by Nathan Aripez
The second day in Thailand was bit slower paced. With Thai Fight 2011 taking place that afternoon and in addition it being a Sunday we did not visit any gyms. We spent the morning getting some Thai massages and afterwards we took a visit to the Grand Palace, it was something very interesting to see. It is not easy to explain, but it is magnificent to say the least. The architecture and the culture is great.
In the evening we headed to Thai Fight, when we arrived we picked up our passes and then found our spots. Scott immediately began to work on taking pictures. The stadium seated 4,500 people and I was wondering if they would be filled to capacity. I walked around the back talking to some of the fighters as well as other fighters that were there to support. Saiyok was there and he was a cool guy, I went back out to the arena for a few and then realized that the ring area was getting full so I went back to try and find Scott to tell him to get his spot, I couldn't spot him anywhere.
Knowing Scott I knew a cool thing probably happened to him, it turned out I was right. There were various photographers around Buakaw in his dressing room when Scott walked in. Everyone was trying to get pics of him as he prepared and then one of the organizers of the event walked into the room and said that anyone who wasn't fighting or cornering a fighter had to get out. Many of the people left immediately, but there were some stragglers. The organizer told everyone to get out again and as Scott was moving out he was spotted by Buakaw's manager who then told the organizer that Scott wasn't going anywhere because he was with them. Honestly I don't know how Scott does it, so he basically hung out back with them for a while as he photographed Buakaw getting ready.
Once the fights started the arena really began to fill up, the three prelim fights were great and when the tournament fights started the arena was filled to capacity. The fight that I personally thought was the best was Vuyisile Colossa against Frankie Giorgi, these two went at it for three rounds. There speed was amazing, I personally thought Colossa was going to win. It was a really close fight and it could have gone either way and I think it was a pretty big upset when Giorgi won. I think he has to be considered the favorite beside Buakaw to make it to the finals of the tournament.
Pinca came out and won, it was cool watching him fight live. He seemed a bit off at times, but he did enough to win and advance to the next round. Kem Sitsongpeenong took no time in ending his fight, he cut Alessio Angelo with an elbow and the ref stopped the fight in the first round.
At this point I realized there was something like 100 or more photographers crammed around the ring, I couldn't spot Scott form where I was sitting, but I knew he would come out with some amazing shots, although I was a little concerned for his safety.
When Buakaw came out the place went nuts, it was insane. It was like "Beatle Mania" back when the Beatle's first arrived on the scene. Buakaw did not disappoint his many fans as he beat up on Abdallah Mabel for three round, including a knockdown in the third round that really go the crowd pumped. With it being his first fight in Thailand in eight years I was expecting the fans there to be going crazy and that is what they did, it was electrifying.
After Buakaw walked back to his dressing room two more fights were left and they were solid. Dongsu Kim had a vicious knockout over Houcine Bennoui, it was an impressive KO to say the least. Bennoui could not leave the ring under his own power and they had to help him out after about minutes.
After the event we went to eat dinner with WBC vice president General Kovid and WBC Muay Thai Secretary General Patrick Cusick. Both were very hospitable and really good to talk to. We were later joined by Kem's manager Tim Dharmajiva and Kem's trainer Monlit Sitphodaeng. There was some great Muay Thai conversation going on. At the end I interviewed General Kovid and then we took off back to the hotel. Thai Fight was a really exciting event, the crowed was pumped the place was rocking.
The second day in Thailand was bit slower paced. With Thai Fight 2011 taking place that afternoon and in addition it being a Sunday we did not visit any gyms. We spent the morning getting some Thai massages and afterwards we took a visit to the Grand Palace, it was something very interesting to see. It is not easy to explain, but it is magnificent to say the least. The architecture and the culture is great.In the evening we headed to Thai Fight, when we arrived we picked up our passes and then found our spots. Scott immediately began to work on taking pictures. The stadium seated 4,500 people and I was wondering if they would be filled to capacity. I walked around the back talking to some of the fighters as well as other fighters that were there to support. Saiyok was there and he was a cool guy, I went back out to the arena for a few and then realized that the ring area was getting full so I went back to try and find Scott to tell him to get his spot, I couldn't spot him anywhere.
Knowing Scott I knew a cool thing probably happened to him, it turned out I was right. There were various photographers around Buakaw in his dressing room when Scott walked in. Everyone was trying to get pics of him as he prepared and then one of the organizers of the event walked into the room and said that anyone who wasn't fighting or cornering a fighter had to get out. Many of the people left immediately, but there were some stragglers. The organizer told everyone to get out again and as Scott was moving out he was spotted by Buakaw's manager who then told the organizer that Scott wasn't going anywhere because he was with them. Honestly I don't know how Scott does it, so he basically hung out back with them for a while as he photographed Buakaw getting ready.
Once the fights started the arena really began to fill up, the three prelim fights were great and when the tournament fights started the arena was filled to capacity. The fight that I personally thought was the best was Vuyisile Colossa against Frankie Giorgi, these two went at it for three rounds. There speed was amazing, I personally thought Colossa was going to win. It was a really close fight and it could have gone either way and I think it was a pretty big upset when Giorgi won. I think he has to be considered the favorite beside Buakaw to make it to the finals of the tournament.
Pinca came out and won, it was cool watching him fight live. He seemed a bit off at times, but he did enough to win and advance to the next round. Kem Sitsongpeenong took no time in ending his fight, he cut Alessio Angelo with an elbow and the ref stopped the fight in the first round. At this point I realized there was something like 100 or more photographers crammed around the ring, I couldn't spot Scott form where I was sitting, but I knew he would come out with some amazing shots, although I was a little concerned for his safety.
When Buakaw came out the place went nuts, it was insane. It was like "Beatle Mania" back when the Beatle's first arrived on the scene. Buakaw did not disappoint his many fans as he beat up on Abdallah Mabel for three round, including a knockdown in the third round that really go the crowd pumped. With it being his first fight in Thailand in eight years I was expecting the fans there to be going crazy and that is what they did, it was electrifying.After Buakaw walked back to his dressing room two more fights were left and they were solid. Dongsu Kim had a vicious knockout over Houcine Bennoui, it was an impressive KO to say the least. Bennoui could not leave the ring under his own power and they had to help him out after about minutes.
After the event we went to eat dinner with WBC vice president General Kovid and WBC Muay Thai Secretary General Patrick Cusick. Both were very hospitable and really good to talk to. We were later joined by Kem's manager Tim Dharmajiva and Kem's trainer Monlit Sitphodaeng. There was some great Muay Thai conversation going on. At the end I interviewed General Kovid and then we took off back to the hotel. Thai Fight was a really exciting event, the crowed was pumped the place was rocking.
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