The search has begun for the next “Burmese Python” as competitors prepare for Myanmar’s first amateur mixed martial arts tournament on October 19.
Yangon Fight Club in Pazundaung township will host the competition, which is expected to feature 14 Myanmar and six international fighters.
The country has already produced elite MMA talent, such as reigning ONE light heavyweight and middleweight champion Aung La N Sang and ONE featherweight luminary Phoe Thaw.
Co-organiser Nicholas JJ Lee, a Singaporean MMA coach based in Bangkok, said Phoe Thaw’s gym Team PT along with another top Yangon gym, Transcend Fitness, have fighters accepted into the tournament.
“I’ve always been a very vocal supporter of ASEAN nations in the world's fastest growing sport, mixed martial arts,” Lee told Myanmar Mix.
“Nations such as Myanmar have so much potential and talent to offer to build a possibly mega future for younger generations and lead the way, like how Aung La N Sang led the current generation.”
Weight classes being considered are women’s atomweight and strawweight as well as men’s flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and heavyweight. Fights will be two rounds, with three minutes per round, though the finals will have three rounds.
The tournament will be free to enter “as our goal is to promote and grow MMA in Myanmar,” said Lee.
Once the tournament brackets are agreed, competitors will be able to check their opponents.
But the old-school tournament structure—the type the world’s biggest MMA promotion UFC was built on—will allow no time for walk out music.
Featherweight and lightweight winners will take home a championship belt, while other classes will scoop a trophy and runners-up will be awarded silver and bronze medals.
All fight results will be uploaded to MMA fan resource Tapology.
