Is Freak Fighting the biggest pathology in Polish sports? Dawid "Crazy" Załęcki

Załęcki's training regimen is the cornerstone of his lifestyle. He has been training consistently for over a dozen years, combining martial arts (MMA, K1, boxing) with gym workouts. He emphasizes that his training is not light sparring but intense, full-contact sessions where injuries like broken noses and ribs are common. He treats sparring as seriously as a real fight, stating that he and his training partners 'fight as if their lives depend on it.' This intensity satisfies his need for adrenaline and competition, which he previously got from motorcycle riding and off-road driving.

Załęcki describes his sparring sessions as being indistinguishable from real fights. He and his training partners do not 'play touch' but engage in full-contact combat. The coach sometimes tells them to ease up, but they ignore him and continue fighting hard. This approach has led to injuries requiring weeks or months of recovery. Załęcki believes this intensity is necessary to be prepared for real fights and that it satisfies his deep-seated need for adrenaline and competition. He contrasts this with the modern trend of lighter sparring in many gyms.

Załęcki claims he has never followed a diet in his life. He eats very little, comparing his food intake to that of a woman. When he goes to restaurants with friends, he orders only a steak tartare while they order a full meal. He believes his low food intake prevents him from gaining fat, but it also makes it extremely difficult for him to gain weight when he wants to. To gain just 3 kg, he needs to train less and eat more for months. He acknowledges that his physique is largely due to genetics and his lifelong training habit rather than any special diet.

Załęcki has a deep-seated fear that hormone therapies cause cancer. He acknowledges that hormones can help build muscle, improve appearance, and even have anti-aging effects, but he refuses to use them because of this fear. He previously used testosterone for three years and a substance called OKS (which he suspects was actually Winstrol) but stopped due to his cancer concerns. He proved his natural status by undergoing comprehensive medical tests, including pituitary gland checks, and winning a bet against another fighter.

Załęcki explains that people have grown bored with traditional sports like boxing, which he says is 'dying.' The audience now pays to see 'pathology and stupidity,' with pre-fight conferences often being more important than the actual fights. He notes that fighters who create drama and controversy earn significantly more than those who have trained for 20-30 years. The phenomenon has evolved from pure spectacle to a hybrid where some athletes transition from professional sports to freak fighting for financial reasons, while pure entertainers enter solely for quick money.

Załęcki describes himself as having become 'asocial' before his fighting career, to the point where he would cross the street to avoid talking to people he hadn't seen in 15 years. His son's involvement in fighting led to him being offered a fight, which he initially refused. Family and friends pressured him until he accepted. He was forced to create an Instagram account only after agreeing to fight. He now finds the recognition somewhat enjoyable but maintains his own path, refusing to engage in the trash-talking and controversy that defines many freak fighters.

Załęcki argues that the system is unjust because fighters who have dedicated their lives to training, enduring injuries and two-a-day sessions, earn less than influencers who generate buzz through conflict. He notes that some fighters actively seek out conflicts with others to create artificial drama and secure fights. The federation benefits from heated rivalries, as they generate more views and ticket sales. He mentions that his son Denis is an example of someone who earns more by being controversial than by being a dedicated athlete, which Załęcki finds disappointing.

Załęcki explains that he has never worked a physically demanding job, having spent only 3-5 years in his life working a traditional 8-5 schedule. This has allowed him to dedicate himself to training for decades. He trains six days a week, with only Sunday off, and has done so for over a dozen years. He eats very little, comparing his food intake to that of a woman, and has never followed a diet. He struggles to gain weight, needing months to add just a few kilograms. He attributes his physique to good genetics and a lifelong commitment to training rather than strict nutrition.

Załęcki recounts a bet with Alan Kwieciński where he proved he was not on any substances by undergoing comprehensive medical tests, including pituitary gland checks. He won the bet and the money was donated to charity. He previously took a substance called OKS (which he believed was for endurance) and gained 10 kg, later suspecting it was actually Winstrol mixed with something else. He then used testosterone for three years before stopping. He now fears hormones because he believes they cause cancer and shorten life, so he avoids them despite knowing they would help him gain weight and improve his physique.

Załęcki expresses disappointment that his son has chosen the controversial path rather than the athletic one. He invested heavily in his son's training from age 5 to 17, driving him to training 4-5 times a week. Denis achieved a brown belt in karate as the youngest in Poland and showed great promise. However, once Denis became independent, he stopped training seriously, believing he doesn't need to train because of his natural talent. Załęcki believes his son could be a top fighter if he trained properly, but his laziness and arrogance hold him back. Despite this, Załęcki acknowledges that his son earns more money by being controversial than he would as a dedicated athlete.