Fight the good fight

AFTER A LONG wait, the sporting discipline known as mixed martial arts is finally coming to Thailand with a nine-fight programme taking place at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani on Friday that includes a rock concert in the ring by Big Ass and Bodyslam.

Unofficially banned in Thailand for many years, apparently out of concern that its violent nature could have a negative effect on children though more probably because of its likely impact on muay thai, the “Kingdom of Champions” is being organised by One Championship, a Singapore-based MMA promotional venture.

“MMA is not dangerous because the fighters are not allowed to attack the back of head, which is permitted in muay thai. It’s very dangerous,” says Kamol Sukosol Clapp, president of One Championship Thailand. 

“MMA is a full-combat sport that combines two or more styles of fighting including muay thai, jiu jitsu, taekwondo, judo, wrestling and karate. In MMA, muay thai is the most important for fighting standing up while jiu jitsu is the preferred discipline for ground fighting. Indeed, Thai boxing has been growing in popularity around the world over the past decade or so. And the more MMA has grown, the more popular it has become. Nowadays, many MMA world champions come to Thailand to be trained in muay thai,” Kamol adds.

 “One Championship is a sports entertainment concern. I personally think that there are many similarities between sport and music and that the fighter isn’t really different from an artist. The upcoming event will see the very best in production, light and sound. I hope Thai people will come along and witness this new phenomenon in the atmosphere of a world championship competition like in Las Vegas. I would also like all Thais to cheer Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke, Thailand’s first MMA world champion.”

Costing some Bt38 million to put on, next Friday’s showdown will be headlined by a straw-weight championship fight between Dejdamrong and unbeaten Japanese fighter Yoshitaka Naito, a former Shooto champion, and a featherweight champion battle between Russia’s Marat Gafurov and Japanese judoka Kazunori Yokota.

“I first thought of MMA as a really brutal sport because the moves can be repeated even when a fighter is on the ground. Muay thai can be violent but there’s also something gentlemanly about it. In the ring, I have to think of what strategy I will prepare against my rival in standup, and how I will prepare to defend myself if I am taken down,” Dejdamrong told XP during a recent visit to Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier MMA gym in Singapore.

 “I don’t think this combat sport will be popular in Thailand for a while because most Thais think of it as being too brutal and watch it on TV only. They don’t know the rules of MMA.

“But if we look back to the history of boxing sports, muay kard chueak was brutal as it used the head butt as was muay chaiya with the takedown. Muay thai nowadays has several powerful weapons. My Japanese rival is particularly skilled in takedown, while I’m more of a technical fighter with quick hands and lightning feet.”

Dejdamrong, who is dubbed the “fierce eyes” fighter, made history when he became the first Thai to become an MMA world champion though he remains surprisingly unknown among his compatriots. 

Friday’s event will also see Anatpong Bunrad face Filipino Eugene Toquero in flyweight action, while former boxing world champion Yodsanan Sityodtong takes on Chrech Kosal of Cambodia in the bantamweight division, and Shannon Wiratchai goes up against Myanmar’s Kyal Linn Aung. Local and regional prospects include Pongsiri Mitsatit, Kritsada Konsrichai, Ye Thway Ne of Myanmar and Cambodia’s Kev Hemmorlor.

“I was the world champion in 2002,” says Yodsanan. “I learnt jiu jitsu for a few years and took part in the One Championship competitions twice. I lost against a Chinese fighter and won my bout against a South African. Then I dropped the sport for four years. Today, I’m returning to the ring again with my friend Dejdamrong,” says Yodsanan. 

“I’ve worked hard on my ground fighting and on self-defence. I have a good foundation of boxing and a stable standup but have to protect myself from being taken on the ground.” 

Yodsanan, who during his years in the boxing ring was called Little Tyson, joined members of the press in watching a recent bout of MMA matches at Singapore Indoor Stadium and explained that that all fighters are automatically checked by a doctor after a match.

 “That doesn’t happen in muay thai,” he points out. “It’s a good thing though and we are asked about any concussion-related symptoms we might be experiencing. There are other differences too. For example, the fighters were special MMA gloves. 

“These world champions are our instructors and their students are doctors, teachers, and businessmen,” says Chatri Trisiripisal, founder and chairman of One Championship. 

“Right now we have students ranging from a four-year-old girl to a man older than 70. And [TV channel] Fox Sports considers Evolve MMA the most prestigious MMA gym in Asia today. We have been training MMA superstar Angela Lee since she was young. Martial arts are a good way of being able to defend yourself and staying healthy. It isn’t only about fighting but living your life with courage, discipline, and humanity.

“Here we train in all the disciplines. Jiu jitsu is always popular. It focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting, rather like a python wrapping itself around an unlucky animal or victim,” Chatri says with a grin.

 

NINE FIGHTS, ONE NIGHT

- “One Championship – Kingdom of Champions” takes place next Friday at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani. The fights start at 6.45pm, with the gates open at 5.30pm.

- Tickets cost Bt300 to Bt12,000. For details, call (02) 262 3456 or check www.ThaiTicketMajor.com.