Tiger Muay Thai - Wikipedia

Mixed martial arts training facility in Phuket, Thailand Tiger Muay Thai

Est.	2003; 22 years ago (2003)[1]
Primary trainers	Phet Chaimanee (Muay thai) 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
Address	7 35 Soi Ta-iad, Chalong
Location	Phuket, 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.

History

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American veteran Sean Douglas previously owned a gym in Phuket consisting of only one ring to serve his muay thai training purposes.[7][8] The gym gained popularity and with the help of investors, Douglas founded Tiger Muay Thai in a larger premises in 2003.[7][8] Subsequently, a mixed martial arts program was added.[9]

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.[10] In April 2022, they opened their own gym called Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA.[11]

Tiger Muay Thai tryouts

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Since 2013, Tiger Muay Thai has been hosting annual Fight Team tryouts where the best applicants receive scholarships to mixed martial arts and muay thai programs.[12] The tryouts are widely recognized for their intensity and the career opportunities they offer The tryout spans multiple days and tests athletes across disciplines such as Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, wrestling, and strength conditioning. Candidates also undergo personal interviews, and the challenge concludes with a gruelling run up Big Buddha hill in Phuket.[13]

The tryouts have gained notoriety for launching the careers of notable fighters. Successful participants who earned full scholarships include: Kai Kara-France (2013), Alexander Volkanovski (2014), Dave Leduc (2016) and Dan Hooker (2016).[14][15][16][17]

In 2023, Tiger Muay Thai announced a partnership with ONE Championship, offering winners up to US$100,000 in contracts and sponsorships.[18][19]

Locations

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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.[20]

In 2019, they opened Tiger Muay Thai Beachside in Chalong.[21]

In 2023, Tiger Muay Thai is set to open a new location in Bali, Indonesia.[22]

In 2024, Tiger Muay Thai opened in Singapore, Pasir Panjang, and in 2025, they opened a 2nd boutique outlet in Raffles Place.

Notable fighters

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• Anatoly Malykhin, Current ONE Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Former Heavyweight World Champion
• Fabrício Andrade, Former ONE Bantamweight World Champion
• Petr Yan, Current UFC Bantamweight Champion
• Tang Kai, Current ONE Featherweight World Champion
• Vitaly Bigdash, a Former ONE Middleweight World Champion
• Israel Adesanya, former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion
• Alexander Volkanovski, current UFC Featherweight Champion
• Valentina Shevchenko, current two-time UFC Women's Flyweight Champion
• Antonina Shevchenko
• Dan Hooker
• Rafael Fiziev
• Tai Tuivasa
• Arman Tsarukyan
• Loma Lookboonmee, the first Thai mixed martial artist in the UFC
• Shannon Wiratchai
• Roger Huerta
• Cyrus Washington
• Brad Riddell
• Kai Kara-France
• Timofey Nastyukhin
• Dave Leduc, a Lethwei fighter and a WLC Cruiserweight Champion
• Anissa Meksen, a French kickboxer and Former Glory Women's Super Bantamweight Champion
• Mairbek Taisumov
• Alexey Kunchenko
• Khamzat Chimaev, Current UFC Middleweight Champion
• Kairat Akhmetov, a Former ONE Flyweight World Champion

References

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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. ^ a b c "Tiger Muay Thai Review". muaythaicitizen.com. September 18, 2020.
8. ^ a b "The History & Evolution of Tiger Muay Thai". Tiger Muay Thai.
9. ^ a b c Frances Watthanaya (April 26, 2020). "Tiger Muay Thai's Rise From Humble Gym To Global Juggernaut". ONE Championship.
10. ^ "George and Frank Hickman leave Tiger Muay Thai". asianmma.com. July 3, 2021.
11. ^ "'Training in paradise': Bangtao MMA gym changing the game in Phuket". South China Morning Post. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
12. ^ "Calling All Fighters! Apply for 2014 Fight Team Tryouts now!". Tiger Muay Thai. February 4, 2014.
13. ^ "Kara France's Journey: From Cruise Ship to The Ultimate Fighter". UFC. March 5, 2020.
14. ^ "Dave Leduc: The King of Lethwei". LowKickMMA. June 25, 2023.
15. ^ "Thailand-trained Alex Volkanovski all set for UFC 251". AsianMMA. July 8, 2020.
16. ^ "How established UFC star Dan Hooker ended up trying out for Tiger Muay Thai". AsianMMA. February 21, 2021.
17. ^ "Congrats to the Fight Team Tryout 2016 winners & welcome to Tiger Muay Thai". Tiger Muaythai. 9 April 2016.
18. ^ "Tiger Muay Thai tryouts are back – and offering US$100,000 ONE Championship contracts". South China Morning Post. June 19, 2023.
19. ^ "Get to Know Series: George Hickman". Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA. January 17, 2024.
20. ^ Wannakorn Moolkam (October 18, 2012). "Tiger Muay Thai – massive Muay Thai gym to open in Chiang Mai". chiangmaicitylife.com.
21. ^ "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.
22. ^ "Tiger Muay Thai to open new gym in Bali". Asian MMA. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

External links

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• Official website

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