Muay Thai Fights, Isaan Thailand.

On the 12th of August I ventured to a local Muay Thai fight night taking place about 25 klms from my house. It was due to start at 8pm but I didn’t leave home till around half past eight pm as if you have lived in Thailand long enough, you know things nearly never start on time.

I arrived and went to pay my entrance fee, another lady farang friend had arrived at the same time, I was asked for 80 Baht and she was asked for 60 Baht. Why? I have no idea!

Inside the ring was up and ready to go, but there weren’t any fighters. A farang male (as we are known) friend had arrived at 7.30pm, he said he was getting plenty of stares from the locals and had been chatting with the ring announcer and also the man who organizes these travelling fights. They were running behind time. What a surprise!

To keep punters happy were these ready to go beer trucks. You simply open up the sides and the all important beer, Thai whiskey, whiskey, cigarettes and snacks are at arms length away.

Finally at about 9.20pm the first fight was ready to go. They were tiny kids, aged about 7, I would have said.

Then some 11 or 12 year olds went at it with gusto.

Some older boys finally got into the ring, maybe around 15; they went at it over 5 rounds and it was very entertaining.

The reason I had gone to the fight night was to watch a friend fight. Here Miss T is pictured with a Thai fighter whose trainer is sucking on a cigarette and really makes the photo.

Finally Miss T was up; here she is just before stepping into the ring. Before this she had been so calm and relaxed. Now she looked switched on and ready to go.

The gloves were taped on and some words of wisdom offered by one of her trainers.

Then it was the ceremonial side before the fight. A lap around the ring, stopping in each corner and then it was time to fight.

I have lots of video of the night, with the tiny kids fighting and Miss T’s fight. Miss T who I have to admit is one very brave lady dislocated her shoulder about 5 seconds into the second round.

They had to stop fighting for about 15 seconds as she put her own shoulder back into place. She then continued on with the fight. You see all this on the video.

She dislocates her shoulder again in the fourth round and again pops it back into place. This would have had to hurt but the adrenalin must have been pumping and also I think pride of not stopping pushed her through this pain.

Miss T has now had an operation; she had detached part of the shoulder where the ball part of the arm joins the shoulder. Something like that anyway. How she fought for 4 rounds like that is beyond me.

She is now out of hospital and recovering, and will be a sore girl for a while, I think. I believe they have screwed, plated and god knows what else to it. I am now going to call her bionic girl, but will be careful as I don’t want to be on the receiving end of one of her knees or elbows.

Brunty