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The Frankfurt boy Max Coga is double champion of NFC – Germany’s largest and best-known MMA organization. © NFC
He rocked the sold-out Süwag Arena with mixed martial arts. In his private life he adopts a thoughtful tone.
Frankfurt – He is now double champion of NFC – Germany’s largest and best-known organization: Max Coga – MMA fighter with a heart for children. MMA stands for mixed martial arts. This is a full-contact martial art, a mixture of different martial arts disciplines such as boxing, kickboxing, taekwondo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling or judo, in which the opponents compete in a cage. “I am featherweight and lightweight champion. So I went up a weight class. Of course that involves a risk,” emphasizes the 34-year-old, who grew up in the Bahnhofsviertel and is now the third generation to run the nightclub “Pik Dame”.
He consciously took the sporting risk. “I made it my mission to become the first double champion.” He succeeded. “The additional highlight is that the fight took place in the Süwag-Energie-Arena and was sold out,” said the Frankfurt boy, who is happy about his home game. “I have never fought as a professional in Frankfurt in my entire career, so it was a very special moment,” said Coga.
This moment was so important to him that he dedicated it to “all mothers who fight for their children.” Just like his mother once did. “She was a single parent raising three children and took a lot of risks so we could fulfill our dreams. For this reason it was very important to me to make this dedication.”
Many would have expected him to end his career and resign after this success. But: “I still have a lot to do. I don’t want to go too far out on a limb, but I will fight in Frankfurt again,” he announces. Negotiations on this are already underway. And the double champion reveals this much: “Although this victory was already historic, it will be even more monumental. There will be more MMA history to be made.”
“I have achieved a lot in this sport.” But for him it is about more than just fighting. “I want to inspire young people. I want to motivate them to stand up for their dreams.” Despite his many trophies, he knows one thing: “It’s about the journey, not the result. It doesn’t matter if things don’t go the way you imagine. You can always build on it. That’s what makes a successful person, that’s what young people should learn.”
Coga wouldn’t be Coga if he just talked about it. “That’s why I decided to found a non-profit organization.” He called it “Quantix” – a boxing and basketball club. “Frankfurt and sport have given me a lot and I want to give something back.” It is important to him to integrate people from other cultural circles. With the help of sport and music. “Because these are elements that bring people together across borders.”
“A club like this not only offers the opportunity to teach children and young people discipline. What is more important is that they receive a guide to follow. “It also helps prevent violence,” says Coga, listing the advantages. On board: Daniel Weichel, “one of my best friends and one of the most successful fighters,” says Coga happily. With him he already runs a foundation in Zanzibar that imparts knowledge about sport and education.
“You can use martial arts to educate people, make them aware of how dangerous uncontrolled violence can be and that they need to use martial arts skills responsibly,” says Coga. He himself is “not a fan of violence”. MMA was his opportunity to “get to know myself better. “It is therefore clear that we want to educate young people to stay away from negative temptations.” And there are more than enough of them in the Bahnhofsviertel.
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But he can’t get started yet. “The hall is failing,” complains Coga, who adds, however, that the city is helping him find a suitable location. Preferably in the train station district.
2024-05-02 07:04:37
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