Abu Dhabi is no stranger to high-quality Jiu-jitsu events. It has recently staged a first-ever boxing night and is about to host its second UFC event in April.
But on Friday, Yas Island will stage the first-ever sanctioned Muay Thai fight night in the capital.
At least 16 fighters from around the world will put on a minimum eight-fight card at DU Forum. The event will be headlined by a fight between the Australian Matt “Hard Knox” McTavish and Thai veteran Orono Singchatchawan, who has fought in nearly 150 fights.
“This event will be the best Muay Thai show Abu Dhabi has ever seen,” said promoter Mat Dryden, who also runs the Cobra Fitness Gym. Dryden promoted an event a few years back, which, strictly speaking, was the first Muay Thai event here. But that, as he acknowledged, was “poorly-organised”, with amateur and semi-pro fighters.
The night is under the official sanction of the World Muay Thai Council (WMC), the governing body of the sport based out of Thailand. An official from the Council will be at the event. WMC titles are on the line in the headline bouts, including women’s Middle East title in the fight between Greece’s Milena Martinou and Malihe Mardibabi from Iran.
“Nobody has really seen professional full Thai Muay fights here, with five three-minute rounds, elbows and knees,” Dryden said. “Dubai has had some stuff going but a lot of it is unsanctioned. Everyone is doing their own thing.
“The sport is new in the country but there are a few of us trying to stick together and start a governing body that sanctions Muay Thai and MMA properly on a professional level. We’re moving towards that but that is a process.”
The fight card has been put together with considerable care, to ensure maximum local interest and attendance. Mohammad Ali Bayat, the Dubai-based Iranian boxer, is scheduled to fight as well, against Turkey’s Fati Usuloy. Bayat is well-known and popular on the scene, in part from his feud with the Syrian Abdul Kabbani.
A couple more fights could be added, Dryden said, as several Dubai-based fighters had shown interest in taking part. Though he remains cautious, Dryden is hoping that this could be the first of a series of events.
“We’ve done a fair bit of marketing through our local circles,” he said. “Milena is coming off a fight and has built a fan-base here. Another couple of guys are there that will draw the crowds. We are picking fighters who are going to put on a show, the guys who will sell tickets you get.
“It’s a first of its kind event in Abu Dhabi and we hope to make it a series - I’m not going to make a promise - but we hope to.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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