Where are all the Thai MMA fighters?

[superpunch]

Thais aren't too small. Lots of Thais could fight at the 125 lb - 145 lb weight classes in the UFC.

We all know that muay thai is extremely effective in MMA.

There is access to MMA training in Thailand.

MMA pays way more than muay thai. Even the top guys in muay thai would make more starting out in the UFC.

Why aren't there any big Thai names in MMA?

 

[MadDogMahoney]

Thailand.

 

[AceCooch]

They prefer to Bangkok

 

[cyrusthevyrus]

They fight in ONE FC.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Size.

A Thai fight that fights at 145 actually weighs 145.

A guy that fights in the UFC at 145 probably steps in the cage over 160 pounds and at home weighs 175.

Hell Ortega's gets as big as 186 when he's not training got a fight.

 

[accolyte1022]

Thailand.

Well, that solves that mystery.

 

[MadDogMahoney]

Well, that solves that mystery.

They call me "Sherdog Holmes"

 

[accolyte1022]

They prefer to Bangkok

 

[punky brewster]

They're being suffocated, on their backs with American wrestlers laying on top of them.

 

[Unheralded Truth]

I don't think MMA is that big of a deal in Thailand, honestly.

They do have some MMArtists though, here are the most promising ones:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shannon-Wiratchai-85142
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Thanongsaklek-Thanongsaklek-219625
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Samson-Phommabout-133209

 

[kmelloh]

Thais do not do as good in mma. The style doesn’t translate well

 

[Gambit MMA]

Doing Muay Thai

 

[beastman]

Size.

A Thai fight that fights at 145 actually weighs 145.

A guy that fights in the UFC at 145 probably steps in the cage over 160 pounds and at home weighs 175.

Hell Ortega's gets as big as 186 when he's not training got a fight.

Which is another reason they fight in One FC. You have to pass a hydration test to weigh-in in One FC.

 

[DM1982]

Thailand.

You're on a roll........

 

[Philtard]

They are thai boxing. Keep up.

 

[Hotora86]

Thais aren't too small. Lots of Thais could fight at the 125 lb - 145 lb weight classes in the UFC.

We all know that muay thai is extremely effective in MMA.

There is access to MMA training in Thailand.

MMA pays way more than muay thai. Even the top guys in muay thai would make more starting out in the UFC.

Why aren't there any big Thai names in MMA?

MMA was illegal in Thailand until 2016.

But here's a list of Thais in MMA:
https://www.tapology.com/search/mma-fighters-by-nationality/country-th

 

[whougonnacall]

I believe they only repealed the ban on the sport like 2 years ago there for one fc (not sure if temporary rollback or not)
Also the best thai kickboxers stay there and are worshipped as gods man...again mma needs to pay more and get more noanstream attention to counter that

 

[TriangleMonkey]

TDD /thread

 

[thatdude21601]

I suspect we'll see more fighters in the next few years with gyms like Fairtex starting to recruit an mma team. More and more mma gyms are popping up in Thailand, but not a ton of mma shows yet. If the Thai national team ever puts together a team to compete at IMMAF or other amateur circuits, we'd be off to the races with a bunch of state sponsored murderers.

An advanced thai clinch is a lot more than a collar tie, we just haven't seen a ton of it in MMA. Here's clips from a clinch specialist and daughter of the Lookboonmee gym owner making her MMA debut against a former All American wrestler who trains at AKA.


Test run of young high level Thai crossovers seems to be starting with atomweight women. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[wookie brawl]

Someone winning by grappling and controlling opponent on the ground and fence is not something the Thai's appreciate in a fight.