Weigh ins for M1 Grand Muay Thai Championships

This guy looks a little bored.

Weigh ins are boring affairs. I always forget that. The fortunes of hundreds of people were dropping out of their fingers downstairs in the playing room at the Commerce Casino but upstairs in the ballroom where Stand Up Promotions will be having their bouts things were more sedate. In Norman Mailer’s “The Fight,” depicting Ali’s and Foreman’s ‘Rumble in the Jungle,’ Norman characterizes the life of fighters as being a pendulum swing between dullness and activity. The sporadic events of the ring are in stark contrast to the long drawn moments of waiting to weigh in, waiting for the bouts, waiting to get into the ring, waiting for the fight to finally start… While time flows for the majority in a steady stream for the fighter it slows and starts, it dams and rushes forward. The weigh ins where punctual and passed for me in the normal tick, tick tock of time but for the fighters it seemed as if the river of time was eeking out. They looked tired of waiting and anticipated action at any moment. The California Commission gave their usual speech about rules and items that were allowed in dressing rooms. There’s been some debate about the wearing of prajits, the arm bands that most Muay Thai fighters don. The commission has been against them because when they fall off they cause a stoppage in the action but for this bout they will allow them as long as the arm bands don’t fall off.

Commission guy talking and pointing at stuff.

The weigh ins went smoothly.The fighters were all approachable and more than willing to sign posters which was nice for fans like me. For those of you who can’t make it to the bouts tomorrow there will be online streaming here. Tickets will also be on sale at the door. Make sure you get there early! In the mean time you can see the fighters weigh in below! Woah!!!