Why do I feel underappreciated by KSW? Robert Ruchała

Ruchała came across this type of training thanks to Łukasz Mika – psychologist and psychomotor trainer. The key goal before the fight with Formela was to counteract his fighting style: Formela as a Combat karate fighter uses a 'lulling' technique – slows down the pace, lulls vigilance, then explodes with a single, precise strike (often a hook or straight). Ruchała analyzed this before the fight: 'he is lulling – suddenly, bam, it's over, one knockout'. Mika's exercises were meant to keep Ruchała's brain constantly in high alert mode, not letting it be fooled by calm moments. Ruchała himself admits that during the fight he felt the difference: 'I was sharp as a razor – really'. He also adds that the same exercises help him in everyday life – after waking up, before driving a car – which suggests they have become a permanent part of his routine.

Ruchała admits he made a mistake in previous fights – he would go into messages, read comments, reply. In hindsight, he sees that it was 'bad' and hasn't done it for a few fights. He emphasizes that it's not about complete isolation (impossible at a big gala), but about mental cutting off: you do what's needed – 'tap' – and immediately return to your world. This protocol especially concerns the weight-cutting period (Thursday–Friday), which is the hardest mentally. Additional pressure at KSW 100 – anniversary gala, belt defense, proposal plans – required even greater discipline in this regard.

Ruchała describes in detail the role of Marek Fischer in this process. Fischer came to the hotel before the fight with Kacprem Formela and took full control over the last two days. His wife personally prepared the meals. For Ruchała, Fischer's presence on site (and not just 'on the phone' like in previous fights) was a huge mental relief: 'he is here, I can totally chill out now'. Fischer even gave up his own judo competitions to be with Ruchała – which he emphasizes as proof of huge dedication and professionalism. Ruchała himself admits that he used to do it alone and there was always a 'little stress' accompanying it. Fischer's presence gave him peace: 'whatever happens, he is here, I am calm'.

The podcast host, Cyprian Majcher, notes that watching Ruchała's vlog from before the fight he was surprised – KSW 100, belt defense, planned proposal, and backstage 'constant jokes, laughs, banter'. Ruchała explains that it's deliberate: he doesn't want people around him to make serious faces and repeat 'Robert, don't laugh'. He believes that everything should be approached loosely. At the same time, he appreciates his corner for being able to switch to motivation at the last moment – 'they reminded me of everything, what the preparation period looked like, that I am ready – and that affirmation just before going out was mega important for me'.

Ruchała repeatedly emphasizes that his success does not come from talent or parents' money, but precisely from 'sacrifice'. He believes that in sport too little is said about sacrifice, and too much about motivation and goal – meanwhile, it is the consistent denial of everything that distracts from sport that is 'very crucial'. His life is a continuous process: even after a fight, when others would celebrate, he immediately returns to diet and training. He describes it with Marek Fischer's words: 'he conducts himself well both in the off-season and in camp – eats appropriately, sleeps appropriately, is in the process all the time. After the fight he gets back on track immediately – no eating junk, no party, there is constant focus on development and taking care of his body and career'. Ruchała adds that it's not easy for his partner – when he cuts weight, he is 'dry, has less empathy', which he compares to a guy with a period. 'She has to endure it'.

Ruchała describes this moment very concretely: when the corner had already gone to the cage and he was left alone, he repeated in his head: 'Alright Robert, you've done everything. Not only did you load up, and cut weight well, and the whole preparation period, trips, the States, life is sorted – simply everything was such that that evening I knew that I would win.' It wasn't an empty mantra, but a rational summary of the fact that every element of preparation had been completed. Effect: 'now just go in, switch to animal mode and look for the hunt'. Ruchała juxtaposes this with an earlier visualization from his youth – when as a kid in the stands of Tauron Arena he imagined that one day he would go down as champion, and years later exactly that happened.

Ruchała describes that at a meeting in Warsaw, Asia presented him with her plans, which are aligned with his ambitions. He emphasizes that KSW has priority in negotiations – 'this is my home, I started here' – but at the same time notes that he cannot reveal the details of the strategy. Asked directly if Asia is not lobbying him towards the UFC, he answers evasively, but confirms that he has huge sporting ambitions. Interestingly, Ruchała read Jędrzejczyk's book as a young fighter and says it was the first book he 'mega wanted to read' – the fact that a few years later Asia became his manager, he treats as proof that 'everything in life is possible'. At the same time, he distances himself from media reports about an alleged conflict between Asia and KSW – he believes that everyone in the federation has huge respect for her.

Ruchała describes in detail that before the fight with Formela, his psychologist and psychomotor trainer Łukasz Mika introduced exercises that are not typical mental training, but physical stimulation of the brain for faster processing of stimuli. These exercises consist of bouncing balls off the wall in a specific way, training wide-angle vision, and performing special movements in the warm-up before training – all to 'stimulate the brain' and increase reaction speed. Ruchała says he started doing it already in previous fights, but before KSW 100 'even more, even more'. The effect? 'I was sharp as a razor in this fight'. He also emphasizes that these exercises have everyday application – e.g., when he wakes up tired and gets into the car, a few such exercises make him 'more focused, more perceptible all these nuances'.

Ruchała emphasizes that his abstinence does not result from compulsion or religion, but from total dedication to sport. He says: 'I have an obsession with this sport'. He admits that curiosity about the state of intoxication is somewhere there ('curious what it will be like'), but it was never strong enough to reach for it. The key moment occurred in middle/high school, when he saw friends on alcohol and said: 'no, I don't want that'. His student life looked like this: training – studies – home – sleeping – training. 'I don't know student life, despite the fact that I was a student'. At the same time, he admits that sometimes he wonders if in 20 years he will regret that he skipped this whole sphere of life. When asked if he had a teenage rebellion, he answers that yes – but it consisted of telling his parents 'I won't study, I will only train', and their opposition only fueled him.

This story has several layers. First, it shows Ruchała's determination – the choice of Kraków for studies was not accidental, but dictated by the desire to train in a specific club. Second, when he finally got there and told Wolański the story from years ago, he was shocked – 'no, that's amazing'. Today Wolański is his main MMA coach, which Ruchała presents as proof of the unpredictability of life and that 'everything is possible'. He adds to this the story with Mateusz Gamrot and Borys Mańkowski – he took photos with them as a kid, and now he trains with them and gets support from them.

Ruchała describes two key stories related to Materla. First: as a teenager he went alone, 12 hours by train from Nowy Sącz, to a berserkers' camp in Kołatka, just to meet Materla – 'I went there for Michał Materla, I'm going there, this is a berserkers' camp, I want to go alone'. Materla wasn't there. He told his mom: 'I have to high-five him, I have to take a photo – this is such motivation for me, such an idol, that I have to achieve this'. Second story: when he got a call from KSW with information about the fight at KSW 56 and found out that the main event is Michał Materla, 'I normally can't believe it'. He called his mom, who was in the garden with a shovel – 'the shovel fell, she says: I can't believe it, I'm calling dad'. Ruchała emphasizes that just such moments – meeting the idol, winning the belt, Asia as manager – reward him for all the sacrifices.

Ruchała clearly gets irritated when he has to explain what 'interim champion' means. He says directly: 'I think this title should even disappear already, because Parnas hasn't defended this belt for a year now'. According to him, the natural consequence of no defense for a year should be taking the belt away and automatically recognizing the interim champion as undisputed. Alternatively, the only way to unify the titles is a fight with Parnas – if he returns to the featherweight division. The third option is Parnas vacating the belt (i.e., relinquishing it in favor of staying in the higher division). Ruchała emphasizes that the federation sets the rules, but in his opinion the current situation is unfair and 'diminishing' – especially since he constantly has to explain to fans and media why he is 'only' the interim champion. This frustration connects directly with his feeling of being underappreciated by KSW – both in terms of prestige and finances.