Delberty Lamark Denies Fight-Fixing After Six-Second KO Loss at Xtreme Combat Championship 2

In a stunning six-second knockout at the Xtreme Combat Championship 2 in Vienna, Delberty Lamark faced Burak Kizilirmak, prompting fight-fixing allegations amidst widespread scepticism from fans. Travelling from Brazil with just eight days’ notice, Lamark attributed his swift defeat to a severe sinus infection and the drastic climate change, asserting his innocence against accusations of throwing the bout. With his professional record now at 6-5, Lamark aims to return to the ring for one final fight, hoping to redeem his career.

Background of the Match and Lamark’s Preparation

Delberty Lamark’s journey to face Burak Kizilirmak was far from ordinary. Competing in the Xtreme Combat Championship 2, he had only eight days to prepare for a welterweight bout that would ultimately turn into a whirlwind. Seemingly a spontaneous call to action, Lamark, a fighter whose last match dates back to 2018, was not in optimal form. “I wasn’t training at all after 2018, and my body wasn’t ready for such a push,” he admitted when asked about his fitness level. This was not just a matter of physical readiness; Lamark’s weight class transition was significant, moving from flyweight to welterweight, which added to the challenges he faced before stepping into the ring.

The abrupt nature of the fight’s arrangement left Lamark scrambling. Despite his lengthy experience in mixed martial arts, the lack of preparation time and the sudden weight increase became evident almost immediately. As Lamark shared, arriving the day before weigh-ins added a layer of pressure that few athletes would be able to withstand. Though he attempted to make the best of the situation, he emphasised the importance of being properly prepared for such high-stakes scenarios.

Fight Analysis and Fan Reactions

The six-second knockout that left spectators in shock drew immediate scrutiny and scepticism. Social media erupted with accusations of fight fixing, as fans speculated whether Lamark intentionally threw the match. The swift end to the bout caught everyone off guard, especially since Lamark did not exhibit signs of readiness going into the fight. “It was a perfect jab, and I didn’t see it coming,” he recalled, a stark contrast to the expectations of an evenly matched contest.

As public opinion turned against him, Lamark defended himself against these allegations, insisting that his abrupt fall was not an act but the result of his unexpected health issues. “I was in no shape to fight; I was already battling a sinus infection, and it really affected my performance,” he explained. His attempt to garner sympathy is compounded by the visible struggle he faced during the match, a fact hard to ignore for those analyzing his performance.

Impact of Weather and Health on Performance

Sending his mind back to the fight, Lamark attributes part of his poor showing to the extreme weather conditions he encountered in Austria. Transitioning from Brazil’s sweltering heat to the frigid Viennese air proved challenging for his body. “The temperature difference was unbelievable. I went from 97°F to 40°F overnight,” he remarked, shedding light on how environmental factors can drastically affect an athlete’s performance.

Moreover, Lamark voiced his struggles with a sinus infection, exacerbated by the cold. His remarks on suffering from rhinitis before stepping into the ring delve deeper into the physical toll that such health conditions can impose on an athlete attempting to compete at a high level. “The cold really got to me; I couldn’t breathe as I normally would, and that impacted my focus and reaction time in the fight,” he confessed.

Future Aspirations and Career Reflections

Despite the backlash and the profound disappointment following the loss, Lamark expresses a determination to return to the octagon one last time. With a current professional record of 6-5, he aims to end his fighting career on a positive note. “I want my kids to see me fight because they’ve never seen me in the ring before,” he remarked, revealing his motivation to provide a memorable experience for his family.

In light of his recent experiences, Lamark is committed to training properly for any future bouts. He notes the drastic difference that proper training makes in his performance and asserts that his next fight will not be overseas to ensure he can communicate effectively with his team and family. “I’m going back to training full-time; I can’t leave things like this,” Lamark concluded, hopeful for a more favourable outcome in his future endeavours.

In the wake of his swift defeat, Delberty Lamark emphatically denies the fight-fixing allegations, citing his sudden matchup and health struggles as key factors in his performance. His determination to end his career on a positive note raises questions about the pressures fighters face—what can be done to ensure athletes’ well-being in such rushed circumstances?

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