Get to know Sean Fagan a.k.a. The Muay Thai Guy

Sean Fagan better known to many around the Muay Thai world as the Muay Thai Guy has taken his love for Muay Thai and turned it into his life. Sean is currently one of America’s top amateur fighters and also a valued resource in the Muay Thai community. Sean is the creator of www.muay-thai-guy.com, one of the webs best Muay Thai related websites. Sean provides great insight into training, eating, and more for beginners to experienced fighters.

Sean recently moved to Thailand and we were lucky enough to catch up with him and speak about his fight career, his website, and his future plans. Make sure to also check out the official Muay Thai Guy You Tube page here.

MTA: How did you get involved in Muay Thai?

Sean: I originally played hockey back when I was younger and always found myself trying to get in scrums and fights. One day my mom jokingly said that I should box instead of trying to find fights on the ice all the time… so I did. After boxing I tried MMA, then after MMA I found that my love and calling was Muay Thai.

MTA: What made you start Muay Thai Guy and how do you like being a valued resource for your readers around the world?

Sean: At first it was just a way to hold myself accountable and keep track of my training. I figured if people were following my training camps that I would be more likely to stick with it. After getting asked by followers to write about certain topics to give some tips, the blog just continually grew until it became what it is now. The fact that I get emails and messages everyday about how it’s helped other Nak Muay with their training in one way or another is unreal. It’s a surreal feeling, knowing that I’ve been a part of other peoples fight camps and training sessions. I hope to continue growing the site and help the sport grow!

MTA: You just moved to Thailand, what prompted the move?

Sean: A few things. Initially my girlfriend Liz and I were planning on living in NYC for a couple years and then go to Thailand after she finished her degree. We didn’t enjoy the city as much as we thought and she actually missed the sign ups for classes, so we decided to make the move earlier than expected. We had a bunch of reasons for coming over to Thailand. Obviously I wanted to train Muay Thai and get more ring experience, but I also wanted to do some traveling around the country too. We also want to do some volunteer work and experience more of the traditional Thai way of living since a majority of places to train are very westernized. Other than that, Liz is getting more and more into yoga and there are some great yoga schools out here too, so we figured that we can both pursue our passions while learning more about ourselves along the way. And lastly, we wanted a change of pace. The city was a bit hectic and now we want to kind of sit back and relax a little more to reflect and figure out what we want to do with our lives.

MTA: You recently won in Thailand is that your official pro debut and how was the feeling of getting back in the ring after some time off?

Sean: No I wouldn’t call it my pro debut. I’ve had 4 other fights here in Thailand as well, but if I were to come back and fight pro in the states at that time, I would’ve gotten my ass handed to me. But the fight wasn’t a challenge at all and it was a bit of a mismatch, but what can you do? It was nice to get some ring rust off though, so no complaints there.

MTA: What is your best Muay Thai memory?
 

Sean: It’s hard to choose just one, but I would say winning my first amateur title at Madison Square Garden with a 5th round TKO of a tough opponent in Joey Hernandez. Not only was it a rematch, but it was a packed crowd at a legendary venue. I felt that I fought really well and getting that belt strapped around my waist gave me a huge sense of accomplishment. Not to mention I had all my friends, family and co-workers there cheering me on, so seeing them after the fight was awesome too.

MTA: What is your worst Muay Thai memory?

Sean: Back in August I was fighting Chris Williams for the WKA US amateur title when he broke my arm after I went to block a head kick. The fight itself wasn’t my worst memory though. I was proud of myself for being able to continue fighting through 4 more rounds with a broken arm and get the close decision win, but it’s the aftermath that was pretty difficult to deal with. Going through surgery, taking time off, and not having much purpose for my day-to-day life was a bit demoralizing. But I was able to learn to take the good with the bad while reflecting on my life, my career and the direction I wanted to go with both.

MTA: What is your dream fight and why?

Sean: I’d love to eventually fight Kevin Ross. I know fighting him would bring out the best in me and challenge me to push myself as hard as possible. He is also a fighter I really look up to. To be able to share the ring with him would be an honor and I’m sure we’d put on an awesome fight for the fans!

MTA: Who is your favorite Muay Thai fighter and why?

Sean: Kevin Ross is definitely one of them because of his aggressive fighting style and the influence he’s had on the Muay Thai scene here in America. Other than Kevin, I love watching Pornsanae Sitmonchai throw down. The dude is a beast and will keep coming forward no matter what!

MTA: How long do you plan on staying in Thailand, and are you planning on training at a few different gyms?

Sean: We plan on staying here until the end of 2014, but it could easily change depending on our mindsets. Who knows, we could be here longer or we could come home earlier, it’s just a go with the flow kind of thing right now. And yes I plan on training at a handful of gyms, but I also don’t want to stretch myself thin trying to train at too many. We have a few gyms we’ve researched and plan on training at, and we’ll probably stick to one or two at each area of Thailand we hit.

MTA: What is your ultimate goal in Muay Thai?

Sean: I’m constantly asking myself the same question and it’s hard to put my finger on it. One day I want to be a top professional fighter who fights on top promotions like Lion Fight, GLORY or Yokkao, then the next day I want to open up a gym, take some time off from fighting and focus on building a life with my girlfriend. That being said, I know that Muay Thai will always be a part of my life and I know that I will always want to help other people along the way. So I guess my ultimate goal would be to continue being the best fighter I can be while spreading the word of this awesome sport and inspiring people along the way! I’d like to give a shout out to a few people if you don’t mind. First and foremost I’d like to thank my family, especially my mom and dad who have been 100% supportive of my choices in life and who have been there for me emotionally and financially when things are tough. I’d also like to thank my girlfriend Liz for being my backbone and helping me through the good times and the bad. And finally I’d like to thank all my trainers, training partners, fans, followers and haters who have helped bring out the best in me and make me who I am today. Thank you all!