Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Andrei Kulebin vs Santichai Swish 2007

I-1 is a Muay Thai promotion based in Hong Kong. It's mostly noted for its 63.5 kg Grand Prix. Andrei Kulebin, whom we've visited before against Mosab Amrani at Champions of Champions II, has won three of the tournaments since the inception of the Grand Prix. [The I-1 site only lists results from 2005, so I used Kulebin's Facebook as a source.] He's faced Rudolf Durica and Santichai Swish Gym in the finals, usually winning. He no longer participates in the tournament, having moved up to 67 kg.

Santichai is a former Lumpini champion who's since opened a gym in Hong Kong. The Muay Thai scene isn't nearly as competitive in Hong Kong as it is in Thailand or even Australia and Japan, so I suspect his level has fallen off somewhat. He still packs enough skill and power to make it through most of the upcoming fighters who're invited to I-1, however. According to bc Magazine, he fought out of Anthony Au's Swish Club in Hong Kong before opening his own Santichai Gym. I guess his fight name now would be Santichai Santichai Gym? Sweet.

Santichai wears red gloves in this bout, Kulebin blue.