The Contender 2008 - MUAY THAI

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

I am looking forward to this. From the producers of Survivor. Starts today on Versus channel. In the past some sports books have actually had lines on Survivor winner. Two years ago I had a female would win. The last 6 left were 5 girls and a little gay cheer leader boy. Bastard won and screwed me..

Will be interesting to see if their are any lines later on for the finals, like the recent UFC series did. Also the last few contender boxing series were bettable towards the end of the competition.

Check out the opening preview..I love the music... Makes you want to get up and shadow box. I think its by the famous music composer Jan Hammer

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Contender Muay Thai is a reality-based television series that follows 16 aspiring Muay Thai middleweight fighters from 14 countries as they compete in a series of outdoor challenges and sanctioned matches. The series is a deviation from the original Contender series, which involved boxing. The winner will receive US$250,000. The program is hosted by former Muay Thai World Champion Stephen Fox (who also serves as the show's trainer) and Jaymee Ong.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

The Muay Thai Contenders are coming…

For those of you who aren’t familiar with the show, “The Contender”, a sports reality show, is the brainchild of reality television pioneer Mark Burnett. Originally aired on American TV in 2005, it took 16 fighters (boxers), divided them into two competing teams, and made them live together under one roof. In each episode the fighters participated in team-based competitions, ranging from dragging a truck through a river bed to puzzle solving. The winning team won the privilege to pick whom their teammate would go up against. The remainder of the show was dedicated to airing an edited-down version of their five-round bouts.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Yodsaenklai Fairtex

Yodsaenklai is one of the biggest stars of Muay Thai today. A former Lumpini Stadium and Toyota Marathon Champion, Yodsanklai is the current reigning WBC Muay Thai Champion. He currently fights for the Fairtex camp, he’s a dynamic south paw fighter who’s known for his technical and methodical fighting style. He has a 131 wins, 64 Losses and 3 draws.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

John Wayne Parr

Parr is fighter based out of Queensland Australia. He’s started off life as a boxer and transitioned into Muay Thai. Parr was one of the original great “Farang” (Foreign) fighters who lived and fought in Thailand. Parr currently fights out of his own gym the Boonchu gym. Parr (66-22) is known for his explosive hands and an aggressive fighting style. Some of his achievements include: IMF World Champion, S-1 World Champion. Parr was also voted by the “Strongest Westerner in Thailand ‘97″ by the sports writers of Thailand.

Naruepol Fairtex

Naruepol is another star in Fairtex’s stable of fighters, In addition to his 110 -41 record he’s a former Lumpini and Rajadomnern Stadium champion. Currently he’s the no.1 contender to challenge Nopadetch Choowattana for the WBC title. Naruepol is considered tall for a Thai fighter and is very effective with his knees and elbows.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Kim Khan Zaki aka “Zach”

Zach is a local Singaporean fighter who earned his spot by winning the regional fist of fury tournament. Zach is the least experienced fighter of the confirmed participants. He has 16 fights, 11 wins and 5 losses. Here is a clip of him in action

Dzhabar Askerov

Dzahabar AKA”Genghis Khan” is another Russian fighter out of the Skorpian Gym. Like Magomedov he’s been living and training out of Bangkok for sometime. He currently represents the Rompo Gym. He’s got a 22-11 record, some of his notable wins have were against Jomhod and Ratannanoi Sityodtong. Here is a clip of him in action.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Jose Pitu Sans

Jose is a fighter from Spain, he currently lives in Bangkok and trains out of the Rompo gym. His fight record is 27-8. If any of you have a better picture of him please do send it along…

Trevor “TNT” Smandych

Trevor is a Canadian fighter who represents Mike Mile’s National Kickboxing gym in Calgary. Trevor has a professional record of 24-4-1

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Bruce “Preacher” Macfie

Macfie is another fighter from Australia’s gold coast. He has a total of 104 fights. 73 wins 32 losses and 3 draws. He’s held numerous Australian titles such as: 4x Australian WMC Welterweight Champion, Australian ISKA Champ, WKBF Lightweight Champ etc. Here is his HL clip.

James Martinez

I know next to nothing about James so if you guys have any info on him (Melanie) (where he trains, Muay Thai fight record) As far as I can tell James has been fighting MMA where he is 4-8-0.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Sean Wright

Sean is fighting out of Scotland and is representing the SMTC gym. Seans spend a lot of his time training out of Lanna (Chiangmai) and Sasripapa (BKK) He is the current I.M.T.C. Super Welterweight British Champion and the former S.I.M.T.A. Super Welterweight British Champion. He has a fight record of 23-5-2. If anyone has a better picture of him please do send it along.

Rafik Bakkouri

You may remember Raffik back from earlier this year. He was the fighter who issued a challenge to Yodsanklai along with a 100K baht sidebet. Bakkouri is from France and holds numerous French Muay Thai titles. Bakkouri has had 33 fights, 27 Wins and 4 losses. I wonder if they’ll be any left over drama between him and Yod?

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Joakim Karlsson

Joakim is a Swedish fighter representing the Vallentuna boxing camp. Joakim has a 13-6 fight record, he’s also one of the more junior fighters to be selected for the competition.

Soren Eminent Air NTG

Soren is another fighter from Queensland Australia, he trains out of the Nuggests Gym in Queensland, he represents the Eminent Air Gym in Bangkok. Sorren is considered a top 10 fighter in his WMC division. He has a record of 68 fights 49 wins 17 losses 2 draws - 30 k.o’s, one of his notable wins was against Jomhod back in March, and Muay Thai Legend Orono in June. Here is a clip of Soren in action

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Domenik Zidov

Domenik is fighting out of Switzerland, representing Fight Club Zurich. Domenik has recently been training in Thailand at Ole Laursen’s Legacy Gym. Domenik (22W-15L-20KO) admits that he’s quite inexperienced compared with the other fighters, that he’s got nothing to lose, and that he just wants to make it into the second round of the competition.

Dave Pacquette

Dave Pacquette is representing the KO gym in London. I haven’t been able to find his fight record, however he seems to have a whole slew of English titles. Some of which include: ICF British Champion, IMTF British Champion, WMTO English Champion, and WKPL English Champion.

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

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GreenDoberman · Aug 7, 2008

Gimme the two Thai fighters and you can have the field.

VIEJODINOSAUR · Aug 7, 2008

Muay Thai was very interesting to watch during my trip to Thailand this year...the fighters are really well-conditioned and very quick and cat-like with their moves....I have become a fan of this form of martial arts...

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

Just a reminder bump in case someone is interested. I dont know if this will be good or not..First one is tonight..I will TVO it and watch it after sports

TheBrainiac · Aug 7, 2008

DennizdaMenace · Aug 7, 2008

I am TVO ing it now..Have no clue..If anybody cares there is a 10pm showing on Versus..

Nice video Brain :103631605

DennizdaMenace · Aug 8, 2008

Well..Show is ok and worth a watch

Seems like alot more respect for opponents than boxing and UFC MMA etc..

Guess its something to do with the Asian culture being involed..

Fights are in Singapore..This Muy Thai boxing is pretty cool and one of the show`s host is pretty hot!

Episode #1

Naruepol Fairtex

..WINS 5 ROUND DECISION OVER

Trevor “TNT” Smandych