The Muay Thai Podcast

What does it take to coach Team USA athletes on the world stage? In this interview, Matt Lucas sits down with DMV Muay Thai Matthew Van Valkenburgh founder and Team USA coach to discuss the lessons learned from years of international Muay Thai tournaments, including the Amazing Muay Thai Festival, Pan Ams, and world-level competition. Sign Up Today For The MTAAC East Coast Regional Tournament http...

For more than three decades, Nick "One Kick" Blomgren has been one of the key figures behind the growth of Muay Thai in the United States.  In this episode, we discuss his first trips to Thailand in the late 1980s, training at Sasiprapa Gym during the Golden Era, opening One Kick's Gym in Las Vegas, promoting hundreds of events, working with fighters like Anthony and Chidi Njokuani, and building t...

Before fighting for ONE Championship gold, Aslomjon Ortikov had already fought nearly 300 times. Born and raised in Uzbekistan, Ortikov began training at just eight years old after his brother brought him to the gym. Through years of amateur tournaments, professional fights, and international competition, he built one of the deepest resumes in Muay Thai before eventually moving to Thailand to test...

Bank Thainchai Pisitwuttinan CEO of GSV (Global Sports Venture) and RWS sits down for an in-depth conversation about the evolution of modern Muay Thai, the transformation of Rajadamnern Stadium, and the future of the sport in Thailand and internationally.

Doug Malagon, a certified strength and conditioning coach, commentator and former pro muay thai fighter, shares the biggest mistakes he made after years in Thailand from fighting and visas to gym culture, overtraining, and building a business in Muay Thai. We also discuss: ONE Championship Strength & conditioning Modern Muay Thai Dagestani Ninja Tawanchai Social media & coaching The future of figh...

Mark Pease has been building world champions in Australian Muay Thai since 1988. As head coach and promoter at Strikeforce Muay Thai on the Gold Coast, he's produced over a dozen world title holders including Chad Collins, who recently fought for the Rajadamnern Title. Pease and I sit down before the fight to talk about it all.

  Oli Jenkins is a British trainer based in Bangkok, working out of Silk Muay Thai. It is one of the most competitive Muay Thai gyms in the country. I n this conversation, we get into the reality of what it means to corner fighters at the highest level, including two recent losses (Saenpon at RWS and Gregor Thorm at ONE Championship), and why Oli still walks away believing in both performances. Al...

Why does a champion still need strength and conditioning? In this episode, Leroy breaks down the real purpose of S&C in Muay Thai and why it's not about replacing skill work, but supporting it. 0:00 Why Does Tawanchai Need Strength And Conditioning 2:11 How do you measure an athlete's progress 5:05 Running Is Your Engine 8:22 Soviet System vs Contrast Training 11:17 Strength basics 14:28 Skill Dev...

Muay Thai is more than fighting. It's history. Culture. Business. Politics. Opportunity.   In this 3-hour deep dive, I break down everything you need to understand about Muay Thai whether you're a fighter, coach, gym owner, or someone who simply wants to understand how the sport really works. From the origins of Muay Thai in Thailand… To how scoring actually works in stadium fights… To contracts,...

What does it really take to succeed as a combat sports photographer? In this episode, William Luu and I break down a practical, experience-based guide to working in combat sports photography, from local gyms and grassroots shows to UFC, ONE Championship, and international events. Between us, we have 25+ years of experience working across Muay Thai, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, and BJJ. We've shot ring...

This episode is my annual Muay Thai business review — looking back at 2025 and outlining where I'm heading in 2026.  I've been doing this as a written blog for years, but this is the first time I'm breaking it down fully on the podcast. This show sits at the intersection of: Muay Thai, Business, Media And building real careers in combat sports In this episode, I cover: Why I left Fairtex after 7 y...

Building a successful Muay Thai fight team looks very different in Thailand than it does in the United States. In this episode I sit down with Sean Madden, long-time Easton coach, Team USA IFMA coach, and veteran of both the American and Thai Muay Thai systems. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a.co/d/i...

Becoming a professional Muay Thai fighter isn't about talent alone. It's about planning, money, health, opponents, visas, and survival. In this episode, Matt Lucas and Jonathan Pu'u break down what it actually takes to turn pro and how most fighters mess it up.  We cover: How many fights you really need Why money matters more than skill early on USA vs Thailand costs Selling tickets & building a f...

In this episode I talk about why consistency matters more than virality. Living in Thailand for over 10 years. What fighters, creators and trainers get wrong. I've commentated 10,000 or more fights. I worked with Fairtex, WBC, MAX Muay Thai, Lumpinee, and documented thousands of fighters. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And...

With 30 years in Muay Thai, David McVicker shares his journey from fighter to coach, the challenges of training his own son, and his mission to build the next generation of Australian Muay Thai talent. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Max Cruz has fought everywhere — Phuket stadiums, Bangkok gyms, Rebellion in Australia, Muay Thai League, and Cambodia, where he made over 130,000 baht for one fight. In this interview, we break down what real life as a foreign fighter in Thailand actually looks like. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a...

American Muay Thai legend Brett Hlavacek sits down with me in Thailand to talk about 20+ years in the sport — from fighting 40+ pro fights, to coaching at Rose Muay Thai, to becoming the WBC Northeast Director. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Julio Lobo has spent nearly a decade living and fighting in Thailand — battling legends, training under Leo Elias, and now passing his knowledge on to the next generation at Phuket Fight Club. Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

From a small town in New Mexico to shaping the future of Muay Thai in Malaysia, Jena Johnson's journey is nothing short of inspiring.  In this interview, she shares how it all started, pro fighting in Malaysia, bringing up Johann Ghazali, her promotion Muay Girl and Rentap Fighting Championship plus more Want to learn more about the sport? Check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Train...

Kru Petchto Sitjaopho — known as Kru F — shares his journey from the Golden Era of Muay Thai to coaching in today's globalized fight world. He talks about his favorite fighters, training philosophy, OneSongchai days, the evolution of promotions, and the timeless importance of consistency. Learn how Muay Thai has changed, how Sitjaopho Gym helped open Thailand to the world, and why Kru F's advice i...

Step inside the golden era of Muay Thai through the eyes of Leanardo Dado one of the first Westerners to live, train, and fight in Thailand.  In this episode, Dado recounts his journey from Switzerland to Bangkok in the late 1980s, his years at Sor. Thanikul and Eminent Air Gym, and the lessons he learned under Thailand's toughest fighters.   From sleeping in the gym and training alongside champio...

Legendary fighter Lamnamoon Sor. Sumalee sits down to share his story — from fighting in the late 1980s Golden Era to teaching the next generation of Muay Thai fighters in Isaan. Known as one of the greatest Muay Khao (knee) fighters of his time, Lamnamoon reflects on his early days at Sor. Sumalee Gym, his path to Lumpinee and Rajadamnern glory, and how training has evolved from the no-phone, no-...

From the early days of Fairtex San Francisco to training with legends like Alex Gong and Jongsanan Fairtex, Armando Ramirez has seen Muay Thai in America evolve firsthand. In this episode we talk about it all Want to learn more about the sport check out: Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business:  https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Am's story is one of resilience, heart, and transformation. From her first fights as a child in a temple school to competing under the bright lights of ONE Championship, Am has faced every obstacle—being told she was too small, fighting for little money, breaking bones, and even breaking her orbital. Now she's one of the most exciting female fighters on the global stage, bringing her intelligence,...

Ambush Muay Thai's head coach and matchmaker breaks down the art of matchmaking, the realities of ticket sales, and the growth of Texas Muay Thai. From wild double knockdowns in Florida to building a fight scene in San Antonio, this conversation covers the highs, lows, and lessons of coaching, cornering, and creating opportunities for fighters.   Want to dive deeper into the world of Muay Thai rea...