Thai Fight – Leicester City

It was a very good night in Leicester… As most English MMT readers know, the UK was recently the latest location for the Thai Fight series.  I’d have to say it had the highest production value of any muay thai I have ever been to.    I guess when your charter or mission is to build awareness and buzz and not turn a profit; you can get away with such extravagances.

It’s a bit bitter sweet you see the potential of what Muay Thai shows could be, but you know full well, they won’t be able to sustain it.

I rolled up early that day to get some interviews with nak muay before the night would get too hectic.   The event took place under a big top tent in the Leicester City Football Club parking lot.  Why Leicester City you ask?  The owner of King Power, (a chain of Duty Free shops and high end hotels) recently bought the football club.  It’s an ideal location as it’s in between London and the North… I find Brits will moan if they have to drive more then an hour…  Tickets were sold at £10 a pop… basically giving them away to fill the place out.  Still I heard people bitching… seriously?

You can view more pics here

I made it into the press briefing and I couldn’t believe how much Thai media was in attendance.  Impressive that they could convince so many media outlets that this was news…

One of the best fights of the night was Jordan Watson vs. Ahmed Hassam.  It’s a shame that it wasn’t televised.    I was positioned in the media pit, basically in Jordan’s corner, listening to Liam and Andy shouting out instructions… it’s amazing how much Jordan takes instructions, I guess 2 pairs of eyes are better then one.   I was quite shocked at the size of Hassan when he walked out.  Liam and I looked at each other, like damn that guys big.  The Team Nasser guys know how to cut weight… it’s a real skill and these guys know how to do it.

This pic is from MMT’s member Adrian Tsang

Jordan pushed the action, and landed a vicious head kick…  it sounded horrible.  I say sounded because like the being the noob and ringside photography, I was looking down at my camera.  Honestly it sounded like someone kicking a watermelon it was truly cringe worthy. I’ve got to give props to Ahmed… he picked himself up, despite not no knowing where he was and walk backed to his corner.  Watson won the bout in convincing fashion.

It was a great show and great vibe; I would love it if they could make it back to the UK again, although I kind of doubt that it will.  They are doing a show in Lyon next month, Saiyok will be taking on Fabio Pinca, should be very interesting.  Then two more shows in Thailand, 8 man tournament style bouts… then I understand that a Thai Fight show is in the cards for the States.

Many thanks to Khun Narit, Rob Cox, and Khun Sayan for all of the help with the pre-fight coordination.