Muay Thai

Eight fighters of the 4-man Tournament under the Muay Thai Rampage: One King - Victory in Pride pose for photo after their weight-in session on September 16 in HCM City. Photo of Shadow Entertainment

HCM CITY — All athletes have passed their weigh-in sessions and organisers on September 16 conducted draws for the four-man Tournament under the Muay Thai Rampage: One King - Victory in Pride in HCM City.

The competition is organised under the new format for the first time in Việt Nam in two weight categories at the Saigon Sports Club (SSC).

In each category, four athletes, members of world famous Muay Thai clubs, will take part in three-round knockout-format bouts. The two winners will advance to the final, fighting for a huge bonus of US$5,000. 

A knockout win in the final on September 17 will bring the champion an additional award of $1,000.

The draw sees host Nguyễn Văn Đức Nghĩa of SSC face Julian Leo Gravinese of Elite Team from Japan. In the other match, Kyrgyz Timur Chuikov of Tiger Muay Thai Club will fight Cypriot Ismail Al Kadhi of Bangtam Muay Thai & MMA Club.

Due to visa issues, Chuikov replaces his teammate Amirhossein Kaviani in this fight. Chuikov may be stepping in on short notice, but he has been training hard, and is excited to seize this opportunity of the $5000 prize, according to a statement of Tiger Muay Thai.

In the 68kg, Russian Mikhail Baranov of Tiger Muay Thai will meet Austrian Mochamed Emin Machaev of Soma Fight Club.

WBC Muay Thai Việt Nam champion Trần Quốc Tuấn of SSC will host English Mahmoud Ali Moussa of Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA.

"This format is called muay marathon because athletes have to fight two matches in one day. If he wants to take the trophy he has to win both," said Giáp Trung Thang, general secretary of the HCM City Muay Thai Federation.

"This kind of event is held for the first time in Việt Nam but popular around the world. Fighters must prepare their fitness and resilience well. The competitiveness of the bout will also lure more attention of supporters."

He said due to the fiercest format of muay Thai the big bonus was promised for the winner. The bonus will bring powerful competitors to Việt Nam, pushing the development of the martial art in the City in particular and Việt Nam in general.

In addition to the four-man competition, there will also be six matches between Vietnamese and foreigners.

The MTR: One King - Victory in Pride is organised by the HCM City Muay Thai Federation and Shadow Entertainment. VNS