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.
Thanks to bkbmtf for the videos. I haven't watched their other fights up to this point, but it seems clear that Santichai is quite gassed in this final bout with Kulebin.
Kukebin completely outdoes Santichai in variety of attack, as well. The knockout punch was made much easier by Santichai limiting himself to throwing middle kicks. He timed it well, but, without other offense to watch out for, Kulebin was able to time him in turn with a counter punch. While fatigue is certainly affecting Santichai, from what I've seen, Kulebin simply has the edge in employing all-around technique. He does a good amount of clinching, elbowing, punching, and kicking with good form, while Santichai's punches look very sloppy and he seems unable to out-power or finesse Kulebin in the clinch, as Thai boxers commonly do against foreigners.
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