The Contender Asia is a competition putting hand picked Muay Thai fighters in the ring with each other fighting for a US$150,000. To be honest, I was marveled at the number of girls attending the event. I mean, no offense to the girls, but do they really watch the fight, or do they just are happy to see two guys beating each other senseless. There were people from Japan, Indonesia, Scotland, Australia and even from the Middle East. All gathered to cheer on their favourites and have a great time.
So, without further ado, let's go to the fights....
Bout 1
Sukardi Flash(Indonesia) vs Louis Wong(Singapore)
Exhitbition Match (3 Rounds)
I was rather skeptic that Singapore could have a good muay thai fighter but my heart was behind the flag of my country....
Round 1
Flash came in strong, with a punch combos to the face, and rather swift movement. Suffering blows to the head Wong was slightly disorientated but he stood strong. Coming to the end of the first round, the home crowd cheering on their fighter, Wong manage to deliver a few blows to Flash making a statement saying, "Welcome to Singapore"....
Round 2
Looks like Wong really meant what he said, he went in with punches and kicks to the leg. He was on the offensive managing to avoid blows from Flash. It was becoming an all out brawl when both started swinging their hands, but the round was clearly won by the Singapore prodigy.
Round 3
Indonesia's Flash, feeling threathen tried to come back with honour as he goes for the legs of Wong hoping to sweep the Singaporean to his back, but it was not meant to be as Wong with superb reflexes, catching Flash's kicks and countering with hooks to the face. Wong's efforts would later pay off when he managed to counter Flash's punch to land consecutive hooks to the face, bringing the Indonesian down for almost the third and last time. It was an impressive knockout for the Singaporean and the crowd were on fire as they stand on their feet cheering for their new unsung hero...
Bout 2
This bout was a first for me as it was the first time I was watching an all girl's Muay Thai fight...
Sakon Chantaramani (Thailand) vs Brenda Shee (Singapore)
Exhitbition Fight (3 Rounds)
Going into this fight, the Thai girl was the clear favourite having over 50 fights under her belt, but Brenda Shee was not to be overlook although having only 7 fights, she was the youngest fighter ever to enter the SEA games at the age of 17 and even walked away with a bronze medal.
This should be a interesting fight...
Round 1
Again, I was skeptic and thought Shee would just run with a fist the air and start slamming her gloves on Sakon's head, but for the second time in the row that night, I was proved wrong. Sakon went on the attack first and Shee actually hold her composure and defended well. Then, Shee delivered delivered a round house with malice hoping to catch Sakon off guard but Sakon with the experience she had manage to cover the kick before it could do any real damage, but the technique of her kick was almost flawless and actually won some people hearts over, well ok, she won my heart over (right...like girl i'm looking for has to have a flawless roundhouse...fat hope..) Shee then tried to prove that she was a chick that could be pushed around. She went on the prowl, going for combos to the head then later moving in trying to hit some knees into the gut of Sakon, but Sakon fight back, trying to ave some points.
Round 2
Shee again with new found fire in her heart, went on the offensive, knocking Sakon senseless, spreading the fire to the fans as they screamed their lungs out, chanting "Sing-a-pore!". Sakon tried to claw her way out of the predicament but only to be punished by a kick by Shee which sent Sakon to the ground. This round was no doubt in Shee's corner.
Round 3
Sakon had to dominate this round or even knock Shee out if she wanted to win again, it was not meant to be. Shee stood her ground well, proving that she deserved that bronze medal. Even knocking Sakon a few more times to the ground. No doubt Shee had the match in the back and when it came to announcements, Singapore had won the second match of the night.
Then there was the 8 man Contender ceremony. Besides the two finalists, they were joined by the likes of Sean Wright(Scotland), Soren (Australia), Dzabhar(UAE), Rafik (France), Zach (Singapore) and Zidov (Switzerland and Croatia). I was laughing my ass off when they intro Rafik and the whole stadium was like,"BOO!!!" I was telling myself, "Guess I'm not the only one who don't like him", moving on...
Bout 4
Sean Wright (Scotland) vs Soren (Australia)
WMC Intercontinental Championship fight (5 rounds)
Two crowd favourites battling off to get the Intercontinental belt...
Round 1
Both guys started off slow, Sean throwed his trademark punch-kick combos, but no real damage done. Soren just keep hugging Sean (don't know what he doing).
Round 2
Sean came out round 1 like a new man as he punished Soren early on with loads of punch and kicks combos. And again Soren tried to clucth his way out hoping to reduce the damage being done but Sean just kept going hoping to find an opening, but Soren was calm even managing to score some points just before the bell rings
Round 3
Before the start of 3rd round, the crowd was cheering for Soren but it was Sean that came to fight. Again trying to dominate Soren in the round. Sean's highlight of the round would have to be, catching Soren's kick and countering with a left hook right to jaw, and continuing with his combos. However, it looks like Sean may have made a slight mistake of over exerting himself as later in the round he was more flat-footed, making mistakes allowing Soren to capitalise on the mistakes and get back in the game. Late in the round, the crowd still chanting Soren's name and soon enough Soren fights back with his own set of combos, taking it to Sean. Giving body shots and knees to the gut, inevitably saving scoring some points of his own.
Round 4
Sean coming in this round with even more energy again trying to take the fight into Soren's corner but he just lack the fitness to exert so much energy. The turning point was when the Soren did his trademark "elbow between hands" move. Sean was rocked and was never the same after that. He just could not gather himself in time and Soren just kept going, again going for the body. It was clear this round went to Soren's favour.
Round 5
Sean knew he had to switch back the momentum so when the bell rang for the final round, he went guns blazing. With lefts and rights, hoping to slip past Soren's fomidible defense, to knock him out or just to get a lucky shot. Sean went for Soren's legs but Soren kept clutching reducing the damage to the legs and at the same time managing to hit some knees to the ribcage where most of the damage had been done that night. I think Soren's gameplan proved to have work because Sean could not take anymore blows to the body and Soren went in to take the final round. In the end, it was a close fight that could have gone either way but it was to be Australia's night as Soren would now go back the WMC Intercontinental Champion...
The night's not done but this part of the entry is. I will update with the remaining fights from Zach, Rafik, Zidov and of course the contender final...
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