Fighters and trainers react to full rules Muay Thai in New York

Last Wednesday Muay Thai Authority broke the news that full rules Muay Thai was going to be allowed in New York and that Friday Night Fights Muay Thai would hold the first full rules event on January 20th, 2012. Since then we have talked to several fighters and trainers and gathered their thoughts on the news of full rules Muay Thai in New York.

Muay Thai in New York was under fire earlier in the year when some of the west coast fighters stated that it isn’t real Muay Thai out in New York because the lack of elbows. Since then several fighters that have primarily fought in New York have gone out west to fight and have shown they can use the full arsenal of techniques allowed. With New Jersey allowing full rules earlier in the year, it seemed that would be where everyone in the Northern East Coast of the United States would have to showcase their full set of tools. With full rules now in New York it really changes the Muay Thai scene in North America, below are the responses from several of North America’s top fighters and coaches.

Kevin Ross talks about the historic year that 2011 has been for Muay Thai in America and his plans for 2012

Kevin Ross was a major part of the big year that was 2011 for Muay Thai. He fought two of the world’s best fighters and helped continue to push Muay Thai in America. We took some times to catch up with Kevin about the year that was 2011 as well as what he has planned for 2012. 

Kevin gives his thoughts on Saenchai and Sakkedao as well as addresses the recent news that full rules Muay Thai will now be allowed in New York. He also talks about potentially fighting Omar Ahmed who has recently expressed interest in fighting Kevin, as well as possibly heading back to Thailand.

MTA: Kevin this was a big year for Muay Thai in America, looking back at the year what are your thoughts?

Full Rules Muay Thai in New York, Alex Berrios vs. Ben Case headline Friday Night Fights Muay Thai January 20th, 2012

Muay Thai in the state of New York has been under fire from fans and fighters alike for not having full rules Muay Thai. Well, the longest running Muay Thai promotion in New York is about to change that. Friday Night Fights Muay Thai will feature the first full rules Muay Thai event in the state of New York on January 20th, 2012, with the evening’s main event featuring a bout between Florida's Alex Berrios and New Jersey's Ben Case.

While the state of New Jersey implemented full rules Muay Thai in July of this year, it seemed that this would be the closest full rules Muay Thai would come to the big Apple, the East Coast’s Muay Thai epicenter. We caught up with the President of Friday Night Fights Muay Thai, Justin Blair to discuss the recent development of full rules in New York and his organization being the first to do it: