Muay Thai Photos and Fights at Phuket Muay Thai Camp
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  At The Phuket Muay Thai Gym we encourage all of our students to attend live fights, this will give them an opportunity to watch, learn and talk to fighters prior and after fights in the locker room or even on the way to the ring. The Phuket Muay Thai instructors will give you valuable hints and comments during the fight or during the break. In Phuket we will sponsor visits to the Sappan Hin stadium. Every Friday night, the Sappan Hin Stadium features 10-12 bouts, starting from 8pm to 12pm.

Nothing is as exciting, as the roar of the crowd and the Muay Thai music, when the fighters perform the "Whai Khru" and than start the fights. Bouts are 5 three minute rounds long, with a 1 minute break between each round. Winners are determined by either KO or by points, should the fight last all 5 rounds. Points are given for knock downs, take downs, blows (knee blows to the kidneys during clinch are highly rated), as well as style and execution of kicks. In Thailand kicks are more valued than punches and typically fighters that kick more than the opponent pile up more points.

 

Instructor Fights:

All of our instructors have been Thai champions and have fought countless fights in the toughest stadiums in Thailand, the Lumpini stadium and Rachadamern stadium in Bangkok, so they are often asked to head-up a main event in Phuket. On occasions, with managements consent we will do so. 

In August, 03, 2002 Sappan Hin, Phuket Tuk-Tuk, our Ex- head instructor, was asked to be a last minute substitute on the main event. With 1 hour notice and virtually no preparation training, he took on a very strong and experienced fighter from Ko Yao. In the third round he knocked him out with a left elbow strike, after a clinch, but not without taking some punishment in the first round.

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The left elbow strike against the chin, throughn from the clinch or grapling position, by first faking a kneee strike, is one of the "secret" Thaiboxing routines you will only learn from Thai fighters in our camp. They are not published in books and must be practiced over and over again. Properly applied, they will end most fights on the spot, by KO.

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Phuket Muay Thai Gym-Fight

 

On June 20th, 03 Sappan Hin, Phuket Eam one of our trainers defeated a much stronger and faster fighter, by wearing him down in 5 rounds and ultimately taking away his will to fight.  

 

 

Setting professional live fights up for customers:

Because of our excellent relationship with the Stadium promoter and Phuket boxing community, as well as in Ko Samui, Chiang Mai and Bangkok, we can set-up fights for experienced customers of our Gym in virtually EVERY stadium in Thailand. Some of these fights are televised on National TV (Ch 7 and 11) and ESPN/FOX Sports, KTV Japan and Korea You don't have to have had necessarily any fights in Thailand or outside to qualify (for local stadiums), but due to our unbeaten record and your safety ,which we would like to keep::), you will have to have the following qualifications:

1.Evaluation by our Head instructor

2.Minimum 4 weeks conditioning and sparring with our crew

3.3 weeks advance notice to the Stadium and promoter

 

Unlike other gyms, we strongly believe in quality, not quantity and will not support fights that we feel are not winnable and backed up by a full training schedule. Also safety is our number 1 priority. A poorly conditioned fighter will take an unnecessary beating and unlike boxing or K1 rules, in pure Muay Thai nearly any strike to any part of the body is allowed. Even at the event of a "foul" strike, rarely are Thai fighters given any time to recover and are expected to fight on. Also fighters who don't kick or punch at a sufficient rate (as per the referee) are warned and than disqualified. THERE IS NO MERCY IN THE RING, BE PREPARED !

 

Customer fights:

We sponsor on the average 1 fights every 2-3 month, due to the effort on both the gym staff and customer training. Those that we sponsor, no effort and expense will be spared to make it happen! If you are dedicated, so are we!

 

John, 210 lb's Norwegian, with no prior Muay Thai fights, but well conditioned and prepared by the Phuket Muay Thai Gym, took on Namene, 220 lb's French, with 3 prior professional fights, September 10th,2003 at the Phuket Sappan Hin.

John had trained several month in Chiang Mai, but felt he needed more 1:1 training. At this time we were able to assign 2 trainers to John and he got the work out of his life:

AM: 15 rounds sparring 10km run

PM: Total of 15 rounds of sparring, with "gang grappling" (a Phuket Muay Thai Gym technique), basically 5 rounds with no break against 4 different instructors, basically clinching until wear out, a couple of seconds breathing and than another round of clinching with a fresh instructor. This followed by a 15km run.

Fight Night:

John lost the first round, due to a sweep kick take down, but came back in the second round and rained elbows and punches on his opponent, who was unable to find his corner after the bell. He was game for the third round however, but John just threw another 30 elbows (forgot that he had knees), which could have ended the fight much earlier and the French man, collapsed in the blue corner, after which he was counted out and the fight stopped. Again superior conditioning, wins over experience ! See action pics below:

Phuket Muay Thai Gym-Fight

 

Ben Cornish, 135 lb's, British, First Muay Thai fight. In Ben's weight class it was easy to find a good Thai opponent Ben had a total of 7 weeks of training. Again our focus was on conditioning, Ben was training an average of  15-20 rounds per day, with lots of running and sprinting. We also focused on body and mind control, watched lots of tapes and reviewed many other fights. As the previous fight had ended in a knock out, with the defeated fighter collapsing in front of waiting Ben, there were a couple of moments of doubt on Ben's part!

 But when it was time Ben executed a perfect (to Thai standards!!), Wai Khru, which received applause from the mostly Thai crowd. Ben attacked  the Thai opponent with blistering leg kicks, non stop pressure and ended the fight in the first 2 minutes with a crushing right hand to the Thai opponents jaw. The crowd was absolutely stunned and when the referee held up Ben's hand in victory, he was smiling (I have never seen this referee smile in 6 years). On the way to the locker room Ben received a standing ovation and 4 people lined up to ask for a follow-on fight ! Ben, we miss you and all good luck at Lanna Muay Thai in Chiang Mai (next destination!):

Phuket Muay Thai Gym-Fight

 

Adam, 190 lb's, British, against Nomruk 184 lb's, Thai, a Muay Thai trainer for the Rawai Gym.

  For him this was his first full rules Muay Thai fight, but he had 6 previous Kickboxing fights under various rules. Again our 7 week training strategy was conditioning training, with aggressive first round leg strikes and if there was an opening, he would take it, otherwise focus on winning the final rounds. As it turned ,out Adam disposed of his Thai opponent (who was a bit undersized), within the first minute of Round 1. A barrage of elbows forced a standing 8 count and a perfectly executed knee strike was the end of the fight. A happy Adam leaves the ring, just in time to board his plane back home, 2 days after the fight.

Phuket Muay Thai Gym-Fight

 

Our next fight was in Ko Samui and was televised by Fox TV, Sky News, KTV Japan and KTV Korea.

Matt Sulya, 175 lb's USA, getting ready at the Phuket Muay Thai Camp. At this point in time it was 3 weeks to show time and his first fight  after only 7 weeks of training. !Matt, who came in in great shape, had lost 2-3 more inches on the waist and 4 lb's overall. You can see the difference betweenthe picture on the left after 4 weeks training and on the right after 6 weeks training. One of the key differences was that after the work out Matt went to eat and study in his room, the rest of the camp went to Patong, to check out the nightlife. When you train serious Muay Thai, that is the key choice: Sleep and train or sort of train and party !

 

              

 

 

 

 

Mat Sulya, USA at 185 lb's against Marek, Turkey 185 lb's with some boxing experience .This was Matt's first Muay Thai fight. The TV show which was done under the World Muay Thai Counsel (WMC) rules and umbrella and what a show it was ! Stephan Fox, K. Songchai (#1 Promoter in Thailand, Rachamanderm Stadium), the Major of Ko Samui, Thailand's Sports Governor and the Privy to Her Majesty the King of Thailand were present.

 

 

 

The show started with a Muay Boran exhibition by kids, a statement of Muay Thai against Drugs and a true display of an International Muay Thai Talent, with both Top rated Thai and Foreign fighters, 2 WMC belts were on the line and Stephan as well as Clifton Brown (who incidentally won one of the belts) did their expert fight commentary .Folks, it does not get better than this. The Ko Samui stadium was packed and sold out and the crowd was fired up.

1.Each fighter presenting their flag and home country, Matt wrapped into the US flag, Clifton Brown Canadian and Alex Dally Scottish flag.

 

A game Alex Dally fighting one of Thailand's best, 4 rounds of of non stop action, but the powerful kicks of the Thai fighter were just too much for Alex who is still recovering from a broken arm and was unable to block the crushing roundhouse kicks to his ribcage.

Iran against Denmark, a good entertaining bout ultimately won by the Iranian on points. Both fighters gave it all the got and got a standing ovation.

 

One of the earlier fights, 2 less experienced fighters, turned into a slugfest with little Muay Thai technique, but lots of action. The fighter from Africa (with an extensive boxing background) knocked the Australian fighter out in Round 3.

 

Just before the end and a bit wobbly ....receiving a standing 8 count ! To give credit where credit is due, the refereeing was outstanding, with primary concern for the safety of the fighters. With all the high powered elbows, knee and high kicks were nearly no cuts or injuries and that is a testament to the excellent refereeing, as well as a good match-up by Mr. Stephan Fox, who overall did an outstanding job in providing first class entertainment and Muay Thai action. On that topic, seating was comfortable, drinks and snacks readily available and the ambiance was outstanding.

 

Matt before the fight, during the introduction ! His being the last bout, he had to endure 6hrs of Muay Thai, prior to his fight.

Sealing the corners and praying to the Muay Thai spirits, pre-fight ritual well done !

A well executed Wai Khru, pre-fight ritual and dance to thank his teachers and intimidate the opponent.

 

Phuket Muay Thai Gym-Fight

Round 1 and 2 in the clinch and both opponents connecting with crushing elbows. In R2 Matt was put down to the canvass by a right, because he was carrying his hands low and (understandably for the first fight) forgot all blocking techniques.

 

 

In R3 Matt getting stronger and his Turkish opponent a bit weary, by now both had landed hard elbows and punches and neither was going to give up.

 

In R4 the referee stopped the fight, as the Turkish fighter could not longer continue. Both fighters had exchanged elbows to the head, with Matt connecting to the side of the head, with a punch that was audible in the stances. Again, superior conditioning, over technique and experience, although if this would have gone to 5 Rounds, it would have been anybodies guess.