A little while ago I bumped into Kaoklai and had a chance to have a quick chat with him. (Forgot to snap a pic with him) I was actually surprised by his size. Obviously he’s a heavier fighter but dudes legs are thick.
I asked him about his training… Basically he confirmed all of my suspicions. I’ve done a few posts on Kaoklai and I’ve always been a bit critical about his boxing abilities and strategy. It’s no secret but his hands are absolutely crap, not much of a boxer and not much for keeping his hands up. I asked if he had been working on his boxing at all? Nope… Zilch, Zero, Nada.
I asked him what he thought of Clifton Brown. He said before this fight he’d never heard of him. I said sure, but what do you think about his fighting style? He said he didn’t know… that he’s never seen any footage on him. What? Trying not to be an asshole I confirm “You’ve never seen one clip, not even on the internet?” Seriously I think if you look online, you can probably come up with at least a dozen fights. “No”.
Seriously guys I know it’s easy for me to be critical from the comfort of my computer… but this is the kind of stuff that blows my mind. I’ve mentioned this a dozen times, and I’m not sure what’s going on at the camps. I’m sure he didn’t have much of a strategy when he fought Carnage or Tyrone… I think he just goes in and see’s what unfolds.
I don’t think this is an issue with just Kaoklai but I think it’s a problem with a lot of the Thai fighters. I think their trainers and camps just assume they’ll get by on their skills alone. I think this was the case with Lamsongkram vs. Holzken, Yodsanklai vs. Souwer. No planning on how they are going to have to deal with modified rules. No change in strategy…
Personally, I think Clifton Brown’s hands are better than Kaoklai’s. Obviously Kaoklai should focus on his Muay Thai and not try to box with Brown. That being said… don’t you think you should adapt your training to focus on fighting someone with good hands?
Anyway I wish him luck in his fight. He chose not to come sightseeing but rather catch up on some rest (good sign)
So any predictions? Thoughts?
[poll=47]
Anyway, I’m going to post the rest of our day in London this week.
June 17, 2008 at 8:17 am
Based on Kaoklai’s chops I’m going to say Kaoklai by TKO in the first round. Who would want to fight a guy with the bravado to sport those muttons?
matt lucas
June 17, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I also think its a waste and shame that a lot of planning just doesnt happen, and they just go out there. Maybe they want a clean mind, but If you can lure some moves like Dzhabar vs Soren, its all worth it.
June 17, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Yeah, can’t say I’m a big fan of his style. Not training hands is bad enough, but I wonder if he even trains how to neautralize a good boxer with his Muay Thai (I’ve stopped trying to find his fights, as they usually dissapoint, so I may be off base)
June 17, 2008 at 5:19 pm
He has cool hair! nuff said!
June 17, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I’ve seen some Clifton Brown fights. He has a very solid and technical style, and seems very well rounded. I won’t, or rather can’t, say if he has better kicks, elbows and knees than Kaoklai, but I believe he’s strong and capable in each enough to give Kaoklai a very rough night. Anything can happen, but if this is Kaoklai’s (or his team’s) approach to the upcoming fight, I have little to no faith in him winning. I think Clifton will either KO him or dominate towards the end for a decision, and I predict Clifton will outsmart him. Either way, it should be an amazing fight to add among the others on this awesome card
June 17, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Jesus Christ, that blows my mind also.
I just can’t imagine why in the heaven they don’t prepare themselves against their opponent?
They think they’re so superior or what?
Nop, you’re probably right about Yod vs Souwer, I bet the same problem has also Por Pramuk gym.
Not to check their opponents and not prepare a game-plan is just beyond my comprehension.
June 17, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I think at least Buakaw tried to prepare for K1 by training more punching techniques- except maybe at the expense of his other weapons.
June 17, 2008 at 9:34 pm
tong po,
when it comes to Buakaw, he had to since he’s a dark horse in K-1.
But it’s great for him to work on punching techniques, just look at him or Yod or Anuwat.
Can’t say that for Kaoklai and for majority of Thai fighters.
K-1 … did anyone noticed that this years the final elimination holds only semi-final and final fights? They want Masato to win this badly. hehe
June 17, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I disagree wit the Por Pramuk comment, Buakaw clearly changed his style to fit the K1 style judging.
Call me old fashion or different, but I do believe in letting 2 people in the ring and just let them decide who the best is. When people start studying their opponent’s styles and watchin’ videos, it changes the whole battlefield’s rules….and more often than not, it’s no longer about who has the best “skills” but about who planned the best “strategy” (and YES! There’s a difference!).
I think people only do research on their opponent when they fear them or fear the insecurity that is the “unknown” factor.
With all that said, I do understand that these days you have to follow suit and do ur research because 9x outta 10….he’s doin his research on u, so u have no other choice but to even the playin’ field
Dat reminds me of the “cuttin’ weight” issue. People used to fight at their natural weight class (I’m pretty sure they mostly still do in Thailand)….but here in the states people will lose 20lbs just go in the lower weight class and overpower everyone which in turns forces u to lose 20 lbs to have a chance to fight someone who’s natural weight is the same as u….I hope I made sense.
As far as Kaoklai goes…….is it ignorance or cockiness???
June 17, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Gusnark, “K-1 … did anyone noticed that this years the final elimination holds only semi-final and final fights? They want Masato to win this badly. hehe”…Nah I hadn’t noticed…but now that u mentioned it, you make a lotta sense….lol.
June 18, 2008 at 12:08 am
Gusnark,
that’s one of the things with fight sports, people want to drop weight to “try to overpower” their opponent, unfortunately, or fortunately, a lot of people do it, which nullifies any strength advantage one may have. In boxing very few still walk around within 5-10 pounds of fight weight- Bernard Hopkins/Mayweather come to mind.
June 18, 2008 at 1:44 am
lol reminds me of my gym. kaoklai has a style that doesnt rly look clean but he def has his own strategy and none of his KO kicks are lucky. hes VERY accurate with his legs.
June 18, 2008 at 2:21 am
next time you see dude, tell him some guy from the internet said wassup and hes a fan.
June 18, 2008 at 2:21 am
ALSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
you didnt ask him about the sponge fight??????????????
June 18, 2008 at 5:31 am
Tong Po…I think ur response was meant for me, not Gusnark and I totally agree that it’s become the norm to drop 15+ lbs to fight.
Those two guys u mentioned were also the best in their weight class…lol.
SE, don’t u mean “Spong”?…lmao.
June 18, 2008 at 7:18 am
SE
Ask about Spong? What am I supposed to ask? It’s slightly uncomfortable… um do you remember anything from that fight?
June 18, 2008 at 8:21 am
Spydaman, I can sort of see where you are coming from as a fight fan. As a fight fan myself I want to see two guys who are evenly matched throw their all into the ring and whoever has the better skills, or attributes wins.
As a fighter, I think its stupid to walk into a fight blind. Being a winning fighter not only requires tactical thinking in the ring, but having a strategy (both long term and short term). That’s how careers are made and destroyed. As a fighter I want to see fighters who make smart decisions both in the short and long term. Choosing opponents who will challenge them but will also help them advance. Picking up styles of fighting that will suit their needs and evolving into them and with them.
Maybe there’s a difference here between liking battles, and liking wars. While I like a good even fight (battle) I like seeing a good war better.
matt lucas
June 18, 2008 at 5:52 pm
You right, Spydaman, my question was meant for you. I like watching Sponge though, his boxing skills are very good for a Muay Thai/Kickboxer.
June 18, 2008 at 7:08 pm
yes nopstar. i did indeed watch that fight, many many times. kaoklai seemed to have gotten extremely heated after the face teep. i thought you yearned to be on some barbara walters shit. asking the questions the public wants to hear.
June 18, 2008 at 7:24 pm
SE-
I think it’s fairly clear I’m not a journalist…If I had any balls I would ask those questions. When it comes down to it though… my Thai-ness gets the better of me.
June 18, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I watch a lotta TV and I have seen reporters get punched, pushed, shoved, smacked and SHOT! (Faces of death, anyone?). So while interviewing a NakMuay I would make sure to ask the right questions too…..and I’m quite sure that Kaoklai is not over that loss. Nop is doin us a favor SE….Babara Walters gets paid a lotta gwop to ask these questions….Nop is doin it for free…so let’s not be reckless with our comments towards him, instead let’s be understanding.
On another note SE….I seriously think that Kaoklai underestimated the speed of Spong’s hands or overstimated his own bobbin’ and weavin’ ability. I think he was being a lil sloppy but then again….it’s possible that he did have a strategy and it was just the wrong strategy for this fight or like Mattlucas stated earlier he might have just made the “stupid” mistake of not studying his opponent (Who I’m sure studied a shit load about him..lol)
Let’s make love… not war…..(No Homo!)
June 18, 2008 at 8:40 pm
spyda i agree with what you said about the fight. after kaoklai did the same punch combo like 3 times it seemed to me like he was pretty pissed. i havent heard of spong before either. now im a big fan of his as well.
and yeah i busted nopstars balls a lil bit. he appears to have a sense of humor but i think it comes with the territory. when wanting certain information ther is a way you can word shit. instead of saying ‘so tyrone knocked you out pretty bad. did you remember who you were?’ you can say, ‘what would you do differently in the fight with spong?’ or ‘what went wrong’
i dont think kaoklai would kick nopstar in the face as a reaction to those questions.
June 18, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Here’s an interview with Clifton Brown I found with some of his thoughts on fighting Kaoklai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Ym8lVoQqI
June 30, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I have to say i have thought exactly the same thing as Nop. In an interview with Yod after the Souwer fight, he was asked about strategy. He basically said, fight hard and try to win was his strategy. The interviewer then asked him what he would do next time if he was to fight Souwer again. Geuss what, fight hard, try to win. I think this has something to do with ‘heart’ which is at the core of Muay Thai fighting attitude. Maybe from a Thai persepctive its almost like cheating and detaching from the fight itself? Maybe someone can enlighten me here?
Its clear fighters like Souwer, Masato have distinct strategies for each fight. Most of Yods kicks were parried or well blocked and each one was followed with a low kick.
But i have to say it does seem crazy in this day and age with so much available on the net, not to check out your opponent.
July 1, 2008 at 12:20 am
thats the thai way. thats also the thai approach to teaching you to use your hands. it appears at least.
:)