Tiger Muay Thai

Last updated
Tiger Muay Thai
Tiger Muay Thai.png
Est.2003;21 years ago (2003) [1]
Primary trainersPhet Chaimanee (Muay thai)
Alex Schild (BJJ)
Rafael Fiziev (Striking)
Eric Uresk (MMA/Wrestling)
Joseph Henle (MMA)
Prominent fighters Roger Huerta
Alexander Volkanovski [2]
Rafael Fiziev
Cyrus Washington [3]
Dan Hooker [4]
Loma Lookboonmee
Dave Leduc
Kai Kara-France
Valentina Shevchenko
Brad Riddell
Shannon Wiratchai
Mairbek Taisumov
Khamzat Chimaev [5]
Anissa Meksen [6]
Headquarters Phuket, Thailand
Address7 35 Soi Ta-iad, Chalong
LocationPhuket, Thailand
Training facilities Phuket, Thailand
San Sai District, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Website Tiger Muay Thai

Tiger Muay Thai is a Thai mixed martial arts and muay thai training facility located in Phuket, Thailand. It has several prominent competitors such as UFC champions Petr Yan, Alexander Volkanovski and Valentina Shevchenko.

Contents

History

William McNamara – an American teaching English in Darasamuth Catholic School – had previously owned a gym in Phuket consisting of only one ring to serve his muay thai training purposes. [7] [8] The gym gained popularity, so with the help of investors, he founded Tiger Muay Thai in remarkably larger premises in 2003. [7] [8] Subsequently, mixed martial arts program was added to the repertoire by McNamara. [9]

Since 2013, the gym has been arranging annual Fight Team tryouts where the best applicants receive scholarships to mixed martial arts and muay thai programs. [10] Among the tryout winners are Kai Kara-France, Dan Hooker, Dave Leduc, Loma Lookboonmee and Casey O'Neill. [11]

In 2015, the gym was sold to Thai businessmen and one of them – Viwat Sakulrat – became the managing director of the gym. [7] [9] It has continued to grow and is one of the world's most prominent muay thai gyms. [9]

In July 2021, MMA coaches George and Frank Hickman announced they were leaving the team after an amicable split. [12] In April 2022, they opened their own gym called Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA which trained UFC champions such as Alexander Volkanovski, Jiří Procházka and Zhang Weili. [13]

Gyms

While the original Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, Phuket remains the headquarters, they opened a new facility to San Sai District, Chiang Mai in 2013. [14]

In 2019, they opened Tiger Muay Thai Beachside in Chalong. [15]

In 2023, Tiger Muay Thai is set to open a new location in Bali, Indonesia. [16]

Notable fighters

UFC Featherweight Champion

Related Research Articles

Brazilian Top Team (BTT) is an academy and team specialized in Brazilian jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts. It was established in April 2000 by Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Libório, Mário Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte, former members of the Carlson Gracie Academy, to develop and create new training techniques for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, submission grappling and mixed martial arts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Kickboxing Academy</span> Martial arts gym in San Jose, California

The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) is a mixed martial arts gym based in San Jose, California. It is one of the pioneering schools of mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2014, AKA opened the AKA Thailand gym in Phuket, Thailand. Prominent trainers include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Leandro Vieira, Bob Cook, Derek Yuen, Javier Mendez, and Andy Fong. Within the facility, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Boxing classes are taught. Additional programs include conditioning and circuit training with TRX Suspension and Combat Circuit. The AKA is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Team Quest</span> Mixed martial arts training organization

Team Quest is a mixed martial arts training camp founded by Randy Couture and Dan Henderson with facilities located in Gresham, Oregon; Murrieta, California; Encinitas, California; Redding, California; Hemet, California; and Chiang Mai, Thailand. Notable fighters that have trained at the Oregon facility are Matt Lindland, Dave Jansen, Nathan Coy, and Chael Sonnen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova União (mixed martial arts)</span> Mixed martial arts training organization in Brazil

Nova União is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy and mixed martial arts team located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is one of the top professional MMA training camps. Their BJJ black belts have participated in BJJ, submission grappling and MMA competitions all over the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evolve MMA</span> Mixed martial arts training organization in Singapore

Evolve Mixed Martial Arts is a chain of martial arts academies. Founded by Chatri Sityodtong, it opened in January 2009. The gym includes several former and reigning UFC and ONE Championship champions, including Demetrious Johnson, Rafael Dos Anjos, Shinya Aoki, Angela Lee, Marcus Almeida and more, on its roster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valentina Shevchenko</span> Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian mixed martial artist (born 1988)

Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko (born March 7, 1988) is a Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. She currently competes in the women's Flyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is the former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. As of March 7, 2023, she is ranked #1 in the women’s flyweight rankings, and as of August 22, 2023, she is ranked #3 in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Volkanovski</span> Australian mixed martial artist (born 1988)

Alexander Volkanovski is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former UFC Featherweight Champion. He is also a former Australian Fighting Championship (AFC) Featherweight champion. Prior to his UFC debut, Volkanovski competed as a professional boxer in 2015. As of 20 February 2024, he is #1 in the UFC featherweight rankings and as of 16 April 2024, he is #7 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

Antonina Shevchenko is a Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian Muay Thai fighter and mixed martial artist currently competing in the flyweight division of the UFC. She is the older sister of fellow UFC fighter and former UFC Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anissa Meksen</span> French-Algerian kickboxer

Anissa Meksen is a French-Algerian kickboxer, Muay Thai fighter, Savateur, and boxer. She currently competes in ONE Championship. She is the reigning ISKA World K1 Bantamweight champion, reigning WAKO World K1 Bantamweight champion, former two-time Glory Super Bantamweight champion, former WPMF World Muay Thai Flyweight champion, and former French, European, and World Savate champion. As a boxer, she won the vacant France Female Super Bantamweight title.

Suphisara Konlak, best known professionally as Loma Lookboonmee, is a Thai martial artist who has competed in Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing, and mixed martial arts. In boxing she has fought under the names Kanda Por Muangpetch and Kanda Kokietgym. She is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, being the first Thai fighter to sign with the organization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Kickboxing</span> Martial arts gym based in Auckland, New Zealand

City Kickboxing is a mixed martial arts training gym based in Auckland, New Zealand. The gym features professional fighters who have competed in many major promotions, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator, ONE Championship, and Dibella Entertainment (Boxing).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khamzat Chimaev</span> Russian mixed martial artist (born 1994)

Khamzat Khizarovich Chimaev is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In freestyle wrestling, Chimaev is a three-time Swedish national champion. As of 18 June 2024, he is #11 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC 266</span> 2021 MMA event

UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 25, 2021, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC 273</span> Mixed martial arts event in 2022

UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 9, 2022, at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC 275</span> Mixed martial arts event in 2022

UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Procházka was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 12, 2022, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ONE 156</span> Combat sport events in 2022

ONE 156: Eersel vs. Sadiković was a Combat sport event produced by ONE Championship that took place on April 22, 2022, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Kallang, Singapore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ONE Fight Night 6</span> Combat sport events in 2023

ONE Fight Night 6: Superbon vs. Allazov was a combat sport event produced by ONE Championship that took place on January 14, 2023, at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA</span> Martial arts gym based in Thailand

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA is a Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) gym based in Phuket, Thailand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UFC 284</span> 2023 mixed martial arts event

UFC 284: Makhachev vs. Volkanovski was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 12, 2023, at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

References

  1. "Kru Phet - Tiger Muay Thai Trainer". Tiger Muay Thai. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  2. "Team TMT Fighter Alex Volkanovski gets his shot in the UFC". Tiger Muay Thai. Retrieved 2020-12-12.
  3. "Penthouse Magazine runs article on Tiger Muay Thai's Cyrus Washington". Tiger Muay Thai. 12 October 2010.
  4. "Congrats to the Figh Team Tryout 2016 winners & welcome to Tiger Muay Thai". Tiger Muay Thai. 9 April 2016.
  5. "Huge Update on UFC Star Khamzat Chimaev's Training and 2023 Campaign". 25 January 2023.
  6. "TMT Fighter Meksen Anissa just signed with ONE Championship!". 25 August 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 "Tiger Muay Thai Review". muaythaicitizen.com. September 18, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "The History & Evolution of Tiger Muay Thai". Tiger Muay Thai.
  9. 1 2 3 Frances Watthanaya (April 26, 2020). "Tiger Muay Thai's Rise From Humble Gym To Global Juggernaut". ONE Championship .
  10. "Calling All Fighters! Apply for 2014 Fight Team Tryouts now!". Tiger Muay Thai. February 4, 2014.
  11. "Congrats to the Fight Team Tryout 2016 winners & welcome to Tiger Muay Thai". Tiger Muaythai. 9 April 2016.
  12. "George and Frank Hickman leave Tiger Muay Thai". asianmma.com. July 3, 2021.
  13. "'Training in paradise': Bangtao MMA gym changing the game in Phuket". South China Morning Post. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
  14. Wannakorn Moolkam (October 18, 2012). "Tiger Muay Thai – massive Muay Thai gym to open in Chiang Mai". chiangmaicitylife.com.
  15. "Tiger Muay Thai Beachside, our beautiful 2nd Gym located next to Chalong Beach, is opening on the 1st of February 2019!". Tiger Muay Thai. January 9, 2019.
  16. "Tiger Muay Thai to open new gym in Bali". Asian MMA. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-10-26.