Lion Fight 8 Results and Recap: Yodsanklai Fairtex impressive in American debut

Lion Fight 8 was in full swing tonight at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The event was Lion Fight’s debut on AXS TV as well as the American debut of Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex.

In the main event of the night Yodsanklai took on Gregory Choplin and although Choplin was able to hang tough to start the fight, Yodsanklai was able to break him down and score a knockout in the third round. Yodsanklai attacked with heavy kicks early to the head and body. In the second round it seemed Choplin was able to get into a grove moving well and landing solid kicks and punches of his own, but in the third round Yodsanklai took over. A right hook dropped Choplin and then after he recovered Yodsanklai pounced and put him down for good with a right to the head and a left to the body. Great way for Yodsanklai to follow up his KO of Kem Sitsongpeenong.

In the night’s co-main event Tiffany Van Soest and Alexis Rufus were in a tightly contested fight up until the fourth round. Rufus seemed to be getting the better of Van Soest in the clinch as she continuously worked knees and continued to push forward, but in a split second things were over. Van Soest rocked Rufus with a head kick and then dropped her with a right hand. Rufus was unable to beat the count and Van Soest walked away with an impressive knockout victory to remain undefeated.

Kevin Ross had a successful return after a year long layoff in which he went through surgery to repair his ACL. Ross was able to out point Chris Kwiatkowski for five rounds using solid boxing and leg kicks. Despite being out struck Kwiatkowski hung tough until the final bell. Good showing for Ross in his comeback fight.

Shane Campbell and Remy Bonnel fought for five hard rounds with Campbell walking away with a unanimous decision victory. Campbell pressed forward the entire fight using some solid boxing and leg kicks to take home the win. Campbell ended the fight with a nice spinning heel kick in what was a great performance by the man they call “Shaolin.”

Malaipet Sasiprapa defeated Vishnu Gulati in the second round with low kicks after it was clear that Gulati injured his shin after Malaipet checked one of his kicks. Malaipet immediately went on the attack and was able to force a referee stoppage after four knockdowns in the round.

In other action Vivian Leung out struck Kate McGray to take home a unanimous decision. Jason Andrada won his pro debut with an elbow knockout in the first round over Cody Moberly, and Josh Shepard won his pro debut by majority decision over Damien Earley.

Results:

Pro Fights
Yodsanklai Fairtex def. Gregory Choplin via KO at 2:40 of Rd. 3
Tiffany Van Soest def. Alexis Rufus via KO at 2:05 of Rd. 4
Kevin Ross def. Chris Kwiatkowski via Unanimous Decision
Shane Campbell def. Remy Bonnel via Unanimous Decision
Vivian Leung def. Kate McGray via Unanimous Decision
Malaipet Sasiprapa def. Vishnu Gulati via (T)KO (Leg Kicks) at 1:57 of Rd. 2
Jason Andrada def. Cody Moberly via KO (Elbow) at 2:59 of Rd. 1
Josh Shepard def. Damien Earley via Majority Decision

Amateur Fights
Nick Chasteen def. Jonathan Parsons via Unanimous Decision
Fanny Tommasino def. Jessica Rico via Unanimous Decision
Jason Caldwell def. Ron Cruz via Unanimous Decision
Chris Martin def. Tony Berceau via Unanimous Decision

Pictures: Lion Fight 8 weigh-ins

Scott Hirano was on hand to cover the weigh-ins for Lion Fight 8. The event will air live on AXS TV and will feature the American debut of Muay Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex as he takes on Gregory Choplin. The event will also feature an exciting women's bout between Tiffany Van Soest and Alexis Rufus as well as the return of Kevin Ross as he takes on Chris Kwiatkowski. It is a stacked fight card from top to bottom with some of the best in the world as well as some of the best young up and coming talent. All of the action goes down tommorrow at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"Lion Fight 8" fight card set with 8 pro bouts; Ross vs. Kwiatkowski, Bonnel vs. Campbell and Malaipet vs. Gulati all official

Lion Fight Promotions (@LFPLasVegas) has been on a tear as of late. First they announced that their January 25th event “Lion Fight 8” would be broadcast live on AXS TV, and then they announced their main even fight of Yodsanklai vs. Gregory Choplin. Now they have released their full fight card and it is a great card from top to bottom.

Aside from the previously confirmed bouts of Yodsanklai vs. Gregory Choplin and Tiffany Van Soest (@TiffTimeBomb) vs. Alexis Rufus, the previously rumored bout between Kevin Ross (@DaSoulAssassin) and Chris Kwiatkowski is now official.

Ross has not competed since October of 2011 when he fought Sagetdao Petchpayathai and will be looking to return to action against New York’s Kwiatkowski. The fight is expected to be the biggest of Kwiatkowski’s career, this past weekend he dropped a decision to Jose Palacios, but a win vs. Ross will definitely thrust him into the spotlight in the American Muay Thai scene.

Remy Bonnel will also be returning to action after nearly a year and a half off. Welcoming Bonnel back to action will be Shane Campbell (@ShaolinStyleMMA) who recently made a successful return to Muay Thai after taking a few years off to focus on MMA. This should be an exciting fight as Campbell’s aggressive style should force the very technical Bonnel into and exciting bout.

Also returning from a long hiatus is World Team USA fighter Vishnu Gulati who has not competed in over two years. Taking on Gulati is Malaipet Sasiprapa, who will be looking to continue his recent resurgence. Malaipet lost his last outing back in June by decision to Chike Lindsay, but will be looking to bounce back this weekend when he takes on Cesar Figueroa in Mexico.

The eight fight pro card will be rounded out with a female bout featuring Vivian Leung vs. Kate McGray and the pro debuts of two Las Vegas locals. Josh Shepard will be making his pro debut against Damien Early (@Early_Damien) and Jason Andrada will be making his pro debut against Thiago Azeredo.

Fight Card:
Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Gregory Choplin
Tiffany Van Soest vs. Alexis Rufus
Kevin Ross vs. Chris Kwiatkowski
Remy Bonnel vs. Shane Campbell
Malaipet vs. Vishnu Gulati
Vivian Leung vs. Kate McGray
Jason Andrada vs. Thiago Azeredo

Josh Shepard vs. Damien Early

You can read the official press release from Lion Fight Promotions below.

LION FIGHT ANNOUNCES “LION FIGHT 8”
HISTORIC MUAY THAI EVENT PREMIERING ON AXS TV

LIVE AT THE JOINT IN THE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 - 10:00 P.M. ET
TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH TICKETMASTER STARTING DEC. 14

MAIN: YODSANKLAI FAIRTEX vs. GREGORY CHOPLIN
CO-MAIN: TIFFANY VAN SOEST vs. ALEXIS RUFUS
KEVIN ROSS vs. CHRIS KWIATKOWSKI
REMY BONNELL vs. SHANE CAMPBELL
MALAIPET vs. VISHNU GULATI
VIVIAN LEUNG vs. KATE MCGRAY
JASON ANDRADA vs. THIAGO AZEREDO
JOSH SHEPARD vs. DAMIEN EARLEY  

LAS VEGAS – Lion Fight Promotions today revealed Muay Thai’s first all-star event of the New Year with the announcement of its complete line-up of fights for “LION FIGHT 8.” This is the fight card making history for Lion Fight and the one stamping it as a national Muay Thai promotion as “LION FIGHT 8” premieres LIVE on AXS TV. The event will be held inside the world famous “The Joint” in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, January 25th and will go live on AXS TV starting at 10:00 p.m. ET.

As previously announced on Inside MMA, the ‘Lion Fight 8’ main event will be a show-stopping stand-up collision between Thai legend Yodsanklai Fairtex and multiple Thai Champion Gregory Choplin. The co-main event will feature two of the fiercest female Muay Thai fighters with WBC Muay Thai Champion Tiffany Van Soest taking on Alexis Rufus.

“Christine Toledo has packed this Lion Fight card and it is going to give fight fans in this country and the 38 million viewers of AXS TV an introduction to Muay Thai - the most exciting stand up fighting style in the world,” said Scott Kent, Owner, Lion Fight Promotions. “Lion Fight has achieved another first for Muay Thai in America by bringing in some of the best international fighters along with the best fighters in the United States, such as Kevin Ross and Tiffany Van Soest. I appreciate Mark Cuban and Andrew Simon for making Lion Fight a part of their sports programming and look forward to a very successful night on Friday, January 25th!”

Tickets for Lion Fight’s full rules Muay Thai event LION FIGHT 8 will go on sale Friday, December 14 beginning at 12:00 p.m. PT. Tickets will be available for purchase through the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino box office, at all Ticketmaster outlets (800-745-3000) and online at Ticketmaster.com.

This first televised Lion Fight Muay Thai event comprises a stacked undercard featuring the top talent of the stand-up world, including Las Vegas native Kevin Ross, who just signed a long-term contract with Lion Fight, as well as his East Coast opposite Chris Kwiatkowski, fighting out of New York City. Following are the bouts that will lead up to the co-main and main event action of LION FIGHT 8:

Kevin Ross (Dublin, CA by way of Las Vegas, NV) vs. Chris Kwiatkowski (NYC) -- 147 lbs
Remy Bonnel (Miami, FL) vs. Shane Campbell (Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA) -- 154 lbs
Malaipet (Fresno, CA) vs. Vishnu Gulati (San Francisco, CA) -- 147 lbs
Vivian Leung (Las Vegas, NV) vs. Kate McGray (Los Angeles, CA) -- 118 lbs
Jason Andrada (Las Vegas, NV) (PRO DEBUT) vs. Thiago Azeredo (Phoenix, AZ) -- 120 lbs
Josh Shepard (Las Vegas, NV) (PRO DEBUT) vs. Damien Earley (Phoenix, AZ) -- 156 lbs

For more information on Lion Fight Promotions, please visit lionfightpromotions.com and follow on Twitter @LFPLasVegas and Facebook at Facebook.com/LionFightPromotions.

About Lion Fight Promotions
Lion Fight Promotions, LLC is a Muay Thai fight promotion based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Founded by Scott Kent, who serves as the Chief Executive Officer, the company's vision is to grow the sport of Muay Thai in America and increase its level of exposure and appreciation to the broad base of fight fans around the world.

About AXS TV Fight
AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in depth fighter coverage and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from Legacy Fighting Championship, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, XFC, Maximum Fighting Championship, BAMMA, The Score Fighting Series and It's Showtime every Friday night, at 7PM PT/10PM ET.

AXS TV Fights can be found online at www.axs.tv, on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/axstvfights and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/axstvfights.

For media inquiries please email pr@lionfightpromotions.com

Yodsanklai vs. Gregory Choplin official for "Lion Fight 8" main event, Tiffany Van Soest vs. Alexis Rufus to serve as co-main event

Lion Fight Promotions (@LFPLasVegas) has announced that a fight between Muay Thai superstar Yodsanklai Fairtex and Gregory Choplin will serve as the main event at “Lion Fight 8.” The event which will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on January 25, 2013 will air live on AXS TV. The night’s co-main event will feature a female bout between Tiffany Van Soest (@TiffTimeBomb) and Alexis Rufus (@AlexisRufus).

For Yodsanklai this bout will be his debut on American soil. He was originally expected to compete as part of the now defunct Muaythai Premier League, but an injury forced him to withdraw from the bout. Before making his American debut, Yodsanklai will fight Kem Sitsongpeenong in Thailand at the end of December. Gregory Choplin is currently riding a four fight win streak with his latest victory coming over Joseph Valtellini at Lion Fight 7 this past October.

Van Soest will look to continue her winning ways against Rufus. At Lion Fight 7, Van Soest defeated Jeri Sitzes by unanimous decision to win the WBC International Bantamweight Title. Rufus who hails from London, England is fresh off a unanimous decision victory this past Saturday at Smash Muay Thai 2 where she defeated Kate Stables.