Friday, 24 May 2013 10:43

At first glance, Chike Lindsay vs. Saiyok is not the most intriguing fight on the Muay Thai Superfight Show scheduled for May 13 in Thailand. That honor no doubt belongs to former Heavyweight Boxing World Champion Riddick Bowe, who will be making his Muay Thai debut at 45 years old. To be completely honest, unless Bowe found a mystical reserve of secret energy he is probably not going to be any sort of force in the heavyweight kickfighting world. Other oddities include appearances by Dewey Cooper and Marvin Eastman. 

Your eye might be drawn to the newly crowned LionFight Light Heavyweight Champion, Simon Marcus, who squares off against Kaoklai Kaennorsing. Kaoklai is probably still an exciting name for fans newly acquainted with Muay Thai, but the truth is he's been over the hill for quite some time now. Marcus is at the peak of his career and is fresh off a win over one of the greatest 77 kg Muay thai fighters of all time in Artem Levin. Not only that, but Kaoklai has already lost to Marcus in a lopsided decision back in 2012. Outside of a freak injury, I can't fathom any way Kaoklai could win, or even why this fight was made in the first place.

So now we are arrive at Saiyok vs. Lindsay. This is easily the best match on the card. Chike Lindsay is currently riding a hot-streak of wins, most recently taking out Cyrus Washington at the Yokkao Extreme Qualifiers, followed by a decision win over Somluck at Muay Thai World Stand Off. He's one of the most talented Americans in the game right now, but he's facing an incredibly skilled opponent in Saiyok. 

Saiyok Pumpanmuang is coming off two wins, the latest being a dominating decision over Thiago Texeira at Thai Fight 2012. Although some wind was taken out of Saiyok's sails due to a loss (via injury) to Team Nasser K's Dylan Salvador in October of last year. Saiyok is still one of the best at 70 kg in my opinion, possibly THE best, and putting Chike Lindsay away will be another step towards proving it. This fight will answer a lot fo questions about both Saiyok's longevity, and Lindsay's metal at the top of the sport.

Full Line-Up

Riddick Bowe vs. Levgen Golovin

Chike Lindsay vs. Saiyok Pumpanmuang

Marvin Eastman vs. Ricardo VanDe Bos

Dewey Cooper vs. Fred Sikking

Simon Marcus vs. Kaoklai Kaennorsing

Sean Kearney vs. Armin Windysport

Friday, 24 May 2013 10:43

Aside from having a huge GLORY 5 London card this weekend, there were a lot of other events taking place around the world featuring some notable fighters.

Capital Punishment 7 went down on March 23 in Canberra, Australia and featured the fourth fight between Ben Edwards and Paul Slowinski. Previously, Slowinski held a 2-1 lead in the series heading into the fight. This time it was Edwards who picked up a hard fought decision win to even the score at two wins a piece. Edwards dropped Slowinski in the first round and controlled the second round, but Slowinski wasn't done and came back in the third round and even managed to hurt Edwards with some low kicks. However, it was too late and Edwards had done more than enough in the first two rounds to take the fight.

Heroes Fighting Championship held it's first show in Sweden, also on March 23. The main event featured last year's breakout GLORY fighter Sanny Dahlbeck, who returned to Muay Thai against Mauro Serra of Italy. Dahlbeck got his first win of the year and took a decision.

On Friday, March 22 in Russia, some of the region's top fighters were fighting in Rostov-on-Don at R-1. Dmitry Shakuta moved up in weight to 86kg and took on the fast rising Suleiman Magomedov, who had just fought two weeks prior, beating Halim Chibani in Monte Carlo. From the onset, just like most Shakuta fights, he was a very tricky opponent for Magomedov and the fight played out similarly to Shakuta's fight with Alexander Oleinik at the Tatneft Cup 2011 Finals. The fight went all five rounds but the rounds were only two minutes each. In the end it was a close fight where nothing significant really happened, but Magomedov got the decision win.

Also on the card in Rostov-on-Don was a pretty big upset as Errol Koning avenged a loss to Alexander Stetsurenko, who is currently ranked by GLORY as the promotion's #1 77kg fighter. The first fight between these two took place last year at the Tatneft Cup and Stetsurenko delivered a beating to Koning. This time around Koning got himself a split decision win.

In Thailand on the 23rd, Cheick Sidibe continued to roll, as he stopped Brazil's Marcelo Tenorio in the second round.

Friday, 24 May 2013 10:43

Haarlem Fight Night went down yesterday in Haarlem, Netherlands and featured a one night tournament at 70kg, featuring the likes of most notably Armen Petrosyan and Henri van Opstal.

The quarter finals saw Maiki Karathanasis defeat Anthony Kane by decision and Robbie Hageman beat William Diender by decision in an extra round of a close fight. Henri van Opstal cruised to a decision win over Kevin Hessling in his quarter final, while Armen Petrosyan stopped Nick Beljaards in the first round of his quarter final with three knockdowns.

The semi finals were then set up with Henri van Opstal vs. Maiki Karathanasis and Armen Petrosyan vs. Robbie Hagemen. Karathanasis was pparently visibly tired from his weight cut in the quarter finals and that was more of the same in the semi final. van Opstal cruised to another decision win and advanced to the final. In the other semi final, Armen Petrosyan cruised to a decision over Robbie Hagemen, saving himself for the final.

The final was to be five rounds, because of the WMTA title on the line for the tournament winner, but it didn't last that long. Petrosyan managed to damage van Opstal with low kicks over the course of the fight. After being thrown to the canvas a few times, van Opstal found it increasingly difficult to get up due to his legs being battered. After the third round, van Opstal's corner of Team Souwer threw in the towel, declaring Armen Petrosyan the winner.

Quarter: Maiki Karathanasis def. Anthony Kane by decision.
Quarter: Robbie Hagemen def. William Diender by decision in an extra round.
Quarter: Henri van Opstal def. Kevin Hessling by decision.
Quarter: Armen Petrosyan def. Nick Beljaards by TKO (3 Knockdowns) in Round 1.

Semi: Henri van Opstal def. Maiki Karathanasis by decision.
Semi: Armen Petrosyan def. Robbie Hagemen by decision.

Final: Armen Petrosyan def. Henri van Opstal by TKO (Corner Stoppage) after Round 3.

Also on the card were some up and coming Dutch prospects in Cedric Manhoef and Ibrahim El Bouni. Manhoef defeated Gym Haarlem's Abder Bechiri by decision. while El Bouni got a win back for Gym Haarlem as he beat Ronnie Roomeijer of Mike's Gym by decision.

Friday, 24 May 2013 10:43

It's pretty cool whenever we get behind-the-scenes footage from any kickboxing event, let alone one of the biggest shows of the year. GLORY recently put up this 10 minute long video featuring all the stuff us normal fans never get to see. Enjoy. 

Friday, 24 May 2013 10:43

Monday, March 18
Ponmongkol K.T. Gym def. Songkom Sakhomsin by decision.
Kangwanlek Petchyindee def. Thepnimit Sitmonchai by decision.
Petchinarath Sor. Sommai def. Rungrit Sor. Phenprapa by decision.
Nongyot Sitjekarn def. Phettai Kiatnadee by TKO in Round 4.

Tuesday, March 19
Uiseeopor Sujeebameekeow def. Rungrat Tor Pitakkonlakan by decision.
Sangdao Sor. Kittichai def. Phetbaankek Sor. Sommai by decision.

Wednesday, March 20
Fahpennuang K.R.S. Gym def. Phetaik Sor. Meanut by decision.
Mongkolkaew Sor. Sommai def. Binbon Sitdanai by decision.
Rungphet Por. Rungsiri def. Nuanglanlek Sitporjo by decision.
Wansodsai Sit. Jor def. Panpet Pethuaytaptan by TKO in Round 1.

Thursday, March 21
Thaksinlek Sitprakaifar def. Methee Sor. Jor. Toipedrew by decision.
Yodmongkol Muangsima def. Chofah Tor. Sangtiennoi by decision.
Nongmai Teded 99 def. Komean Sor. Worachot by decision.

Friday, March 22
Serkim Sitjetaew def. Satarnfah Zakami by decision.
Muangthai Sor. Boonyiam def. Ongbak Sitsarawatser by decision.
Mafuangnoi Chor. Rothsurang def. Singdam Sakrangsit by decision.

Overall, the past week was much quieter than previous ones this year. As a result, there are a lot less videos available than usual. Everything though is, as usual, well worth checking out.

Ponmongkol continues to roll while Songkom has dropped two in a row now. Kangwanlek also continues to defy age in beating a surging Thepnimit Sitmonchai. Nongyot's stoppage win on the same Monday card is also vicious and a must watch.