MMA fighter Marcin Szoltysik is shedding light on the infamous Insta-Tap over the weekend.
While most MMA fans have looked at consecutive events overseas in the UFC Perth and PFL, Babylon MMA 54 offers eight matches in Poland, set to feature heavyweight scraps between Jacek Kujtowski and Marcin Szoltysik.
As the battle began, Szoltysik kneeled on the canvas and tapped out.
Speculation was quickly rampant online, but some believe it is nothing more than a coronavirus. However, Szoltysik tried to provide insight into the controversial decision.
“I went into the octagon and submitted it immediately,” read Szoltysik’s message (via Matysek, an expert at international MMA). “It wasn’t weakness, it was a conscious rebellion. It was a rebellion against the liars and manipulators who claim to be my team, but in reality, they treat their fighters as tools for their own interests.
“From the start, they intentionally didn’t support my preparation. They wanted me not to be prepared. They didn’t care about sports, passion, or dedication. They didn’t care about money and connection.
“My opponent has nothing to do with this. I respect him. I personally apologize to him with the octagon because that’s how you should treat a true warrior. I also apologize to the fans – my heart is broken, tears can’t come to my eyes.
“This was my cry of protest against athletes’ lies, manipulation and exploitation. I’m not selling. Enough is enough.”
Szoltysik is not the first athlete to believe his team set up to fail. Lower-rise gyms often agree to supply a certain number of fighters to fill positions at events. Less ethical gyms can do this by using unprepared students with little chances against more experienced enemies.
However, it is rare for the “cannon” to reach the cage before they choose not to advance the battle.
Obviously, this was not one of these cases.