By Murdo Todd
With under two weeks to go until the 2025 IMMAF European Championships kicks off, over 800 of the finest amateur fighters from across the continent are wrapping up their preparation.
Germany, fielding a team of 23 strong, will be travelling to Belgrade with a mix of IMMAF veterans and fresh talent, all fully intent on claiming a spot on the podium.
Included in the squad will be former IMMAF World and 2x European Champion, Anna Gaul. The 25-year-old will make her return to the IMMAF stage after a three-year lay-off, with her impressive resume marking her as a frontrunner to challenge for Sr. flyweight gold. Watch for Gaul to throw up her signature armbar, having won three fights with that technique, including her pivotal victory in the 2019 World Championships final.
Another flyweight tipped to make a serious run is Katharina Roesen. The Junior competitor will look to continue on from an excellent 2024, which saw her collect bronze at the World Championship and a Silver at the Youth Worlds. With both her Jr. victories coming by impressive stoppage, Roesen will be a tricky customer to whomever she is matched up against.
Following his promising showing at the 2024 IMMAF World Championships, Lewis Ndzana now takes aim at European Jr. gold. Only losing his semi-final matchup to eventual winner, Ibrohim Rakhimzoda, Ndzana will head into this competition a much more seasoned fighter. The Nuremberg-based fighter went 5-2 in 2024, capturing the German national title by knocking out fellow compatriot Yannick Riebe.
The full Team Germany roster is as follows:
Youth
- Maximilian Friezen
- Nathaniel Imranov
- Nick Voss
- Julian Gerhofer
- Enrique De Oliveira Schlicht
- Rustem Scholauschinow
- Leonard Starkloff
- Derk Langerwisch
- Ryan Langerwisch
- Michelle Becker
- Samira Kindermann
- Daria Kasten
- Lara Groh
Junior
- Lewis Ndzana
- Oskar Sennewald
- Katharina Roesen
Senior
- Milad Fuladi
- Martin Horsch
- Mert Basbudak
- Yannick Riebe
- Sedat Demir
- Anna Gaul
- Kathrin Haeberle
Team Germany will surely be one to watch at this year’s Championships and have the potential to make a push for several medal places. Watch all the action LIVE on IMMAF.tv