Tiger Muay Thai News Archive

August 31st, 2012

Photo & Video Special: Three TMT Alumni Fighting in One FC TONIGHT!

Tonight’s (Aug 31st) One FC event in Manila, Philippines, will have Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp Phuket, Thailand’s imprint as three alumni compete in the event at the Smart Araneta Stadium.

Phil “New York Bad Ass” Baroni, Felipe Enomoto, and Shannon “One Shin” Wiratchai will be putting their mettle in the cage at ONE FC: Pride of a Nation tonight beginning at 7:30 PM, which you can watch here.

Baroni (14-15), a UFC and PRIDE veteran, is a multiple time guest at TMT and trained here before his first fight at ONE FC against Yoshiyuki Yoshida in September 2011. He takes on Rodrigo Ribeiro (9-8) this Friday. The NYBA has talked about training at TMT in the past, saying how therapeutic Muay Thai was for him.

“I stood like a Muay Thai fighter, fought like a Muay Thai fighter, sparred like a Muay Thai fighter. It was great – very therapeutic for me,” Baroni said. “I was in the ring and was getting really physical. Getting my body strong.”

Enomoto (6-4) has come to TMT for the past four years, putting on seminars, and taking advantage of the camp’s world class Muay Thai training. He will fight against hometown hero Eduard Folayang (11-2) with his brother, Yasubey Enomoto, in his corner along with TMT’s Rafael Lopes Pinto.

“I like the people. The training is really good. I love the weather and everything about this place,” Enomoto said recently, “(TMT) is always supporting us – always very helpful to (me and my brother).”

Wiratchai (2-0) is a recent addition to the ONE FC stable of fighters and one of the most highly regarded MMA prospects to come out of Thailand in recent years. He will be squaring off against American Mitch Chilson (3-1) and will have an entire country supporting him.

“I chose (TMT) because it has many pro fighters that can help me in my training,” Wiratchai said earlier this month as he arrived to TMT, “I would love to try and educate more (Thai’s) about MMA. I get a lot of support from them and one day I’d like to see MMA be on par with Muay Thai (in Thailand).”

August 29th, 2012

PHOTO SPECIAL: Tiger Muay Thai Chiang Mai Update on Accommodations

With Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp Chiang Mai, Thailand slated for a full grand opening by February, here is an in-depth look at the future of the camp from those who are in the know. With Muay Thai training already underway but numbers low, current guests are getting the kind of one-on-one attention from world champion trainers most only dream of!

Every week we will give you a glimpse into what TMT Chiang Mai is all about, how they are progressing, and everything in-between!

It began with a prayer…

You can’t build a house without a foundation, and for the TMT Chiang Mai accommodations there were no exceptions.

On July 2, a Buddhist Monk led TMT Chiang Mai staff and workers in a ceremony to bless the grounds of the soon to be accommodation area of the camp. (Below is what it currently looks like at TMT Chiang Mai- Photos by Paul Anthony Thompson)

The 2.76-acre camp will have 34-budget rooms on two floors with a plan for future expansion to four floors. On July 2, workers broke ground on the site and began building the foundation to what will eventually become the other home of Thailand’s best Muay Thai and MMA training camp. The rooms are expected to include a TV, dresser, DVD player, fan, and have wallet-friendly pricing.

Currently, TMT Chiang Mai provides world class Muay Thai training with Master trainer Kru Phet Chamainee and Rachadamnern Stadium Champion Kru Lamsongkram Chuwattana. Since the accommodation areas are still under construction, past guests have stayed in the following hotels near the camp, for more information please contact the camp directly here:

• Maerim Whale Park (about 9,000 Baht)
• Orawee Home
• Four Seasons Chiang Mai (about 15,000 Baht)



As it stands, the construction of the accommodation area does not affect the the training area since it is in a separate part of the camp. Since the camp is located in the Mae Rim area, several guests have stayed semi-locally and chosen the Maerim Whale Park about 4Km away, a cozy place where 9,000 Thai Baht a month will get you a tv, fan, and small refrigerator.



The TMT Chiang Mai accommodations are coming on fast, as workers are halfway through making the concrete uprights and frame for the building. Rainy season has slowed down construction a bit, but the official opening for the Muay Thai training portion of the camp is still on track for the next couple of months with the full opening only a few months after that!

August 28th, 2012

Two TMT Fighters Victorious; Jonny Betts Wins After 18 Month Layoff

Patong Boxing Stadium was the site of two great wins by Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp Phuket, Thailand fighters Monday night, including Jonny Bett’s victorious return to the ring.

“I’m pretty happy I managed to go hard for five rounds. It was a war,” Betts said.

Betts, whose last fight was in February 2011, was sidelined with a devastating knee injury until recently. The 24 year-old from Oxford, England got into a war with 22 year-old Gil, a Frenchman fighting out of Krabi, Thailand.

Most of the strikes in the fight consisted of precisely timed elbows and knees – several of which came within the clinch. Betts dodged several of Gil’s spinning back elbow strikes, hitting the Frenchman with knee strikes as he gave his back. Betts came out of the third round with a bloody forehead, but kept pushing the pace the entire fight, not skipping a beat.

“How I train with [Kru] Laimongkon and [Kru] Nontachai, they hit me pretty hard. I’m used to getting hit hard and just going, going, going,” Betts said after the fight.

The first moments of the fourth round saw both men throw nothing but upper body strikes, as Betts continued his relentless Muay Thai walk towards the Frenchman. After the fifth round, his hand was raised after a unanimous decision.

TMT fighter Jack Wilson made his second appearance in a professional Muay Thai fight. The young Australian put away his Thai opponent, Macwpayak, 24, in just three rounds.

Throughout the fight, Wilson and Macwpayak, a veteran of 58 fights, traded strong leg kicks. Wilson won after a barrage of punches to the face ending with a left kick to the sternum.

August 26th, 2012

TMT Alum Jason Saggo Takes a First Round Win in The Score Fighting Series

Longtime Tiger Muay Thai & MMA Training Camp, Phuket, Thailand friend and guest, Jason Saggo, is sitting pretty after a first round win via rear naked choke over Eric Attard in the Score Fighting Series in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

This professional MMA fighter from Canada has been to Tiger Muay Thai multiple times to hone his Muay Thai skills saying this to MixedMartialArts.com about his last visit:

“Something definitely clicked for me in Thailand. I was training at Tiger Muay Thai with some great people – former champions, and even MMA fighters. Brian Ebersole was there (Tiger’s new head MMA coach and currently 4-1 in the UFC).

When I was there last time, something came together mentally for me. I became a lot more confident with my Muay Thai, I didn’t let myself get pushed around. I became more aggressive, more loose and confident with my standup.”

This win continues to establish his record as one of the top lightweight prospects in his country.

Jason Saggo first came to TMT in 2007, competing in the Pan Asian Grappling games, Professional Muay Thai, and winning the BBQ Beatdown 4 man Amateur tournament.

Competing as a pro, Jason suffered his first defeat with a controversial split decision loss to the 7-2 Jesse Ronson. Moving forward with his career, Saggo competed on the main card of the Paul Daley Vs. Luigi Fioavanti ringside event picking up the win against Kevin Morin via TKO in the third round. This new wins moves his record to 7-1.

Here’s the play-by-play from TopMMANews.com

Jason Saggo vs Eric Attard

Rd1: Attard feeling out Saggo with leg kicks. Attard lands a solid cross which causes Saggo to force the action to the fence and look for the double leg but Attard fends it off. Attard loses position while going for the plum which allows Saggo to grab a Thai plum of his own land 2 knees and change levels for the takedown. Saggo secures the takedown, takes the back, sinks in the hooks and squeezes until Attard is forced to tap.

Saggo submits Attard via Rear Naked Choke @ 3:24 of Rd1

August 22nd, 2012

TMT Welcomes Felipe Enomoto as he Prepares for ONE FC Fight

Taking advantage of the world class training that Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp Phuket, Thailand provides within its facility, fighters Felipe Enomoto and his brother Yasubey are here for another round of fight preparation.

Felipe Enomoto (6-4) is scheduled to fight at ONE FC: Pride of a Nation event in Manila, Philippines on Friday August 31 against current URCC Welterweight Champion and Filipino native Eduard Folayang (11-2).

Felipe, a CFC Europe Champion, and his brother Yasubey have been coming to TMT for about six years. This time around, with less than two weeks left until his big fight, Felipe says he has come to finish the last of his Muay Thai training, adjust to the time difference, and get acclimated to the weather.

With their Enomoto Dojo gym based in Zurich, Switzerland, the brothers have come to TMT for various reasons in the past, not least of which includes taking over a class or two and helping others with their MMA training.

“I like the people. The training is really good. I love the weather and everything about this place,” Felipe says, “(TMT) is always supporting us – always very helpful to (me and my brother).”

The Enomotos will be training with former UFC and Bellator fighter Roger Huerta, as well as BJJ 4th Degree Black Belt Fernando Maccachero and fellow ONE FC fighter Wiktor Svensson.

Along with Shannon “One Shin” Wiratchai, TMT is simultaneously the training home of two fighters on the ONE FC: Pride of a Nation event on August 31. The event will take place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the same place Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier had their “Thrilla in Manila” fight over 36 years ago.

August 21st, 2012

On a Roll: TMT Fighters With Two More Wins Monday Night

Fighters from the Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp in Phuket, Thailand have been on a roll recently and Monday night’s bouts were no exception with two of our own having their hand raised.

Miki’ala Freitas of Hawaii, USA and Jamie Davis of London, England rocked the house with two decisive victories at Patong Boxing Stadium.

Davis, a 21 year-old, continues his undefeated strike he started when he first came to the camp over a year ago. Squaring off against 25 year-old Thai national Banyat, a veteran of 67 fights, Davis showed great poise and dominated in the clinch.

“I felt stronger so I felt I could do what I wanted in the clinch,” Davis said after the fight. “I was throwing my knees and I kept punching him out of it.”

He dropped Banyat in the second round with a devastating right hook, giving Davis a perfect 5-0 record.

For Freitas (4-1), it was a return to the very same stadium where she has yet to lose and was looking to keep her perfect record at Patong Boxing Stadium. The 25 year-old got into a tough fight with Thai national Phokaew, a veteran of 35 fights.

The bout was a four round banger that saw Freitas and Phokaew deliver heavy knees to each other from the clinch for much of the fight. Phokaew delivered some heavy shots to the body in the beginning.

“She was a tough opponent. She has nice body hits but I just tried to keep pressure on her,” said Freitas. “In the second (round) I saw her wince a bit so I started working on her left leg more.”

Freitas ended the fight in the fourth round after some swift kicks to the leg, while pushing Phokaew in the corner and working on her lower body for much of the fight.

“I got the ring rust out and definitely saw some areas I can work on and improve upon for the next fight, but overall I’m happy with my performance.”