Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Marco Tentori set as main event for Origins 7 on August 8th in Australia

Rumors of Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Giorgio Petrosyan circulated like crazy earlier this week. Although the Thai super star wont be stepping into the ring against Petrosyan, he will be fighting in August. He will be headlining Origins 7 in Perth, Australia against Marco "Machine Gun" Tentori.

Yodsanklai needs little introduction as he is one of the most popular Muay Thai fighters of all time. It seemed his career was coming to an end late 2011, but a new dedication to training saw him storm back into the spotlight in 2012 and has since won 19 consecutive fights. Names like Victor Nagbe, Marat Grigorian, Yohan Lidon, and Kem Sitsonpeenong are among the fighters he has beat during his current run. 

Tentori is an ISKA Muay Thai Commonwealth Champion, and has been in the ring with some of Australia's more recognized fighters. He went the distance with Steve Moxon dropping a decision to him, but holds a decision win over Franki Giorgi. Yodsanklai will easily be the toughest test of Tentori's career. Known for his rapid fire approach that earned him the nickname "Machine Gun", Tentori will have to put on the performance of his career against Yodsanklai, and if he does he will immediately garner the attention from Muay Thai fans around the world.

Fight Card:

Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Marco Tentori

Giorgio Petrosyan and Yodsanklai Fairtex are NOT fighting at Hero Legend in August

The image above surfaced online this morning, featuring two of the most popular strikers on the planet,  Giorgio Petrosyan and Yodsanklai Fairtex. As much as fans would love to see this fight we regret to inform you that the pair will not be fighting at Hero Legend this coming August in China.

After speaking to management associated with Fairtex they have confirmed that there is no fight between Yodsanklai and Petrosyan. Yodsanklai will fight August 8th in Perth, Australia against Marco Tentori, with a possibility of him further competing in China towards the end of August, but not against Giorgio Petrosyan.

Sorry for the news fight fans, but hopefully this is one of those super fights that can happen in the future.

The Return of Ryan Roy

Ryan Roy is on the comeback trail. The Northern California fighter was a constant on the American Muay Thai scene until 2010 when injuries sidetracked his career. He was last in action in September of 2010 when he fought the current Glory middleweight contender Joe Schilling under the Push Kick Promotions banner. He went toe-to-toe with Schilling for 3 rounds before the fight was stopped due to a cut.

After a year of inactivity with a few fights falling through he began to notice a hip pain that eventually would sideline him after discovering the cartilage in one of his hip joints was completely gone. After seeing several specialists he went under the knife in 2013, after which, was told he might not be able to fight again. For the first time since, he is now ready to step back in to the ring.

We were able to talk to Ryan about his comeback and what we can expect from him in the future.

MTA: You haven't fought since 2010 Ryan. Can you tell us why?
 

Ryan: I haven't fought since September of 2010 because I had to overcome a major obstacle that's ever been in my way. I was going to fight at the War of the Heroes Promotion in Santa Clara, CA. about 6 months after I fought Joe Schilling, but the event got canceled at the last minute. I was also offered to fight on one of Lion Fight's first promotions but was already scheduled for the War of The Heroes so I missed out on both opportunities.

During 2011 I was waiting for an opportunity to fight, but nothing materialized. In January of 2012 I started noticing unusual hip pain that I had never felt before. I have been training Muay Thai since I was 17 and never took time off. I was always sore somewhere, so having a sore hip didn't worry me at the beginning.

Five to six months later the pain intensified to the point where it was preventing me from sleeping and making day-to-day life as a Muay Thai teacher extremely difficult. I ended up getting and X-ray in August of 2012 and discovered the cartilage in one of my joints was completely gone. I had bone rubbing on bone which was why I couldn't sleep and had severe pain. Over the span of 6 months I saw 5-6 hip specialists who all said my joint was shot and I needed a full hip replacement at 32 years old. I refused to except the possibility that I could never kick a bag or run on the concrete ever again. I learned of a hip surgery that was performed over in Europe, India, and Asia. Only a small portion of U.S. Orthopedists perform Hip Resurfacing.

A large portion of the femur bone is cut off and a metal shaft if placed in the remaining bone, during a full hip replacement. A Hip Resurfacing procedure preserves the majority of the bone and a titanium joint is implanted. My surgery was performed on March 5th 2013. I was able to start light Muay Thai training about 5 months post-op. Rehab was extremely painful but now my operated leg has more flexibility and strength than it did 10 years ago. I waited one year and a day to kick with my operated leg to let the implant be as strong as possible.

MTA: During your time away from the ring did you know you would be making a comeback at some point?

Ryan: There was never a doubt in my mind I would come back. I had no idea that would take over a year and half to feel 100%, but for the last 6 months I have felt great.
 

MTA: Were you completely away from Muay Thai or were you still involved in other ways besides fighting?
 

Ryan: I have never been away from Muay Thai since I started training in 1999. After fights I would take a week off at most and go right back into training. I teach 6 days a week and kept up my schedule even with the arthritic pain I had for over a year.
 

MTA: Now that you are making your return what is the main goal you would like to accomplish?
 

Ryan: I am grateful that after joint replacement surgery I am able to get back to the ring. A couple years ago I was looking at potentially never doing impact sports ever again. My goal and ambition is to fight as much as my body lets me. I feel like the last 4 years were stolen from me and I am getting a chance to make up for it. My career hasn't gone the way I planned but as long as I can get some more opportunities I can find peace in that.

MTA: Being that you have not fought in roughly 3 years, do you feel those years of not taking damage will add some time to your career?

Ryan: Yes, I feel extremely confident that not fighting for last three years will lengthen my career. I have been training Muay Thai since I was 18 but have never taken any serious damage in a fight. The worst injures I've had over the years always occurred in the gym. The year I had to take off after surgery gave my body a much needed rest from heavy impact.

MTA: If you could pick your comeback fight against anyone who would it be?

Ryan: I don't have my eyes on anyone in particular, but I've also never turned down a fight. I just want I get back into the ring.

MTA: Do you already have a fight set up or are you still trying to get it booked?

Ryan: Yes I am fighting at Taichi Palace on April 16th in Lemoore, CA.

MTA: For fight fans not familiar with you Ryan can you give us a little bit of background on how you got started in Muay Thai?

Ryan: I started training Muay Thai with the Fairtex gym in SF under Alex "F14" Gong in 1999. There has never been a gym like it in the USA. At one point there were 5 reigning ISKA / IKF world champions, including 2 former Lumpinee and Rajadamnern champions. From 1999-2003 Fairtex was the home for Ganyao "Dr. Knee" Sitphodang, Bunkerd Faphimai, Jongsanaan "The Wooden man", and Enn "The Quiet Storm". We had the some of the best Thai trainers in the world who were also active fighters as well. We had professional and amateur fighters with someone always getting ready for a fight. I had 6 amateur fights under Fairtex and then moved to Thailand where I stayed for 6 months and had 4 fights. I am an amateur and professional champion with a professional record of 9-5 with 4KO's. I have fought up and down the West Coast, Hawaii, Canada, and Thailand

Product Review: Fairtex Twister shin guards

by John Delgaudio

 

When it comes to fight gear, many athletes tend to be traditionalists, and for good reason; why change something that works? With the exception of construction materials, most of the objects that fill up a fighter’s gym bag have remained largely unchanged for the past several decades. Look at a pair of boxing gloves from the 70’s and compare them to a pair from today; you won’t see a tremendous amount of significant, design-altering differences. I am very much a purist when it comes to fighting and training gear (I don’t even wear colored Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gi’s!), which is why I stared with more than a little bit of skepticism at the brand spanking new pair of Fairtex Twister shin guards that greeted me on my desk a couple days ago. Now, don’t get me wrong, these things aren’t ugly by any means—they’re actually pretty slick looking—but they’re different. Surely though, if Fairtex, a company steeped in the rich tradition of Muay Thai, has decided to make such radical changes to an integral piece of protective equipment, it must be for the best…right? For you curious folk, check them out here at http://www.mmaindustries.com/brands-34/fairtex/fairtex-twister-shin-guards.html. They can be had in the traditional Fairtex trio of colors—black, red, or blue.

At first glance, I couldn’t help but notice the increased protection around the ankle and instep region. This is a welcomed sight, as taking a shin off the instep due to a mistimed or misplaced check can literally smash the bones in your foot. Misjudging distance when throwing a kick can also lead to you landing with your foot. Someone blocks that with their shin or elbow, and you might be on the bench for a bit while your foot puts itself back together. Speaking of instep protection, the foot piece on the Twister is completely removable. If you’re the type of person who hates the feeling of instep protection on your foot, you can take the damn things off. The instep piece and the shin piece can be adjusted to a custom fit, which is something I love, having the awkwardly long shins of a blue guy from “Avatar.” One of my favorite design features is the mobility of the instep piece. It can move 90 degrees up, down, left and right, so there is absolutely no impediment on your movement whatsoever. It’s easy to see that Fairtex put a huge amount of research and development in the juncture between instep and shin pad, which is a crucial point in any Muay Thai/kickboxing/MMA shin guard. Also, there seemed to be more protection around the sides of the shins and the calf, which also helps to protect the wearer from taking excessive damage. I also noticed right off the bat that there are no metal fixtures or rough edges on the pieces whatsoever. This is an absolutely brilliant move made by Fairtex. Really, if you’re working with a Velcro or hook and loop closure, what sense does it make having any metal on the pad at all? All it does is corrode from constant exposure to sweat, and, even worse, it creates a dangerously sharp impact point that can damage your training partner and your expensive Thai pads. No metal=good, in my eyes. All of the points where sections of material are joined have been smoothed over to ensure that you’re not going to cut your sparring partners up when you’re throwing your kicks.

But enough of what I saw, on to what I felt when I actually wore them.

I wore them to a basic Muay Thai class. I was already pretty shot from a heavy duty grappling session immediately before, but, in the name of research, I gutted it out to get a sense of these fancy pants new shin guards from Fairtex. Right off the bat, I noticed the comfort as I strapped them on. I took a closer look and realized that Fairtex has actually padded the straps that hold the shin guards in place! I later found out that they use the same strap system on these as they do with their popular KPLC2 Thai pads. I also noticed, with a barely contained squeal of delight, that I could, with small adjustment, guarantee that I wouldn’t get the blister-inducing top of the toe rub that I get with my regular, more traditionally designed shin guards. At this point, I’m wondering if these shin guards are too good to be true. I mean, protective gear shouldn’t be this comfortable, and if it is, then SURELY it won’t protect you as well, right? I was wrong! I actually had a friend fire leg kicks into my shin guards while I was checking them just to see if they let any more impact through than my traditional pair. They passed with flying colors, and had nary a scratch to show for it. I expect these shin guards to last a long time through many grueling sessions, as does all of my Fairtex gear. Really, in the end, I hardly noticed the Twister shin guards, which is a great, great thing. If you’re constantly being reminded of the fact that you’re wearing shin guards, then they can be made better. The ultimate goal of any protective gear is to essentially “disappear” until you need it, and that’s exactly what the Twister shin guards did for me. My take-home on the FairtexTwister shin guards is that they’re essentially at the top of the heap. I have yet to try another pair of shin guards that offer the same levels of comfort and protection as these, plus they’re Fairtex, so you know you’re getting a quality, handmade in Thailand piece of gear that is meant to last. Coming to this realization was a big moment for me. Maybe change can be a good thing. If change means this much of an improvement in both the comfort and functionality of a piece of gear, then bring on the change! Make sure you mosey on over to www.mmaindustries.com and give the Fairtex Twister shin guards a serious look if you’re in the market for a new set.

Buy Muay Thai gear from a U.S. based company

Imagine you’ve spent hours on internet forums comparing and contrasting two different manufacturers of the same piece of Muay Thai gear. Maybe you’ve even been able to get your hands on one to try it yourself. You’ve finally made up your mind, and you decide to order the gear online. A few days later, and voila! There’s a package sitting on your doorstep! Who doesn’t love new Muay Thai gear? It doesn’t matter it’s a new pair of ultra-luxurious, hand -stitched gloves, or a flashy pair of traditional Thai shorts; all Muay Thai athletes love when the postman shows up with a package addressed from Thailand. You eagerly tear into the packaging, and to your dismay, you realize that something’s definitely wrong. Maybe they shipped the wrong item, or maybe it was damaged in the long journey from Southeast Asia to your house. In any case, you need to return that item. Depending on who you ordered your gear from, this can go one of two ways. If you ordered from a random Thai-based company, you will have to call them and be confronted with the daunting task of explaining your issue to someone who doesn’t understand what you’re saying, and that’s assuming you even get someone on the phone, which is unlikely to begin with. You will then have to ship said item all the way to Thailand, which can take weeks to arrive, not to mention it’s freaking expensive!
 

At MMA Industries, you won’t have this problem! Why? Because unlike these other online companies they are actually based in the U.S. Don’t be fooled by the name; they began, still are, and always will be specialists in Muay Thai gear. You’re probably thinking something to the effect of “well, what makes them so special?” Well, have a look at their website www.mmaindustries.com and see for yourself! Some of the best Muay Thai brands in the world like Fairtex, Windy, Boon, Raja, Twins, King Professional all carry their clothing and equipment with them. Looking for that hard to find Fairtex Jersey you only see in pictures at the FairtexBangplee shop? They have it here http://www.mmaindustries.com/mens-mma-clothing/jerseys.html and in every size and color. Or maybe you’re looking for a pair of those ultra-cool Raja Boxing Thai shorts. Look no further because they have them right here http://www.mmaindustries.com/brands-18/raja-boxing-equipment-and-apparel.html!
 

Over the past five years they have spent time and money (a lot of both) in Thailand, researching all of the top Muay Thai gear manufacturers, learning about the processes required to make the best fight equipment around, and making some good friends in the process. Because of this investment, MMA Industries is fortunate to be able to offer you equipment and apparel that other distributors simply can’t get their hands on. With MMA Industries, you are getting authentic gear that is only available in Thailand, but with the distinct advantage of ordering from a US-based company. For you, that means faster and cheaper shipping, as well as better customer service. Speaking of customer service, their reputation speaks for itself. You can call a toll-free number and actually speak to someone on the phone! If you ordered your gear from MMA Industries, you can expect to get someone on the phone who will not only understand your questions, but will be able to answer you intelligently and help you complete a purchase if need be. They ship ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE in the world. Humbled by the amount of international orders they ship out to all corners of the world. MMA Industries is always offering free and reduced shipping incentives, and they stand by what they sell with unwavering dedication. They are not at liberty to discuss our client base, but suffice to say that their stellar reputation and product selection has convinced more than a few of your favorite Muay Thai and mixed martial arts superstars to shop with MMA Industries.

Yodsanklai wins by (T)KO at Thai Fight Pattaya

Thai Fight took place last night in Pattaya, Thailand and Yodsanklai Fairtex was the night’s main attraction. Yodsanklai had not fought in a Thai Fight event since August of 2011 when he lost a decision to Yasuhito Shirasu. Currently in the middle of a career resurgence Yodsanklai posted his fifth consecutive victory with a second round (T)KO victory over little known Naimjon Tuhtobaev of Uzbekistan.

To check out the full results from Thai Fight in Pattaya last night visit our friends at FightSport Asia. They are your number one source for all Combat Sports in Asia.