New website!

If you have this page bookmarked, you'd best update it as this site has moved!

You can now find us over at:

http://www.muaythaiscotland.org.uk/

and you can contact me on:

kieran@muaythaiscotland.org.uk

Thanks for reading, see you over there.

Kieran

Kings of the Ring @ Grangemouth - Preview

Colin Anderson (Carnage) and Mescho Dunko (M-Mag) are teaming up to co-promote a show in Grangemouth Town Hall on the 19th of August, but for a variety of reasons, the card has been hit by a number of injuries and pull-outs, as has been happening all over the world in combat sports. It must be the summer. Despite these setbacks, the guys have managed to pull things together and still put on a solid card. Colin told me that they are looking at putting on one or two boxing bouts to compliment the Muay Thai and to cover a few of the pull-outs. There are a number of Carnage vs M-Mag match ups on the card, which Colin thinks will help make the show a bit more exciting, both for the fans and both sets of fighters who will get an extra boost from the friendly rivalry and the prospect of notching a victory up for their gym. I will post the full card when it has been confirmed.

I also spoke to Mescho who has the unenviable position of both promoting a show and fighting on it. I caught up with him after training last night to ask him a few questions. 

Muay Thai Scotland: You're having a nightmare with pull-outs, who are you still looking to match?

Mescho Dunko: The thing with pull outs is its always going to happen, no matter how many fights you have to start with or how many stand by fighters you think you have, it's going to go tits up at one point. But you're better getting told 4 weeks before than 4 days before that's for sure and especially since there's so many shows around at the minute. In the past I've had horrid situations where 4 fighters from different camps have pulled out within an hour of each other 7 days before the show, not good!  We've had a few pull outs for this show but have managed to juggle things around and get a few more guys in to still provide a great show with A, B and C class fights as well as juniors with a title fight to boot. At the moment we've got 12 matched with 1 or 2 more possibilities to add to the card.

MTS: How are you finding co-promoting with Colin?

MD: Colin and I are getting on great; think we're both kind of the same. We both run our own gyms, have a passion for what we do and I think were both easy going chilled out guys (although that may change as the show gets nearer). As I am fighting on the show I've tried to be a bit more involved with the organization, then Colin can take the lead on the day to let me focus more on the fight. Its worked out well so far, we both get an input on decisions so if I suggest something and Colin’s not up for it then it's a no go & and vice versa! So all is good on that front.

MTS: Good to hear. You are fighting on the show in a rematch with Chris Moir. You both had a bit of a war but that was a year ago. How much do you feel you have improved since that fight?

MD: Yeah, our rematch; I feel I've come on leaps and bounds since last year. I've been training basically all the time since then although I had a knee injury after I fought Lindzie Batey in August which slowed me down for a couple of months. Ii still trained through it though!  I've had 2 fights and two defeats this year but I am always learning and I feel a lot more equipped technique wise than when I fought him last time. My fitness has never been better, so I am really looking forward to this fight!

MTS: Did you see anything in his fighting style or game plan that you think you will be able to capitalize on this time round?

MD: Ah yes, but I am not going to talk about fight tactics and game plans! I will let you know after ;)

Thanks to both Colin and Mescho for taking the time to speak to me. Tickets are £25 with doors at 6:30 and the fights kicking off at 7:00. To buy tickets, call either Colin (07545306964) or Mescho (07961851486).

ESU Fight Night 3 Pictures

 ESU belts on display

 Scott Drummond vs Rob Hay

Martin Cawley vs David Harvey

Scott Spalding vs Gav Moore

 Scott Spalding vs Gav Moore

  

Mark Bryson vs Ritchie Sockell

Mark Bryson vs Ritchie Sockell

Sean McLaughlin vs Aldo McDonald

Sean McLaughlin vs Aldo McDonald

Steven Lochhead vs Ali Demiciri

ESU Fight Night 3 Event Report

ESU Fight Night 3 took place at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow and promoter Vinnie McWilliams couldn’t have picked a nicer venue. Befitting such a grand ballroom, the event was strictly black tie. The fighter’s ring parade was preceded by members of the Neilson and District pipe band which the crowd were especially appreciative of. I’m not sure how many other events have this type of opening other than Oran Mor but it is a really nice touch. The event was completely sold out with around 500 people in attendance, meaning this event sold more tickets than the last Strikeforce Challengers event.

Obviously, this event is much smaller. However, speaking to Vinnie beforehand, he mentioned that his ultimate goal as a promoter is for the ESU belts to be the ones people aim for in Muay Thai in the same way that MMA fighters ultimately aim for UFC belts. We should applaud him for aiming high not only for his promotion but also for Muay Thai in general. His appreciation of the UFC can be seen in the presentation and smooth running of this event. Continue reading for my event report and full results.

Oran Mor VI – Vengeance set for September 11th

Oran Mor VI – Vengeance is set for September 11^th and seven fights have already been madefor what is shaping up to be the best domestic event of the year. Oran Mor shows generally feature both MMA and Muay Thai, but provides enough quality to make it a great event for fans of both sports. The first seven bouts confirmed are all Muay Thai bouts. Current 61kg UKMF Scottish champion Ahmed Ibrahim will take on the super aggressive and entertaining Brian Tottie in a non title B-class bout at 64kg. Ryan Hurley will face the more experienced Kyle Nicol at 72kg and both fighters excel with their knees so expect somebody to be doubled over at the end of this fight. We also have Tommy Young who has been described as “one of the finest technicians in Scottish Thai” stepping in the ring with Carlisle's Wayne Fisher.

A rematch between Gordon Smith (3xSTBA Champion) and Wullie Dempster has been made at 67kg. We last seen Smith in March 2010 when he defended his title against John Douglas and he holds a 2006 victory over Dempster. Wullie will no doubt be looking to avenge this, especially since his recent loss at Rumble at the Reebok but to say that both fighters are the same as they were 5 years ago would be daft. Still, Smith stays composed under pressure and will not be confused or put off by Dempster's often unorthodox fighting style.

Another cracking bit of matchmaking comes in the form of #1 ranked Robert Burke defending his position again against Michael Wiseman. The previous fight between these two ended in a draw and Wiseman could lay claim to being the #1 Super Lightweight in Scotland with a win here. English fighter Billy Hatton, now fighting out of Eclipse Muay Thai in Glasgow will attempt to beat the undefeated Jordon Calder. This has the potential to be a showcase for both fighters. Hatton is a flamboyant fighter who is not scared to throw risky techniques but has power in both his punches and kicks, providing a good challenge for the young yet experienced Calder.

Finally, a rematch with Stevie Meikle again fighting Craig Jose will take place. Jose lost to Meikle back in 2008 on points but both men have stepped up their games since then. Meikle was recently fighting in Thailand, even gaining full sponsorship from Fairtex while Jose beat Zidof Dominik for the WMC MAD World 70kg title.

More match ups are to come but this card is fantastic as it stands now. When further fights are announced, the will be reported here.

ESU Fight Night 3

When people use superlatives incorrectly, it really annoys me. Ironically, I do it all the time. When somebody makes me a cup of tea I exclaim "beautiful!" as if it is the best thing anyone has done for me. To be fair, I do love my tea. I don't think there is an incorrect way to indicate how stacked the ESU Fight Night 3 card is however. While America is slowly getting introduced to full Thai rules (FTR) bouts, we Scots have been spoiled a bit and a card without at least one FTR bout is rare unless it is an event specifically for novice  fighters. Vinnie McWilliams has put together a card with not one or two FTR bouts, but fifteen! Every single fight on this card will be contested using full Thai rules. A fair mix of amateur, pro-am and pro bouts fills this card but if a full card of elbows wasn't satisfactory enough how about this: six title fights and two title eliminators? Is your mouth watering yet?

Headlining the event will be Steve Lochhead taking on Dutch fighter Ali Dimirci. Dimirci recently fought on the undercard of the A1 World Combat Cup 2011 in Eindhoven, losing a close decision to the undefeated Hamza Soesi in which he demonstrated a well rounded but boxing heavy style. For me, Steve can win this one if he keeps his composure in the later rounds and uses the boxing heavy tactics of his opponent to his advantage.

Before this however, Mark Bryson has finally got an opponent sorted after the first three match-ups collapsed. Late replacement Richie Sockell from Sit Chinuwat fills in for Willie Dempster, Michael Roach and Adam Srika to fight for the SFMA Scottish Pro-Am welterweight title. Sockell is taking a step up from his original match-up in which he was to be fighting for an amateur title to face Bryson. Aldo McDonald and Sean McLaughlin will compete for the vacant 75kg SFMA Scottish Pro-Am and the GBMTO British under 18 title at 63kg will be up for grabs between North Aryshire's Dale Mall and Maryport's Jackson Barkhouse. That's not to mention the amateur titles and undercard match ups...

ESU 3 provides Muay Thai fans with a very stacked card guaranteeingfireworks. Muay Thai Scotland will be there to provide full results and interviews with fighters and coaches, as well as a post event breakdown. This all goes down on Saturday 6th of August at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow but is completely SOLD OUT.

The full card is after the jump:

Big hearted novice donates purse to cerebral palsy fund

O'B's gym are putting on a show in Johnstone Town Hall on August 27th, primarily for novice fighters at C class (5x1.5, no elbows or knees to head) and the card is filling up fast. However, no matter the results on the night, the star of the show has already been decided: Mick McGarry. Mick has decided to donate his purse and his ticket commission to a fund set up in order to help a little girl with cerebral palsy have an operation to allow her to walk.

Keanna McMillan from Bridge of Weir just outside Glasgow is four years old and suffers from spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy which causes tightening of the muscles and tendons as well as pain and discomfort in the legs. Treatment for this can come in the form of a selective dorsal rhizotomy in which the patient's spine is opened and the misfiring nerves causing spasticity are severed. While this is not a cure, it does allows the individual to walk without pain and in many cases unaidied which is life changing in itself.