SELECTED PREVIOUS EVENTS 2001



"BRAWL FOR ALL # 2" - (Calgary, Canada) April 28th, 2001

On Saturday April 28th Calgary was host to an international fight event promoted by Mike Miles which is to be broadcast on Canada's Sports Channel TSN in the very near future. 3000 very enthusiastic fight fans were in attendance to witness Team Canada take on athletes from Holland, Scotland and the USA. Bouts were battled under 3 different sets of rules. The majority of the bouts were under full Muay Thai rules allowing punches, kicks, elbows and knees. The only concession was that according to the civic Boxing and Wrestling Commission, athletes had to wear elbow pads. There were several modified Muay Thai rules bouts (elbow attacks and knee attacks to the head are illegal). The remainder of the bouts were fought under Kickboxing rules (allowing low kicks).

Coaches included: Edsel van de Leuv (Holland), Eric Preng (Holland), Stephen Mair (Scotland), Alberto Rodriguez (USA), Barry Benedict (USA), Rob Clark (USA), Tony Rosales (USA), Art Montsofaiez (USA), Robert Monroe (USA), Lyle Cheney (Canada), Kerry Dell (Canada), and Mike Miles (Canada). A special guest of the evening was Ajarn Panya Kraitus from Thailand. Ajarn Panya is the instructor of Mike Miles as well as being the author of the 'bible' of Muay Thai - 'Muay Thai Pahuyuth, The Most Distinuished Art of Fighting'. Mr. Kraitus is one of the most respected Muay Thai experts in the world. His lineage includes being taught by one of the greatest Muay Thai Masters in recent history, Supreme Master Kyet Sriyapai. Master Kyet in turn was taught by Kru Kimseng Taveesithi who instructed the King of Thailand (Rama the 6th).

The Main Event of the fight card was an 'International Welterweight Muay Thai Prestige Match' between Holland and Canada. The bout was sanctioned by the World MuayThai Council. It featured Canada's Trevor 'T.N.T.' Smandych (National) stepping into the ring against Holland's Mark 'Golden Warrior' Gefferey (Carbin Gym - Amsterdam / Coach Lucien Carbin). The opening of the bout had both athletes disciplined but delivering fast and powerful attacks at each other. In the first round, the Dutch boy showed his strengths to be the punch and the knee. He threw many strong and crisp punch combinations at Smandych who was content to shell and see what Gefferey had. Smandych started off the round slowly and though a few of Gefferey's punches made it through the guard of the Canadian, none had any effect on Smandych. In the middle of the round the Dutch athlete attacked with a jump knee and connected with the forehead of the Canadian. "The knee stung", admitted Smandych. The Canadian took his time and started landing some strong and sharp cut kicks which made the Dutch athlete wince in pain. In the second round, Smandych turned up the pressure and started landing some very aggressive punches and kicks. The Dutch athlete's legs were starting to show wear and tear on them. Gefferey jumped in to deliver a jump knee and Smandych straight armed the Dutch athlete who fell backwards to the ground and banged his head on the canvas. As the round continued the Canadian applied pressure and landed a punch that had the Dutch athlete's mouthguard fly across the ring. Another exchange had the Dutch athlete covering and trying to protect his injured left leg. In the third round (of the scheduled five) Smandych applied more pressure and really started working the Dutch athlete's legs. A series of punches followed by a low kick finally had the Dutch athlete fall to the canvas. He got up but indicated he was injured and his cornermen threw in the towel. The Dutch athlete admitted that his legs were finished from the low kick attacks of Smandych. The Canadian won the bout by 3rd round TKO.

The semi-main event was an 'International Cruiserweight Muay Thai Prestige Match'. Canada's Nick 'Scorpion' Ring (National) battled with Holland's Eimert-Jan 'Red Terrier' Lubbinghof (Team L.D.W. - Amsterdam / Coach Jan Lomulder) again under WMC rules. For the first time in Ring's career he was battling an athlete who was significantly taller than him. These athletes both came out strong. Both were very composed but each was dealing out powerful blows. Early in the going, Lubbinghof was frustrated by Ring's ability to answer attacks with different weapons and from different angles. Ring proved adept at using elbows, was to have difficulty using this weapon on the taller Dutch athlete. By the end of the first round, the Dutch athletes thighs were showing wear and tear from strong cut kicks and knee attacks. In the clinch, the Dutch athlete would try and drop elbows onto Ring's head from above, but Ring's head positioning nullified the attacks. In the second round, the Canadian exerted more pressure on the Dutch athlete. The relentless attack from the Canadian had the Dutch athlete hoping to finish the fight early in his favor. Lubbinghof landed a strong cross which dazed the Canadian. Attempting to finish the bout, the Dutch athlete ran in and tried to follow up but Ring grabbed the Dutch athlete and started landing hard knees. Ring then freed himself from the clinch and started landing his blows at will. Punches, kick and knees were landing wherever Ring placed them. The Dutch athlete's cornermen threw in the towel and Ring won the bout by 2nd round TKO. A scorcher of a battle.

Canada's Luke Spicer (Cheney) took on the USA's Blayne Brown (American International - USA / Coach Barry Benedict) for the vacant IKKC North American Cruiserweight Kickboxing Title (low kick rules). This was a great and hard fought battle. In the first 2 rounds Spicer seemed to be slightly ahead in the scoring department. In the third round Brown landed a right cross which sat Spicer down onto the seat of his pants. Spicer beat the count and then luckily, was saved by the bell. The remaining rounds had the two athletes exchanging back and forth evenly. Brown forced the pressure and worked very well on the inside with uppercuts. Spicer attempted movement to try and keep the American at range. When the bout was finished the judges scored the bout to be a draw. A follow up bout between these two athletes will make for one great rematch.

Trish Kingsford (National) stepped into the ring against American Jennifer Hans (Montsofaiez - USA). The bout was to be contested for the vacant WKA North American Superfeatherweight Kickboxing Title (low kicks). Kingsford had dropped down a full division and unfortunately for her, this seemed to drain her power. Kingsford pressured the American backwards and kept landing punches while the American would try and use the kick. Many axe kicks were thrown by the American but none landed. Hans threw minimal boxing attacks but instead she decided to rely on the spinning backfist. As this blow is illegal under local commission jurisdiction as well as the WKA rules, the move was not supposed to be used. Hans used it over 1/2 dozen times until the referee was finally forced to take a point away from the American. Kingsford had her shin busted up in the 5th and final round but even with this handicap she still forced the bout. Kingsford won the bout and the title by unanimous decision.

Canada's Jason 'Ironman' Fenton (National) stepped into the ring with Holland's Clyde 'Floyd Peterson' Petres (VOS Gym - Amsterdam / Coach Ivan Hypolyte) sanctioned by the WMC. This 'International Welterweight Muay Thai Prestige Match' was also a full Muay Thai rules bout but it involved some controversy. The Canadian seemed to score more effectively in the 1st round. In the second round Fenton came alive and he dropped the Dutch athlete hard. Petres got back up but was on wobbly ground. The Canadian pounced in and dropped the Dutch athlete for a second knockdown. This is where the controversy began. The Dutch athlete moved back to his corner while the round was still on. His cornerman jumped up on the ring apron and he started to work his athlete over. This was done without the direction of the referee. According to the rules, this foul automatically constitutes disqualification of the offending athlete. However the bout continued (with much protest from the Canadian corner) and Fenton tried to finish his foe but Petres proved to be very resilient. The 3rd round could have went to either athlete. In the 4th and 5th round Petres seemed to carry the momentum on the tiring Canadian athlete. At the end of the bout, a split decision was awarded to the Canadian athlete. "Without considering the foul committed by the Dutch Coach which should have immediately ended the bout, I thought the bout should have been a draw", said Canadian Coach Mike Miles. "The 2 athletes should get back together again, this time in Holland and have a rematch!"

Canada's Raylene Kellock (Pure Self-Defense - Campbell River / Coach Jody Hensel) stepped into the ring with the taller American Amber Danielson (American International - USA / Coach Barry Benedict). At stake was the vacant IKKC Women's North American Welterweight Kickboxing Title (low kicks). Danielson used her reach and would sidekick every time the shorter Canadian would attempt to move in. Kellock at times would deliver punches, but not watch her opponent and this was to be a mistake in the 3rd round. Danielson observed this and sprung in delivering a right cross which dropped the Canadian to the canvas. Kellock recovered and survived the onslaught of the American until the end of the round. The final 2 rounds had Danielson in control and though she never hit the Canadian with any other hard shots, her strategy of hit and move proved to be enough to win the title by unanimous decision.

In another "International Prestige Muay Thai Match' Canada's Jason 'Raptor' Jillain (National) had his chance for revenge with upcoming Dutch Muay Thai sensation Chris 'Turbo Boy' Van Venrooy (Continental Gym - Amsterdam / Coach Edsel van de Leuv). The bout was sanctioned by the WMC. The 2 athletes had tangled in Manila, Philippines in the summer of 2000. The Canadian had won the initial decision but after a protest from the Dutch, this decision was overturned in favor of their athlete. This bout was under full Muay Thai rules. Jillain could not seem to put it together from the opening bell. His blows were not on target and his power seemed to be lacking. Van Venrooy showed good skills but never had the Canadian in any trouble. However, it appeared that Van Venrooy had come to fight. He threw a variety of exciting and excellent attacks including some jumping elbow and knees attacks. Van Venrooy won the bout by unanimous decision as well as won the 'Best Visiting Fighter Award'.

Canada's Scott 'Pitbull' Clark stepped into the ring against American Brian Jones Jr. (Northwest Muay Thai - USA / Coach Alberto Rodriguez) for the WKA North American Superlightheavyweight Muay Thai Title battled under full Muay Thai rules. This was to be one of the top fights, if not 'the' fight of the evening. Jones applied pressure trying to work to the clinch. Clark was very composed in the clinch and delivered a constant barrage of knees early in the going. Undaunted, Jones continued the pressure and Clark changed his strategy to use elbow counters. Clark looked like a tornado delivering elbows from every angle with a very high percentage of them landing on the head of his foe. By the 4th round, and even with wearing elbow pads, Jones face was to clearly show the effectiveness of the elbow attacks of the Canadian. By the fourth round, Jones eyes were swelling shut and he had a nasty cut above his left eye. As the bleeding became more profuse, the doctor checked the eye and allowed the bout to continue. Clark started pouring the pressure on with the elbows and finally the American coach threw in the towel, resulting in Clark winning the bout by 4th round TKO. "Jones is one tough cookie! I predict big things for him on the Muay Thai circuit," admitted Canadian Coach Mike Miles.

Canadian Jason Taylor (National) dropped down a division and stepped into the ring to fight for the WKA North American Welterweight Muay Thai Title. His opponent was American Javier Rodriguez (Rosales - USA / Coach Tony Rosales). The American had come to fight and though he was shorter than Taylor he had the fighting heart of a guard dog. Taylor started the bout slowly and used single shots to try and find the skills that would be needed to defeat his foe. In between rounds, Taylor was told by coach Mike Miles and visiting dignitary Ajarn Panya to use the knee. In the second round Taylor was to chase the American and once he latched onto the American, a relentless attack of knees was to prove to be too much. The pressure of the Canadian was to see Taylor win the title by second round TKO.

Sokhim 'Machine' Or (National) stepped into the ring to fight under full Muay Thai rules against Scotland's Craig Cuthbertson (Glah-Hahn - Scotland / Coach Stephen Mair). This was an 'International Welterweight Muay Thai Prestige Match' also. The shorter Or started the fight very aggressively but Cuthbertson used his reach advantage and delivered excellent counter punches and used angles to frustrate the Canadian's attack. In the second round, Or turned up the pressure. He attacked with a heavy inside leg cut kick but unfortunately the blow strayed high. The result was a resounding smack throughout the arena which had Cuthbertson double over in extreme pain. After a lengthy recovery period, Cuthbertson used movement and angles to stay away from Or who could not seem to corner his foe. During the remainder of the round it was obvious that the after effects of the foul had wreaked havoc on Cuthbertson. In the third round, Or cornered Cuthbertson on the ropes and a series of heavy body shots and low kicks dropped Cuthbertson to the canvas. The Scottish athlete did not make the count and Or won the bout by TKO. Both athletes were very good.

Adam Gorski (National) stepped into the ring to battle American Matt Muxen (Northwest Muay Thai - USA / Coach Alberto Rodriguez) under full Muay Thai rules. The two athletes went after each other with very strong techniques. Both athletes used clean technique to try and put the other into a disadvantage. Gorski was landing some very hard body shots with his hands as well as very strong cut kicks. Muxen attempted some elbow attacks but Gorski covered very well. By the third round the body attack of the Canadian had taken its toll on the American. The referee stopped the fight in the middle of the round with Gorski winning by TKO. An excellent effort from both athletes.

The opening fight of the evening was battled under Kickboxing rules (low kicks allowed). Canada's Jennifer Cutbill (National) squared off with American Monica Michel (Rosales - USA / Coach Tony Rosales). Both athletes delivered some very good punch combinations and kicks. Cutbill established herself early by constantly moving forward and forcing the American to move backwards. The American girl tried to establish a strong counter attack but Cutbill kept moving forward. Cutbill won the bout by unanimous decision.

The event was very successful. "I was very impressed by the ability of all the athletes. The professionalism of the visiting coaches was superb. With people like this, Muay Thai and Kickboxing has an incredible future!," said Mike Miles. "I am now working on a pay per view event to be broadcast by TSN at a later date. It is tentatively scheduled for November 3rd. I want to bring in athletes from Thailand, Australia and the USA." A tentative line up of scheduled bouts will be announced soon. "A sincere thank you to all the visiting coaches and athletes!"