Edson Mendes Barboza Jr: Muay Thai in MMA

Patrick introduced me to a fighter named Edson Mendes Barboza Jr. from Brazil.

He currently fights MMA with a record of 7 wins and 0 losses: 6 KO's and 1 submission.

Alone, that record would seem impressive. However, he also has a 28 fight Muay Thai career at 25 wins, with 22 by KO.



What's really nice to see is that his standup game is clearly Muay Thai. Not K-1, not kickboxing, not karate, not Sanshou and NOT "MMA muay thai" (whatever that is).... it's Muay Thai.

He also isn't a fighter who simply trained Muay Thai. He has been training BJJ extensively. He has shown up to the MMA party with a lot of MT experience, but a well rounded game over all. I think it's for these reasons you're going to really see him rise up.

This is a point I've been arguing for a while: the future of MMA is going to see a move back to the traditional. The best fighters are the ones who study each discipline they are involved in specifically and intensively.

GSP and Anderson are examples of this. They are both well versed in different disciplines by training in them separately...not simply getting an MMA striking coach or grappling coach. YES, they do have teams that bring it all together, but they still get their skills by training with the best of each world. A non Muay Thai example would be GSP wrestling with the Olympic wrestling team.

These guys go to specialists of their craft to train...then they bring it all together by smartly choosing how and when to use their techniques. It's by having the most complete skill set possible that fighters like Edson are able to succeed in my opinion.

I'm definitely going to be watching him now.

Anyways...here is Edson in action: http://www.mmalinker.com/external/frames/36508/Edson_Barboza_vs_Mike_Lullo_FIGHT_VIDEO_UFC_123_PRELIM_HQ


You can read more about Barboza Jr here: http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Sherdog-Prospect-Watch-Edson-Mendes-Barboza-Jr-28249

Sick of Saenchai? Watch Lertsila (video)

Saenchai is awesome. No doubt the best MT fighter out there at the moment. He's so good he almost always clowns around in his fights to put on a show.


Saenchai's cartwheel kick

But you might be sick of seeing him. He's everywhere. This blog. That blog. Your mother's Muay Thai blog. Everywhere.

Who else can provide the same kind of entertainment in the MT world?

Try Lertsila. I've profiled Lertsila (sometimes spelled Lerdsila) Chumpairtour before (here).


Lertsila kicking Kaew Fairtex

He's got the ability to slip any technique like he's a ghost, and the teep (pushkick) of a guy 10x his size. His balance and basics are so good he's often performing risky tricks during fights to put on a good show.

Sound like Saenchai?

Maybe a little...but Lertsila hasn't enjoyed the same kind of success. Despite having Raja titles, Lertsila has not had the winning streak Saenchai has enjoyed. He's fought many of the toughest and given them great battles, but has had trouble taking them out. As such, you don't really ever hear about him, and he's not really sought out to fight on international events.

Lertsila will be getting his chance though. Come August 14, Lerdsila "Mr Lightning" will take on Yusuke Sugawara in the United States! Hopefully this will boost his visibility and give him a chance to make his name across the World Muay Thai scene.


Lertsila on the bottom with his 3 titles

This will be a big card for the U.S. as well, with 3 WMC world titles on the line.

Here's a promotional video with more about Lertsila, and some footage of him for this upcoming fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfZdvI5HNGI

NOTE: this is NOT the way to work the bag or the pads! Unless you're as good as Lertsila or Saenchai...

Jomthong Chuwattana (Fighter Profile)

57 kg (126 lbs) Featherweight titles:
Rajadamnern Stadium Champion 2x
WBC World Muay Thai Champion (2008 win over Anuwat)

Record as of 2009
200 fights. 167 wins. 30 Losses and 3 draws

Jomthong is a young and talented fighter from the Chuwattana camp in Thailand. Making his name by defeating the infamous Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Jomthong captured 2 of the most prestigious titles in MT.


Jomthong defeats Anuwat for the WBC world title

He is currently ranked 3rd in Thailand. He has stepped in the ring with the best of the best these days including: Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Kaew Fairtex, Petchboonchu FA Group, Sakkedao. Google any of the aforementioned fighters and you'll find they are all incredible. Jomthong has not always come out victorious against the likes of these guys, but he always gives a display of some of the best Muay Thai you'll see today.

Jomthong refers to himself as a technician. I like watching him for his precise and powerful strikes. He doesn't waste a lot of energy and digs right into his target.

Videos:

training: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SMn_c12TCc

(in blue)vs Anuwat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja5pHI7Al0o&feature=related

(in blue)vs Saenchai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqZP_oqxzEM&feature=related

vs Kaew Fairtex in Japan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM9P0QY1vK8

vs Phet-asawin Seesanferry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE2lJq0voWc

vs Ronnachai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BGXWTraWDE

Saiyok Pumpanmuang

So I posted the Slamm fights the other day and no doubt those who watched took notice of Saiyok. He's been in the game for a long time and has fought quite a few times outside of Thailand...yet he's still one of the lesser known fighters.

He's currently the #1 Welterweight in the Thailand rankings (and national champion), and he's about #3 or 4 in both Raja and Lumpini...He's now the WMC champion


photo by Richlieu

Saiyok is definitely up there. If you watch him, he doesn't have that kind of "pretty" aesthetic to his technique that Buakaw does, but when you see his strikes land it looks absolutely horrifying. He really punishes his opponent for not blocking or evading.

I'd personally love to see Buakaw and him go at it in full Muaythai rules.

Videos:

training: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzVgEZPLM4g


fights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKz3VT7OOgA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqbK7Wo2GWc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B3SzmAKd6s

Saiyok at last years slamm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gujNx6OFVvQ
aaand finally check the Slamm 6 videos post for Saiyok fighting for a title vs Warren Stevelmans

Zaza Sor Aree: Female Thai Champ

Introducing ZAZA Sor Aree!

She is:
World Champion WPMF 52kg
Aswindam stadium Champion-Bangkok
CH 9 Champion-Thailand



Watch Highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI367lyCjRs&feature=player_embedded

Thanks to Kru for passing this along. It's not always easy to find a lot of female nak muays (google Muay Thai and you always come up with a bunch of males), but they are out there! We're also raising our own stable of them ;). I will be trying to find and post more female fighters for you guys in the coming months.

Somrak Khamsing, and his fight with Boonlai (video)

Many of you aren't familiar with lots of Thai fighters, so I'm going to keep throwing them at you. I may as well start with the most popular

This is Somrak Khamsing, Thai boxer legend and also the man who trained Saenchai!


Some times his name is spelled "Somluck"

I will be honest and say that I do not know if Somrak had any big titles. I think he was Thailand champion at one point but I cannot be sure. However, he competed often in Lumpini stadium and fought many of the greatest fighters.

Just like Saenchai, Somrak is unorthodox for a Thai fighter, and often throws in Muay Boran techniques when he knows he's got a fight in the bag.

He also had a stint in Olympic boxing, bringing home the gold medal.



Nowadays Somrak has been appearing in movies, releasing music (seriously, he is a recording artist), and taking fights against foreigners who generally can't touch him.



Somrak is way past his prime now, having his glory days over a decade ago. As you can see in the picture, he's not in the best of shape...but he still mops the floor with the foreigners he is matched up with.

The latest rumour is that he will be fighting Jean Claude Van Damme (REALLY: http://muaymag.com/somluck-kamsing-to-fight-jean-claude-van-damme-next-year.html)

Anyways, here is his fight with Boonlai Sor Thanikul (another great fighter who deserves his own post)

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vECE43SAw1E

Leo Amendoim

Here's a Brazilian Muay Thai fighter who's name can be seen all over the place but it's very unlikely you've really seen him fight. In fact, I knew very little about him other than some of the fighters he fought, until I found his website.



Name: Leonardo "Amendoim" Monteiro
Record: 35 fights / 23 wins / 13 Ko
Born: 28/09/1980
Height: 174cm
Weight: 60-63kg
Home: São Paulo, SP - Brazil
Residing Bangkok, Thailand

Titles:

-WMC Muay Thai Against Drugs Champion 2008
-Chaweng Stadium Belt Holder 2008 Koh Samui, Thailand
-Best Chiang Mai foreigner fighter 2007
-Sao Paulo State Champion 2005


Leo vs Zig Zach in Malaysia

He has a really nice website here: http://www.leoamendoim.com/

and a blog with some of his career stories here: http://leoamendoim.blogspot.com/

Videos can be found here:

http://www.dailymotion.com/lmonteiros

Fighter Profile: Dieslnoi Chor Thanasukarn

Dieselnoi on the far left, with Kaopong on the far right

I'm about to get old school on all ya...here is a legend in the sport

Born: December 26, 1961, Tambon Huakoon, Thailand
Other names: The Sky Piercing Knee Kicker
Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight: 62 kg (140 lb; 9.8 st)
Years active: 1968–1985
Record: 54 fights, 50 wins -4 losses- 1 KO



As you can see, Dieselnoi was a particular tall Thai fighter at 140 lbs (especially for a Thai). His nickname, The Sky Piercing Knee Kicker, should not surprise you. Being so tall, Deiselnoi worked a lot of the plumb clinch and some incredibly devastating knees.

He was lightweight champ (after beating Kaopong, pictured above, who I believe is one of the 4 men to have ever beaten Dieselnoi) at Lumpini for some few years straight, and had to stop competing after having no one left to challenge him.



Other highlights of his career include beating Samart Payakaroon (who is arguably the best pound for pound Muay Thai fighter in history). To be fair, no one was left to fight Dieselnoi, so Samart gave up a sizeable height and weight advantage to give him a fight. He lacked fights for a couple years after and then, in matchup similar to the one with Samart, was pitted against Sakad Petchyindee (another incredible legend) who he also beat.

Towards the end of his career, he fought Peter Cunningham, a karate champion, at the Olympic Stadium, Los Angeles, USA. Needless to say he kneed the crap out of Peter, who showed tremendous heart against this unstoppable man.

By the way, I'm a short dude. I know how much harder it is to fight guys with massive height advantages over you...but Dieselnoi made history with his career.

Check out some of his videos:

On pads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8dIsPTWyic

vs Shogo Shimazu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pARhS01zlWw

vs unknown Kickboxer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAxcPE_0eXw

vs Nongkhai Sor Prapartsorn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWdmN_zakk8

DEMO with Samart Payakaroon (not the fight): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQZBDKDx8bY

Fighter Profile: Samkor Keatmontep

AKA: Batman
Height: 172cm
Fight Weight: 62kgs
Fight Style: Southpaw
Nationality: Thai
Representing:Burilam,Thailand; MTPlaza2004Gym
Professional Record 150Fights: 120W/27L/3D
* Former Lumpini Champion Jr Featherweight
* Former Lumpini Champion Jr Lightweight
* Former Lumpini Champion Lightweight
* Former Thailand Champion 135lbs



Samkor was one bad mother shut-your-mouth in his prime. A famous Southpaw who could win fights with left leg alone, he also had some great elbows. Watch the highlight video...he just moves guys with that one kick.



However as of late, Samkor's been facing younger guys...and he's not exactly in tip top shape like he used to be. He's had mixed results


Samkor's very close win over the younger Contender Asia star, David Paquette

Video:

Highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MXZBTqrfRw

For more: Search youtube...or go to the "related videos" box in the highlights. It's not hard to find Samkor on the net

Fighter Profile: Sangtiennoi Sor. Rungrot, the "Deadly Kisser"

Sangtiennoi Sor. Rungrot was one of the most famous fighters of his time. He was known as the "Deadly Kisser" for..um, kissing his opponents. Yeah...



He's gone on to fight past his prime against much younger opponents, and eventually moved on to training great fighters like Samkor and John Wayne Parr

To be honest, as a fan, I'm not incredibly impressed by Sangtiennoi compared to the other fighters of his era. I'm sure a lot of Muay Thai enthusiasts will crap on me for saying that. However, he is still one of the greatest, with precise strikes and a methodical fighting style.

For more info on the Deadly Kisser: http://news.axkickboxing.com/article?id=118


Videos:

Highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mvsve-Sy6KQ&feature=channel_page

Vs Orono P.M.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8mOOrozFgk

Vs Ramon Dekkers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSKvpFKfB5o

Fighter Profile: Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee

Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee
1972
Nickname: Telephone pole knees (seriously...that's what it is)
Titles: several weight class Lumpini titles

For a great write up on Lamnamoon's career: http://news.axkickboxing.com/article?id=135

Videos:

Lamnamoon has some very technical bouts, as well as some absolute wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gaE4IReagY&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp0QwMDOSes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seDh4ZAcoyc

Fight Video/ Fighter Profile: Sakmongkol Sitchuchoke vs Jongsanan Fairtex

Highly regarded as one of the best Muay Thai fights ever: Watch Sakmongkol vs Jongsanan #5



Sakmongkol and Jongsanan were both champions during the most competitive eras of Muay Thai history. They both met in the ring several times, culminating in 8 fights with Jongsanan reportedly winning 5 of them.

This particular fight is one an example of a what I mentioned in the last post: A fast paced-back and forth showcase of technique from the 80's and early 90's. These guys don't waste anytime hitting the crap out of eachother (although this posted version is a songchai broadcast version...which tends to cut the fight to its most exciting parts).

Distance: There's a reason why our class preaches using proper distance...Notice that once either fighter got too close when delivering punches they would switch right to using brutal elbows. Something to think about

Anyways, Enjoy!

Sakmongkol Sitchuchoke:



Height: 5'9"
Weight: 150-165 lbs
Club: Songchai Boxing
Record: 250 fights- 190 Wins

Titles:
- Two-time Lumpinee Champion
- WMTC World Champion 70kg 1997


Jongsanan "Wooden Man" Fairtex



Height: 5'8"
Weight: 154 lbs
Club: Fairtex
Record: 98-28-0 (23KO's)

Titles:
- 2x ISKA World Champion
- IKKC Junior Middleweight World Champion
- IKF North American Champion
- 2x Luminee Champion