Marco Heft – The Interview after Rambulan
The Underground Battle MMA “Rambulan sa Galera” on April 28 & 29, 2017 was a big success. We had two local fighters joining the, from UGB MMA Philippines and the Municipal of Puerto Galera organized Event. Dale Cataquiz from Balatero, and Marco Heft, a german, living and working in Sabang.
Dale lost his first MMA fight, Marco could not start.
In the evening before the fight-night, Marco’s Coach Matt Sornberger, aka “Shark” posted some strange, some would say rude post’s on his FB wall about Marco. The posts gave the public, who followed both, the fighter and the coach the impressions that Matt was angry at Marco. Calling him a looser, among others, lead many people to assumptions that Marco Heft bailed on his coach and everyone who supported him. We, at Fortnightly also believed that Marco was greatly affected by coach sharks Social Media Attacks – and backed out.
The very next morning, after the incident , Matt Sornberger stated on his social network wall that he was sorry, he also said in a online chat with me that he is in the clear with his fighter. He apologized to Marco and supported Marcos choice to have a different corner. No bad feelings – so “Shark”. But Marco was not fighting, the organizers told the crowd he can’t start during back spasm problems and had to withdraw.
So what really happened then?
Marco reached out to PG Fortnightly after he found out about the rumors about him and wrote a message to PG Fortnightly, saying that he was in bad luck, also stating that he is at the hospital in Manila for treatment and further check ups. He like to apologize to everyone and offered an online interview to set things strait.
“I did not bailed out because of my Coach. I had been in pain for 4 weeks, following an back injury. I tried everything to be able to fight! It was and is my dream to fight. I trained so hard for this event, gave everything I have to make it happen. But the morning of the Fight Day, the pain was unbearable, I even passed out twice, so I got no choice other than withdraw from the fight. I am really sorry. Doc Arroyo in Sabang, and Jeff Spapperi, the chiropractor in Sabang took care of my injury. I had two cortisone injections and was on Ibuprofen the whole time to be able to train and fight. At the morning of the fight-night, around 5 – 5.30am, everything came together. I can neither sit, nor lay down – I am in so much pain right now.” Heft stated in his message.
PBFortnightly: Where are you right now?
Heft: “I am in Manila, running tests and for treatment.”
PBFortnightly: Are you having treatment right now?
Heft: “Yes, the Doctors need to make a MRI to see how bad the damage of my disc in my back really is. Worst case scenario would be a surgery.”
PBFortnightly: How long will it take and how serious is your injury?
Heft: “ We dont know yet. We need to discuss that with the medical team after they done the MRI. I hope I can continue fighting. It’s my life, I don’t know what to do if thats the end of it.”
PBFortnightly: Was your Coach’s comments part of the problem?
Heft: “ I dont want to comment on this matter at all. I could not fight because of my injury, nothing to do with the coach. Everyone who knows me know how hard I have trained for this fight, I would never bail out just because of some comments someone would make. I am professional enough to have that not affecting me.”
PBFortnightly: is there somethings you want your fans and supporters to know?
Heft: “ Yes. I am very thankful for everyone who supported me. That is very important to me. I am very sad at this moment, it feels like I let everyone down. I understand if they are disappointed but I could not fight. There was no way.”
PBFortnightly: when did you first heard that you have a shot at Rambulan sa Galera?
Heft: “i have been informed about 8 weeks before the event that I can fight. Immediately, I started train for this very event, trained very hard and with discipline.”
PBFortnightly: will you be treated here in the Philippines or do you plan to have that done in Germany?
Heft: “ My flight to Germany is already scheduled for end of May. I will be seeing specialist there in Germany and have it dealt with there. I am every year 2 to 3 months in Germany anyways.”
PBFortnightly: how you feeling at the moment?
Heft: “At this time, I feel really bad, I am in more pain than before.”
PBFortnightly: What do you say about all the rumors and the bashing on FB?
Heft: “ I am really disappointed. I would never bail on a fight, all people around me know that. That some people even thought that hurts me badly. Thats not me, I would never bail on a opportunity.”
PBFortnightly: did anyone pushed you to fight? I mean, you knew you had an injury, you had already pain while train for the fight?
Heft: “No one pushed me to anything. It was my own decision, I needed and wanted that fight badly, maybe to badly. My team was supporting me all the way. I really thought I can make it happen.”
PBFortnightly: thank you for the interview Marco, and we all hope you will be back in the ring soon. Regards from the people of your choice home Puerto Galera and a speedy recovery!
Marco Heft authorized us to publish his medical examination and his x-rays. We all hope we can see Marco fighting in one of the next events here in Puerto de Galera.
