Neungthep Eminent Air vs Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9 2010

I posted a version of this on Head Kick Legend.

Stadium champions in Muay Thai tend to be very active. Ducking is rare in Thailand and rematches may continue as long as the fight generates interest. Fighters will match up 7 or 8 times if promoters deem it necessary or profitable. Differences in skill or standing are negotiated by having the favorite give up weight, usually 1 to 5 lb, to their opponent at the weigh-ins. This evening of the odds provides for closer fights that gamblers are more likely to bet on. Saenchai Sor Kingstar, for example, gives up weight to his opponents in nearly every fight. Note that Saenchai is also special in that, despite frequent title fights, he is able to hold on to, or consistently win back, stadium belts.

Neungthep Eminent Air is the current Lumpini champ at 115 lb super flyweight. He'd been a top ranked fighter in his division for a couple of years but hadn't quite reached the very top until beating Ponsawan Lukprabat this September. This match is his first defense of the title, coming about a month after he first won it. He fights in red in this bout.

Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9 has been fighting in the top ranks of 115 lb for a while longer than Neungthep. He almost seems to hold a perennial status as close contender for the belt. The the title actually came his way earlier this year in May, also from Ponsawan Lukprabat! The top ranks, as I've said, are very competitive, and belts can change hands very quickly with title bouts every one or two months. Panumgrunlek, being the challenger for the belt, fights in blue.

Expect fast exchanges of technique from fighters at this weight. To get an idea for which way the match is swinging, pay attention to who wins the individual exchanges as well as the overall rhythm of the fight. For a more in depth explanation of scoring, refer to this article.



Thanks to banana821 and SSTV for this video.

Neungthep is in fine form here, countering Panomrunglek's left kicks with sweet knees and kicks of his own. His tight, deliberate style hinges the fight more than typically on isolated, explosive exchanges.

Panomrunglek holds his own technically but seems slower by a crucial margin, allowing him to be countered just a little more often. The parting shots mostly belong to Neungthep, who shows an excellent ability to nullify strikes on the defensive. The final two rounds, when he knows he's ahead on points and backing up slowly, are excellent examples of this. He avoids damage while doing enough to show the judges he's in control by controlling distance and even sweeping his opponent twice.

This type of fight is pretty typical of the lower weights in high level Muay Thai. The intensity can be higher, but expect fighters to engage quickly and show highly developed instincts for counter-fighting.