Tiger Muay Thai News Archive

January 21st, 2012

MMA fighter Andreas Birgels helping Felipe Enemoto @TigerMuayThai for One FC

The Strong Silent Type @TigerMuayThai Training Camp, Phuket, Thailand

Humble and unassuming, Andreas Birgels of Germany seems like the type who speaks quietly but carries a big stick. His soft-spoken nature makes it difficult to tell that this MMA fighter is actually the sparring partner of choice for the Enomoto brothers – Yasubey and Felipe. He is currently helping Felipe prepare for his Feb. 11th One FC fight against Ole Lauren.

Birgels is so respectful of the fighting abilities of the Enomotos that it’s hard to shift the conversation to his own achievements. The fighter is also at TMT for a month to further his skills for a Feb. 4th eight man Superior Fighting Championship belt tournament.

“I would fight just to fight,” explains the 27 year-old, who has a 3-3 record after starting to fight professionally three years ago. “I fell in-love with it when I started karate 10 years ago and it’s never gone away.”

With that he shrugs his shoulders as if to imply there isn’t much more to his story, before adding, “I want to thank Tiger Muay Thai for letting me train here. It’s the perfect place.”

January 18th, 2012

Upcoming Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Fights: Worldwide

Upcoming fights from Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training camp, Phuket, Thailand

19 Janyuary 2012 @ Patong Thai Boxing Stadium
Patrick Schuid from Switzerland
TMT fighter Palangphet

20 January 2012 @ Bangla Muay Thai Stadium
Jamie Davis from England
TMT fighter Fakamram

25 January 2012 @ Bangla Muay Thai stadium
Tracy Lockwood from Newzealand
TMT fighter Fakamram

29 January 2012 @ Bangla Muay Thai stadium
Michele Arbua from Italy
TMT trainer Ritt

31 January 2012 @ Bangkok Lumpinee Stadium
TMT fighter Kok

January 18th, 2012

Twin 2nd round KO’s for Tiger Muay Thai fighters January 9, 2012

Last night saw similar results for Tiger Muay Thai and MMA training camp, Phuket, Thailand fighters Rafael Pinto and Steve Cho – both of whom ended their fights in the second round at Patong Stadium.

Twenty-one year old Cho is happy to wrap up his nine week stay at Tiger with a TKO, moving his Muay Thai record to 2-2. It’s an experience he would have been hard-pressed to imagine when he first came to Tiger straight out of highschool three years ago.

“Last time I kind of just ran away and left a note for my family,” chuckles the self-described “broke entrepreneur” from Atlanta, Georgia. “They thought I was crazy, but now they’re proud of me.”

Cho scored a nasty elbow in the first round that left him with seven stitches. He managed, however, to push through to the second round where a solid left knee followed by several punches sealed the deal against his opponent.

“It’s only a cut,” explains the fighter who plans on returning sometime this year. “It’s worth the stitches every time!”

TMT professional fighter, Rafael Pinto AKA The Brazilian Killer, was up next and he didn’t leave his fans disappointed.

The Brazilian grabbed a second round knock out thanks to some very heavy punches, moving his record to 12-4.

“I just cannot have any other job than fighting,” explains the Jui-Jitsu brown belt who’s been in Thailand for close to two years. “I can’t sit in an office all day. I don’t know what my motivation is. This is just what I like to do.”

Pinto plans on expanding into MMA and hopes to be ready for his first fight within three months.

Article by Natasha Horrelt

January 17th, 2012

Hollywood Stunt-woman Takes Her Fighting to the Next Level @TigerMuayThai

Heath Ledger once held a knife to her throat. Tom Cruise used her as a human weapon. It’s just another day at the office for stunt-woman Jessie Graff who came to Tiger Muay Thai for a short visit this week.

“I’m in-love with the business,” explains Graff, who’s worked as a stunt double for Maggie Gyllenhaal and Elizabeth Hurley. “I just want to work out all day. One minute it’s boxing, the next it’s Kung Fu. From there it’s trampoline and then sword work. After that it’s gymnastics and motorcycle training. It never ends.”

Graff has worked in a litany of movies including X-Men: First Class, Transformers 2 and 3, Live Free or Die Hard, Ironman 2 and Bridesmaids. Although the former competitive gymnast professes that she does have the “best job in the world,” she admits it isn’t all about glamor and celebrities.

“The worst is when you have one of those days where all you have to do is trip once, but you have to wait twelve hours to do it. You’re also probably in an uncomfortable wardrobe, whether it be a full burn victim mask or four-inch stilettos and leather. It’s an attitude of, ‘Be ready at all times…but don’t do anything!’”

Thailand is a far cry from her Santa Monica, California roots where she grew up parachuting from roofs with a sheet, but Graff says it’s time to spread her wings. Her true passion lies in the martial arts.

“I get a lot of work in the US,” says the adrenaline junkie, who is also undertaking a jungle survival course while in Thailand for an upcoming audition with the television show, Survivor. “Most of the time you get hit by something and fall down or you’re asked to trip. There aren’t very many fight scenes. My dream is to be a martial arts action hero with flips and all kinds of craziness.”

Although TMT was only supposed to be a short stop on her itinerary, Graff is already planning a trip back to pursue more Muay Thai instruction.

“I’ve never been in a place so focused on fighting. It you want hardcore training, it’s perfect. You can do classes all day long and I can’t wait to get back here.”

Graff is confident that Tiger’s Muay Thai training will be what sets her apart from the competition, so that she can further explore her life’s calling.

“I have a job that justifies and facilitates my passion on a bigger level than I have the ability to create on my own. Imagine if someone came up to you and said they’d pay you to do what you love most. They’ll set it all up and make it look even cooler than it actually is. Then they’ll record it so that you can watch it for the rest of your life. It doesn’t get much better than that!”

January 11th, 2012

Tiger Muay Thai and MMA welcomes female Bellator FC veteran Leslie Smith

Tiger Muay Thai and MMA training camp, Phuket, Thailand is loaded with female MMA Talent. Already training at the facility are STRIKEFORCE Female fighters Elaina Maxwell and Sarah D’ Alelio. A member of the Gracie Fighter training team, Leslie Smith has made her way to Tiger Muay Thai to support both Eliana and Sarah who are competing in their first professional Muay Thai bouts in Thailand.

Leslie Smith is a Kickdown Classic veteran, and lost a decision to UFC STAR Brandon Vera wife Kerry Vera in 2009 During a Bellator Chicago event.

A veteran of the Queen’s Cup Muay Thai event when she represented Kaewsamrit last year, look for Leslie to continue working in with the fighters program at Tiger Muay Thai training camp while she is on the island of Phuket.

For MMA fighter Leslie Smith, being a fighter is less about taking on her opponents and more about battling people’s preconceived ideas.

“Fighting seems more difficult than most things,” explains the former Bellator Fighting Championships competitor. “A lot of my incentive is the idea that I’m fighting against people’s perception that I shouldn’t be a female fighter. I’ve always been stubborn like that.”

Smith, a Cesar Gracie student out of California, is in Thailand getting ready for her February 18th bought against Shana “Rock Solid” Olsen set to happen in Fargo, North Dakota. She came to Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket for two weeks to get in some solid training and to support fellow fighter Elaina “The Beef” Maxwell.

Although Smith openly admits she isn’t a huge headliner with “big boobs,” she says she’s always ready for her next fight and the opportunity to improve on her 3-2 record. For her, experiencing Thailand is a way to escape western bias.

“No one is condescending here as long as you fight. At home people are still super encouraging and supportive, but you’ll always hear them say, ‘she’s tough…for a girl.’ I don’t find that here.”

January 10th, 2012

@TigerMuayThai welcomes ADCC Veteran and BJJ Black Belt Garth Taylor to the gym

Tiger Muay Thai and MMA Training Camp, Phuket, Thailand welcomes:
A Black-belt under Claudio Franca, Garth Taylor is an ADCC veteran and a decorated competitor.

Owner and head instructor of Kaijin MMA (USA), Garth brings a wealth of knowledge in both wrestling and BJJ.

Some of his notable accomplishments include;
* World Champion (1999 purple belt)
* International de Masters e Seniors Champion (2009)
* Pan American Champion (1997 blue belt)
* World Silver Medallist (2001 black belt)
* 2x Pan American Silver Medallist (1996 blue belt, 2001 black belt)
* 2x World Bronze Medallist (1999 purple belt – absolute, 2000 brown belt)
* 2x Pan American Bronze Medallist (1997 blue belt – absolute, 2002 black belt)

Professor Taylor will be staying with Tiger Muay Thai for a week and is available for private training lessons.