Contender Asia Update
July 30, 2009 by nopstar
Today I was on the phone with a friend in Bangkok, and they mentioned that they might be meeting up with Malaipet. Really? What’s he doing in Thailand? Is he on holiday?
“No… he’s heading to The Contender”
I’ve got to apologize to you guys… I’ve been remiss in my duties. I hadn’t spent anytime on the Contender these past few months… I figured there wasn’t really going to be any new developments until (if) the show got going.
Turns out I’ve missed quite a bit of news. So they threw a bunch of qualifying events right? Well turns out they aren’t really qualifying events. The shows producers still have a final say on who makes the cut. It’s a little naive to think the best fighters are going to make it on the show. They’ve got to have the skills but at the end of the day, this is a TV show… they’ve got ratings to be concerned about. Stephen Fox was the K-1 forums and left this statement.
So I was pretty shocked to here Malaipet was going to be in the competition. Good shocked, he’s a great guy and he’s got some swagger… I think he’ll be a fine addition to the house. So I went to the CA2 site to see whom else I missed.
These are a few names that caught my eye…
Cedric Mueller (France)
Duane Ludwig (USA)
Kit Cope (USA)
Marco Pique (Netherlands)
Malaipet (Thailand)
I know Malaipet, Duane and Kit have all been spending time in MMA, MuayThai is dying in the States. I’m sure Sherdog is in full effect over Cope. He’s a divisive character. I’m not a big Cope fan… he always claims he’s the best because he’s traveled the world beating the best. I’m not sure Yod, Souwer, Buakaw or anyone in the CA2 house will have heard of his IPMTO title. Anyway, let’s just say I’m psyched he’s going to be on the show.
Go Cedric!!!!!!! Rootin’ for the French Guy!!!
Other top faves would have to be Malaipet (of course), Mad Dog and the sniper.
I’m actually wondering what Kit Cope is doin there.
Malaipet is a very decorated fighter…I thought this was the “Contender”! What is a legend such as the “Diamond” doing competing in that show….I hope he is just one of the coaches…This is just as unfair as Yod being in the first season. What
Duane “Bang” Ludwig???….He still fights??
I still can’t believe Kit Cope is in the show. The only real accomplishment I have really known him to do what beating Alex Gong (R.I.P). I wish him the best of luck though. He’s really not that bad of a fighter.
What happened to Khem Fairtex and Cosmo Alexander????
No Dutch nor Japanese fighters this time around again?..Well at least Fox didn’t peak 3 Australians again this time.
Vive la FRANCE!!!!!
I dont know about Sherdog backing Cope, hes kinda been dropping off the radar in the last couple of years.
As a westerner im kinda happy to hear about these names, theyre not the iconic representation of what Muay Thai , but there established home soil names that might help revitalize a following here, despite their moves into MMA , they were all hardened competing in Muay Thai both here and abroad first.
You’ve got abit of history with Malaipet and Duane being Malaipets only high profile loss in the states before Yod. Kit being in the is cool, regardless of his antics (BAREKNUCKLE! BAREKNUCKLE! BAREKNUCKLE! SUNDAY! SUNDAY! SUNDAY!) fact is he has stepped in there with some veteran names such as William Syrapai , Akomi Nitta , and Alex Gong (yes i know about the staph, still give him credit for stepping in there. btw the 6yr anniversary is Sat..)
Above anything else Id really like to see more of a push after the show for all the fighters. I really felt we didnt get to see much of the full potential guys like Trevor Smandych simple because they were eliminated so quickly. Aloowing eliminated fighters stay in the house and in the final show some more undercard fights would be nice, that way the half names and talent on the show arent thrown away after the first 4 episodes.
ill have the pad thai on a thai pad please.
Tako
sup tako! Long time no see! I didn’t know about Malaipet’s loss to Duane, thanks for the heads up.
Oh and Spyda… I thought Kit’s only claim to fame was dating Carano!
Spyda.. Marco Pique is a dutch fighter, not one of the elite guys though.. Still he is a good guy and a good personality, hope he does well.. The americans are gonna get embarassed, but that’s nothing new..
The fact that the thailand qualifiers have been unfinished and disregarded and the fact that Malaipet, Duane Ludwig and Kit Cope are in this is an out and out total disgrace and has completely devalued this programme, devalued what its trying to do and devalued all the other qualifiers that the rest of the housemates have had to compete in to get in.Its all about selling advertidsing space and trying to appeal to an american market who, even with these 3 now in the programme still wont give a flying fuck about it.
Jordan Watson (hopefully) or Marco Pique to win this.
I hate, hate, HATE Kit Cope. The guy is such an arrogant piece of trash, just seeing his face puts me in a damper. Anyway, I love Duane Ludwig, I was shocked that he’s going to be on this show, I wasn’t aware. I hope Eli Madigan is on the show, as well. He’s one of my favorite up-an-coming fighters. All the best of luck to the fighters, except for Kit Cope. Maybe this show will turn into the Contender MMA, haha.
I hope the producers take note of Malaipet and Ludwigs history and put them in a fight. I will be cheering on Malaipet to win this competition. I also CANNOT wait to see Kit Cope get destroyed.
really. kit cope…fuck my life. rooting for pique.
fuck. kit cope. damnit.
Yeah kit cope is kind of joke to be honest…
Then again so is Carano but hey she/They are promoting Muay-Thai to an audience we probably wouldnt reach otherwise so go with it….
I watched some footage of Cope to see if he is as big an idiot as his reputation. Wow. The guy referred to himself in the third person and claimed to have moved to mma because he had already accomplished everything in muay thai. I can’t wait to see him get the bejeezus smacked out of him.
haha. cope.
spyda……
CALM THE FUCK DOWN.
:)
how do you guys think malaipet will do at this point in his career? im a bit worried but excited as hell to see him on the show
thought malaipet was doing mma in cali…..
Looks like they want that american audience. Cope is gonna bring that MMA swagger, they better make sure that he pisses in a cup.
Last I heard I heard was that Clifton Brown and Carnage were gonna coach. Is that a fact?
Celtic 1967, Malaipet is still fighting Muay Thai! He hasnt fought MMA for a while! Hes been doing a lot better since he left Team Diamond. He just got his WBC title back in Vegas.
“In the main event of evening, Mongkhon Wiwasuk, who fights under the name Malaipet, regained his WBC International super welterweight title and avenged his Feb. 24 loss to Richard Fenwick with a decision victory.
The normally jovial Malaipet appeared resolute as he controlled Fenwick in the clinch with elbows and takedowns, before opening a cut over Fenwick’s left eye.”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/26/kevin-ross-celebrates-birthday-fight-victory/
Kind of sad to dilute the show to appeal to an American audience that is dumbed down to al the now present reality shows…but money talks….
So from what I gather.if u want to be on this show..u should, once showing some potential in a THAI sport, just speak english……….did I miss something?
No Thai coaches?..for a Thai national sport?
Ok..I cant argue with the MBA exec sitting in a office who claims tha this is what he needs to spread it to new markets..I get that and can swallow that load…
but if after all this no TV station wants to carry it ( that`s you spineless VS channel programming directors) then just kiss the amercan market goodbye and maintain some integrity.
Hell we cant even get a Formula 1 US GP and that is the most watched sport in the world, but they shooting for MT in this maner?
I hope it ends up good…and I have no idea what makes Kit cope famous..I heard of Duane..
Kit Cope = Ratings. Regardless of his merits as a fighter, his personality likely gave him an outstanding screen test. He’ll bring the funny for at least a couple of episodes before he get KTFO’d and goes home. Wish him the best of luck, though.
Don’t Mal and Kit train at the same gym in California?
Ironically the Contender – international boxing edition actually learned from its mistakes and became a higher quality show focusing on the fighters, their training and their lives. The matches were much more fair and there wasn’t a predesigned focus on one country over another.
The Contender Asia seems determined to become the typical Burnett production – based on contestants being the bad guy, mismatches, and stupid challenges. Ice chopping anyone? Not to mention there’s more than a few ‘Contenders’ that should not be on the show at all.
After the way the Thai contingent especially Khem was treated I’ll pass and maybe download it at most. I’m not going to let some racists with some weird agenda profit from my efforts. It’s like Padkeemaw says but I feel more strongly about it.
Stinolatino, ure right…wut wuz I thinkin….go Pique (and Muller)…lol !!!
So what happened to Artem, Alexander and Khem??
padkeemaw, I thought the Soccer World Cup was the most watch event in the world!
NOBODY LIKES KIT COPE!!!!! DAMN!! Doesn’t he deserve a small break?
“Stinolatino, ure right…wut wuz I thinkin….go Pique (and Muller)…lol !!!
So what happened to Artem, Alexander and Khem??”
Out via English speaking requirement I am thinking.
Junk –
Thanks for that article, i like watching kevin ross and justin greiciwicz(sp!) fight, i had no idea they actually fought for a title. good brief read.
Who is mal with now that he left team diamond?
Dej Syripai I believe.
Jake… hes just doing his own thing now, he doesnt work for any gym.
Does anyone know if The Contender will even play on American tv? It really does look like the show has been tweaked for an American audience and I hope their plan works. This sport should be more popular in the US.
junk, thx for the info,,,,,,
Jordan Watson or Marco PIque to win this for sure
spydie…I believe that soccer is most played sport..F1 has fans and owns TV marketing rights in markets where soccer is not as big….but I may be wrong.
I have heard nothing yet of Us TV coverage yet, but u know guys any MT would be good. I just ate noodle soup at a small shop on the side of the road and lo and behold on channel 9 was MT…the owner of the shop is a big fan and we chatted about the match in barely good english/thai=)..it was priceless..but reminded me that this he takes for granted is soo precious for me.
ALot of drama around it fo sho..but I will be glad to see a wai kru and a good 5 rnd match every week..sad the Thai contingent is not well represented…I really dont want new fans coming to me worshipping other fighters who get celebrity status cuz of this show and thinking they are the face of MT…when their are unknown retired Thai fighters cum trainers who can school these guys
No US coverage…. then what was the point of putting in guys like Kit Cope. You would think its to appeal to an American audience.
“So what happened to Artem, Alexander and Khem??”
Out via English speaking requirement I am thinking.
Then what’s the point of Contender Asia, watching some lame fighters who can speak English? I guess there just too many people and money involved. Screw that.
Stacks….thanx for the info about the “english” thing. As if Closed Caption was inexistent or something. Maybe we should change the name to “English speaking Contender Asia”. Oh well!!!!….At the end of the day I guess that any Muay Thai is better than No Muay Thai.
From what i’ve read from the sherdog kickboxing community (yes it’s small, but it exists) They really don’t want Kit Cope being on the show because of his alleged lack of credentials as well as his D-bag attitude. Not just the kickboxing community, it seems sherdog on a whole has a healthy dislike for Kit.
Oh god, i’m praying that Cope gets to the finals by pure fucking luck (opponents getting cut, self-injuring etc), just for the sheer LOLs! That would make my Fing day, hell that would make my year! Man i’m a sick individual…
A friend of mine met up with one of the Organisers for the show and from what she said they wont ever pick an American with an actual shot at winning the show.
He actually laughed when Kit Cope was brought up. Apparently the promoters want an amercian to tap into that market but they wont ever Bring on a fighter with enough skill to win the competition.
Are u actually tryin’ to imply that there are in fact American NakMuays who have a shot at actually winning the show? Would u please state some names because I really need to do some research!!!!
Good point…
Finally, the list is completed… and yessss! Levin Artem is in; but it looks like Hong Kong’s PakWing Heung as well as Italy’s Saro Presti did not make the cut. In Presti’s place is Diego Ballardin…
here’s the final list:-
1. Mongkhon Wiwasuk aka Malaipet(Thailand)
2. Rafi Zouhier (Spain)
3. Mohd Faizal Ramli (Malaysia)
4. Jordan Watson (England)
5. Paolo Balicha (Portugal)
6. Kit Cope (USA)
7. Bernard Radin (Malaysia)
8. Duane Ludwig Bang (USA)
9. Cedric Muller (France)
10. Eli Madigan (Australia)
11 Bakhulule Baai (South Africa)
12 Marco Pique (Surinam)
13 Levin Artem (Russia)
14 Marcus Oberg (Sweden)
15 Diego Ballardin (Italy)
16 Jesse Miles LaCombe (Canada
i’m very dissapointed to see Jesse Miles LaCombe on the list
he actually got knocked out during the qualifying matches but “Daddy” stepped in
Only 1 Thai? What happened to Khem? Disappointed.
he is out like others because his english is not good enough