wrestling, head and hip control. His advice opened doors for the Seagulls, who rose to third after a 3‑0 win over Arsenal. A former German pro footballer (2005‑2009) for SV Darmstadt, Eckerlin dreamed of performing at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Waldstadion.

In 2024 he headlined Oktagon in front of nearly 60,000 fans, beating Christian Jungwirth, and returns for Oktagon 94 against David Kozma with a similar crowd expected. Growing up in Erbach, he played youth football alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mats Hummels before leaving the game at 20. Now near the end of his 26‑fight MMA career, Eckerlin reflects on his impact on German MMA and his final fight in his hometown.