The German MMA Championship (GMC) event in Gelsenkirchen on March 1, 2025, has become the epicenter of one of the wildest controversies in recent MMA history. Twin brothers Joshua and Jeremias Homberg are at the heart of the drama, accused of pulling off a mid-tournament switcheroo in an amateur heavyweight tournament under the GMC OlympiX banner. What was meant to be a four-man competition allegedly turned into a five-man affair, and the fallout has left fans, fighters, and officials stunned.

The Scandal Unfolds

Joshua Homberg was registered for the tournament and fought Nenad Grujic (also referred to as Aleksandar Grujic in some reports) in the semifinals, securing a win by unanimous decision. However, he appeared to be in rough shape afterward, visibly limping and supported by his brother Jeremias as he left the cage. Reports indicate that Joshua had sustained a leg injury, casting doubt on his ability to compete in the final against David Minnemann, who had advanced after defeating Moritz Pohl in the other semifinal.

Fast forward to the final: “Joshua” returned to the cage looking surprisingly fresh, walking normally despite his earlier struggles. He delivered a spectacular high kick that knocked out Minnemann in the first round, claiming the tournament belt. But something was off. Fans in the arena and online quickly noticed tattoos on the fighter’s chest and forearm—tattoos that weren’t visible during Joshua’s semifinal bout. These tattoos, however, matched those of Jeremias Homberg, Joshua’s identical twin. The deception was uncovered, and the MMA world erupted.

The Homberg brothers’ plan might have seemed clever in theory, but it unraveled due to one glaring detail: Jeremias’s tattoos. Joshua has no prominent tattoos, while Jeremias sports distinctive ink on his chest and forearm. During the final, Jeremias’s team reportedly attempted to conceal the tattoos, with coaches whispering to him and draping a towel over his shoulder during the post-fight celebration. Joshua even entered the cage afterward wearing a hooded sweatshirt, likely to maintain the illusion. But eagle-eyed fans and officials weren’t fooled.

The GMC, led by Deniz Haciabdurrahmanoglu, released a video on social media calling it “the biggest scandal in MMA history globally.” The video, which garnered over 60,000 views, detailed the switch and included side-by-side photos of the brothers to highlight the tattoo discrepancy. Posts found on X echoed the shock, with users labeling it a “parody” and “sport’s biggest scandal.”

The consequences were swift and severe. The German MMA Association (DMMAV), which sanctions GMC events, announced that both Joshua and Jeremias Homberg are banned for life from competing in any events under their jurisdiction. The DMMAV emphasized their commitment to clean sport and fair competition, stating that such behavior would not be tolerated. They also called on other organizations and federations to suspend the brothers.

Public reaction has been a mix of outrage, disbelief, and even some humor. Posts on X highlighted the audacity of the switch, with one user noting, “Just another normal day in MMA,” while others criticized the GMC for allowing it to happen in the first place. Some fans, however, found a silver lining, with one commenter from UFD Gym (where the brothers train) suggesting that Jeremias “saved the final” and deserved praise for winning in his “first match” after only four months of training. This comment drew criticism from fans who felt the gym should condemn the incident rather than downplay it.

This scandal raises serious questions about the integrity of amateur MMA and the oversight at events like GMC 41. How did officials fail to notice the switch before the final? Were there no checks in place to verify the fighter’s identity? The incident has also sparked discussions about the ethics of competition and the lengths some athletes will go to win. While the Homberg brothers’ actions were undeniably deceptive, some fans have pointed out that Joshua’s injury may have left him unable to continue, leading to a desperate, spontaneous decision.

In interviews, the brothers admitted to the switch, with Joshua explaining that he was injured and unable to stand, let alone fight. He claimed the idea started as a joke, with Jeremias reluctantly agreeing to step in. They denied any intent to defraud the tournament, but the damage was done. The lifetime ban ensures that their MMA careers, at least in Germany, are effectively over