Before there was MMA
With COVID-19 putting a hold on many sports around the world, some of you got a taste of what life was like prior to the widespread popularity of MMA. For those of you that did not know the world before MMA, this is how we got our fix. There was the odd fight between Karate and Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do versus Aikido and so on. I even took part in a mixed styled tournament in my youth. However, this is about a fight between two styles that was said to have changed the world.
What I’m talking about was the time we had Muay Thai vs. Kickboxing. Some people think they are one-in-the-same (don’t tell this to practitioners themselves) but there are some differences. Muay Thai is from Thailand and has 8 weapons – known as “the art of 8 limbs.” Consisting of 2 hands, 2 elbows, 2 knees and 2 kicks all of which are put together in combos to do as much damage as possible. The Thai are famous for the Thai clinch – grabbing around the back of your opponents’ neck with your hands and then proceeding to knee the crap out of them. Kickboxing on the other hand is western (American) and it is like full contact karate with punches and kicks but no knees or elbows. However, it must be said that the real upside to kickboxing is the long shiny pants that you get to wear in the ring. There was many a debate about which was better, Muay Thai or Kickboxing. Obviously, both thought they were the best, so there was only one way to find out.
A Thai fighter named Changpuek Kiatsongkrit, (who will be called CK from here on out) become known for travelling to foreign countries to fight people from other styles. It was not uncommon for CK to fight much larger opponents. CK was a Thai champion and a damn good fighter. He travelled to America to fight their kickboxing champion, Rick Roufus. At the time, Roufus was also a champion, an undefeated one at that. The legacy of Thai fighting and the almost spiritual place it serves in Thai culture encouraged them to believe there was no way a ‘farang’ (foreigner) would beat them. The Americans on the other hand thought no one could beat them. With their size and strength, they could not see an American being toppled.
The fight was in held in Las Vegas in 1988, the year that Who Framed Roger Rabbit was released, and Rick Astley sung Never going to give you up. In the first round Roufus came out with punches in bunches, showing off his power. Thai fighters at that time had not done much boxing so CK was over whelmed. Early in round 1, Roufus landed a left hand that knocked CK down and broke his jaw. CK got back up only to get knocked down again. CK spent the remainder of the round trying to survive and taking a beating. The American commentators loved this ‘Kiatsongkrit is just not used to the power’. CK got through round 1 and went back to his corner where they came up with a new plan. The plan for round two was to take advantage of the side on stance of Roufus and kick the crap out of his legs. Low kicks were not really used in kickboxing at the time, so Roufus did not have any defence for them. This left CK to keep his hands up to defend the punches then smash his low kicks into the thigh of Roufus. If you have not had the pleasure of getting kicked in the thigh by someone who knows how to kick then picture this: getting hit in the thigh by a baseball bat over and over.
That is not over stating them at all. A Thai fighters shin is like steel and they kick like a mule. After three, you will be limping for a week. Needless to say, these kicks started to have an effect on Roufus and he started to keep his distance and switch stance. None of which worked. After the success of round 1, Roufus would be forgiven for thinking her had the fight sealed. Now, at the end of round 2 though, Roufus does not know how to protect the leg. They go into round 3 and it is more of the same. CK continues to smash at the legs of Roufus. Eventually Roufus can’t take any more and unable to stand up the fight is over with CK wining by TKO. If you keep in mind that CK had his jaw broken early in round 1 and then came back to win, that guy is tougher than a $2 steak.
In the aftermath, both fighters were hospitalised next to each other. The experience had created a large amount of respect for one another. Roufus started training with CK’s corner which lead to his brother Duke Roufus fighting in Thailand and becoming and absolute legend. Duke is one of the most respected striking coaches in the USA, having trained many UFC fighters including Anthony Pettis. This fight not only led the way for Duke Roufus but also for many fighters who travelled to Thailand to test themselves. The Dutch were (in)famous for it. Rob Kaman and Ramon Dekkers were two of the best. Dekkers become the first Farang to be named Thai fighter of the year in Thailand which is massive. That would be like a Japanese player being named NZ rugby player of the year. Muay Thai showed the rest of the world about low kicks, knees and elbows while the western fighters made the Thai’s see that boxing was also very effective.
Even though this is not exactly MMA, the idea of testing yourself against another fighter from another style did not start in UFC 1. This had been around as long as people have been fighting. Yes, MMA took that idea to another level and we have got what we have today, but without these pioneers and others like the Gracie challenge, then UFC / MMA would not be where it is today.
Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor