This was the other fight from the it’s showtime event, featuring Badr and some poor bastard.  I’ve never really paid much attention, but does Badr have some sloppy hands?  It seems like he get’s spooked and everything goes out the window.  He just goes all thug and starts swinging…

Anyway, here you go Tiger Upper Cut!

thanks to bjdesign1986 for the upload

Just came across this on K-1Fans.com,  the Masato fans are crying foul.  I guess Petrosyan wasn’t able to fight Masato on the NYE show because of a broken hand, but was well enough to take this fight.

I don’t know, anyway I think Petrosyan did the Masato fans’ a favor by not fighting him… I think Petrosian is that good.

Anyway this even took place a couple of days ago in Italy and had some other big names (Sudsakorn, Kaoponlek)  I’ll try to post those if I can find them.  Many thanks to heithsciamana for the upload.

I’m not sure what was going on here… seems like the ref was trying to get Diabi killed.

I did a post on this months ago, just wanted to let you know that movie is out and is available for purchase.  Malaipetch’s a friend of MMT and I’ll always promote anything he’s doing.  You can order the DVD here.

I was hoping to see him in action in the second season of the contender asia, but it doesn’t look like that’s happening anymore.

I was fortunate enough to train the other week at Malaipetch’s original camp Sasiprapa in BKK. (more on that next week) I had a chance to meet with some of his old trainers who were all quite proud of him.

I’m going to order my copy sometime this week.

I’m considering not posting any more GP on MyMuayThai from here on out.  Seriously what happened to the skill?  This looked like a really bad interclub/smoker.  Props to Hellfighter of the K-1Fans.com for taking the time to rip and edit these clips.

Props to Hellfighter of the K-1Fans forum for taking the time to edit this clip down.  The quality of this fight is well… it is what it is.  The outcome though is fantastic.    I’ll try to post these throughout the day, keep checking back and hopefully I’ll get semi 2 and the finals up by end of day.

Semi Final 1

Semi Final 2

This second semi is so ridiculous… sort of reminds me of when a footballer takes a dive.  When did he become such a biatch?  Seriously… I thought it was bad enough when he laid there writhing in pain (against hari).  This sort of takes the cake…

I think this was the first time I’ve ever cheered for Schilt… I’m ashamed to admit it but I really wanted him to put him out of his misery.

]]> http://www.mymuaythai.com/archives/2009-k1-wgp-semi-finals/feed/ 8 http://www.mymuaythai.com/archives/yodsaenklai-fairtex-vs-khalid-bourdif/ http://www.mymuaythai.com/archives/yodsaenklai-fairtex-vs-khalid-bourdif/#comments Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:30:11 +0000 nopstar http://www.mymuaythai.com/?p=2595

We’re pretty much down to our last fight from Slamm, I think this week I’ll shift my focus briefly to the latest K1 WGP antics.

I know a lot of you have had an opportunity to meet and train with Yod.  This was my first time meeting him, and have to confirm what everyone has told me… that’s he’s just a really nice guy.

We spoke for a few minutes, and he’s just a really laid back, happy go lucky type character.  There is a childlike demeanor /quality he has.  I don’t mean to sound condescending but one would never think that he’s a fighter upon meeting him.

I was amazed how agro some of the Dutch fighters were during their ring walk.  I think the Dutch and American’s are culturally very similar in that respect.  Their ring walks were nowhere near as angry as the UFC ringwalks but aggressive nonetheless.  Lots’ of hip-hop and chest beating and scowling…

Yod in my mind typifies the Thai NakMuay.   Laid back but devastating.  Maybe that’s why he’s so chill?  He knows he the best and doesn’t really have much to prove in those respects?

As for this fight, I wouldn’t say it was his best performance… a bit anticlimactic. It appeared to me that he gassed a bit in the later rounds?  Anyway, I’m not complaining it’s always a pleasure and privilege to watch world class Nak Muay’s live.

Came across this quick documentary put together by the Slamm guys… The clip features 3 Dutch MuayThai legends, Thom Harink, Ramon Dekkers and Ivan Hippolyte.   These guys are essentially responsible for creating the dutch muaythai scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  Without them I don’t think MuayThai would have as popular as it has been in Europe, hat off to them.

It was enlightening to hear some of the reason of how k-1 rose to prominence… and yes i agree that the slamm guys are keeping the muaythai in Holland alive.

Anyway enjoy.

Props to Nakmuay21 for taking the time to film and upload this clip.  This is the only clip I’ve been able to find,  I think the Sky footage will probably take ages.  It isn’t much of a fight, but then again Sanchai does have that effect on people.  I think half way through, Sanchai decides he doesn’t really want to hurt Rob, so he just decides to have a little fun.

Sup people… sorry for the sporadic update but just got back from Bangkok.  Damn, it was good to be back…more on that later. Here’s another clip from Robert Clyne of Fight Japan.  More Sanchai!  you can never get enough of the sanchai in your diet.  Hopefully this will get those of you who are on the fence to the show this weekend.

I’ll post part 2 in a couple of days, enjoy.

I see that Slamm has started doing some of their matchmaking for the SlammVI event in November.

I have to admit; I don’t know a whole lot about Saiyok.  I know he’s currently being represented by MuayThai Plaza.  Judging by the bling on him in this poster, he’s got two Rajadomnern belts and the WMC belt.

Then again you can never be sure, they’ve got him in MMA gloves?  Stevelemans better watch out.

So who’s going?  I was able to find a couple of his fights… here’s a recent fight between Saiyok and Rudolph Durica, that took place a couple of months ago in Sweden.

I think his fight with Stevelmans is going to be interesting… Warren’s got really snappy hands and the dutch kickboxing work rate… Saiyok shouldn’t take him lightly.

video via dritonrama

Mike, my trainer from Pacific Ring Sports, held down the ropes for me. His large frame brought down the tight cords yet I pushed down a little further with my gloved hands. For a moment I had an irritations fear of flopping over and falling on my ass as I swung my legs over the ropes. Having safely entered the ring I took a big breath and let it out slowly. I walked into the center of the ring and did a small bow in all directions. I took up the custom after seeing multiple Thai fighters do the same prior to their bouts. The announcer said my name, and then yelled out John Kusaba’s.

John walked in with his team from FSA in Daly City California. His trainer Mark Tabuso led him to the red corner. The crowd was packed with fans, for myself, for Kusuba, and for the other fighters of the smoothly run event. While one section of the crowd screamed my name, another section screamed John’s.

“Seal the ring, Matt,” Mike said to me. Sealing the ring is the first step in the Wai Khru Ram Muay. Sadly the War of the Heroes bouts didn’t include the traditional Muay Thai ritual. I walked along the ropes touching each turnbuckle and offering a fist to the heavens. Originally sealing the ring was a way of warding off demons from the fight, well at least demons that would be adverse to oneself. I came back to my corner and took a few more deep breaths and the referee brought us together.
“I want a good fight. I want you to be gentlemen in the fight. I want that at all times,” the Thai referee said. “Are you ready,” the third man in the ring asked. Both John and I nodded. The bell rang and the first round began.

Round 1

Fights are surreal spans of time similar to traumatic events like car accidents. Time slows, and gels yet still passes, a dream like rapid and protracted tempo. Yet this bout felt differently. Instead of feeling out of beat to the clash of weapons I felt present. Due to my training, and my confidence in my trainer’s ability to impart the tools that I needed, I felt at ease. The first thirty seconds of the four round modified muay thai bout I missed with my attacks. John moved about the ring elusively. Eventually I was able to catch up to him, cutting off the ring and the real fight began. Throughout the fight John used his hands, occasionally using spinning back kicks (twice) and a few teeps. I used a good deal more of my weapons moving forward with punches to clinch, and simple combinations that landed in kicks. I even happily used some K-1 style leg kicks when John threw fast hand combination . In between rounds my corner gave me simple advice and seemed rather upbeat about my performance. I stuck to the game plan that my trainers and I had devised moving forward and kicking and kneeing.

Round 2

round 3

round 4

Eventually the fight ended. I felt that I had won the bout, but was unsure due to the American judges. I knew that it had been close in terms of number of attacks. John had outboxed me for sure and had rallied at the ends of the rounds whereas I had been more consistent with my output. When the announcer said that the first judge gave it a draw I was pretty sure that I had lost.
Judging here in the states is a bit different than judging in Thailand. Here nothing is graded, nor are rounds given based on damage (especially in the amateur muay thai world), instead things are based on points. Throwing a jab will give you the same amount of points as a cross, or a knee, or a kick, whereas all forms of attacks will differ in terms of damage. Additionally moving forward in a fight doesn’t seem as important in a fight in the states. A large portion of judges for these events come from a boxing or kickboxing background, which are different sports than Muay Thai.

In Thailand the rounds are graded with the latter rounds being more important, thus fights are somewhat similar to marathons. The fighter who can increase the pace and still deliver strong attacks will be viewed favorably. The attacks themselves are graded based on damage (it should be noted that most if not all Muay Thai in Thailand is on the professional level). Elbows which deliver the most damage are viewed the most favorably, followed by knees, and finally punches. This judging system impacts how the fighters train and fight.

Winning fights is not my goal. I know that sounds bad, but it just isn’t anymore. My goal is focused on the one thing that I can control, my performance. I wanted my performance to be well rounded and to show good Thai style. Good Thai style means delivering attacks with finesse and damage, and to move forward in the fight. I felt that my performance was more than satisfactory. You can’t control what other people do (especially the judges). Most importantly I wanted to perform to the best of my abilities, I felt that I accomplished that. My trainers, friends, and a hoard of strangers were more than satisfied with how I did.

While I felt I performed well, the main event of the night did not go so well for my trainer Coke. Coke looked slow through out the fight. He had validly complained about being sick and never seemed to be able to pick up the pace on the taller Kevin Ross. Ross came out and stayed active throughout the fight using his hands to work into a clinch position that choked the smaller Thai man.
Other notable fights of the evening included the heavy weight fight between Brandon Banda and Francisco Fuenecello. Banda knocked out Funecello with a spectacular elbow right after an uppercut that shook Funecello.

Along with the heavy weight knock out was a great bout between Jason Andrada and local Ryan Ratcliff. The two had a bout in a previous War of the Heroes card which ended with a technical draw because Andrada was dropped on his head knocking him out by Ratcliff. This fight had Andrada enacting revenge on Ratcliff. Ratcliff received two standing eight counts before Andrada put him down on the mat in the fifth round.

I know Samedov had to qualify to get this far, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of him before this fight.  As per K1 GP fashion, this fight felt like a pretty big mismatch.  Hari is definitely hitting the weights though… I don’t think I’ve ever seen him looking so huge.