08/08/2003- The latest Muay Thai VS Sanda Challenge. 5 Thai and 5 Chinese champion fighters (above) fought to prove who had the better striking art in Bangkok once again, since the crushing of the Chinese there 2 years ago (05/12/2001). This time, however, the tables were turned on the Thais. China's 2002 King of Sanda Baoligao (back row 2nd from left) bout with middle weight Muay Thai fighter Sitichok (back row 1st from left) was the highlight of this challenge; Baoligao knocked out the Thai within 2 rounds, to the amazement of evryone present.

Bangkok- August 8th 2003 report. Once again we returned to the Thai capital after 2 years to find out how much the Chinese have improved in Sanda. I was there in Thailand to watch the show. They have improved quite a lot, obviously, for this time the Chinese have managed to beat the Thais with a close 3 : 2 on their own turf! The more noteworthy part was that Baoligao, the "Son of the Grassland", last year's King of Sanda, knocked out his Thai opponent in a mere 2 rounds, the first time a Chinese (Ok, Mongol) fighter have ever done so in the history of Chinese Sanda, or even Kungfu for that matter!!

The first bout was the 56kg category between Baowee and Kang Yonggang, both veterans of Chinese Thai Challenges. The first 2 rounds were all the way Kang, impressing with throws, high side kicks and even elbow strikes, which opened a large gash in Baowee's forehead, causing him to lose much blood.

However the 3rd and 4th rounds saw Baowee pummeling Kang with many knees, hooks and uppecuts. It was only in the final round that Kang manage to recover from Baowee's backlash and forced the bout to, in my opinion, an obvious draw. So I was very much surprised when the bout was declared in favor of Kang!

The second bout was the 60kg category between Samgor and Han Lei. Samgor was a painfully predictable fighter. Throughout the bout he only used his left round kick, which although rapid and powerful, causing Han much trouble in the first 2 rounds; it inevitably became weak in the later rounds. In the final 2 rounds, Samgor virtually became a dummy for Han's leg grabbing throw (counter technique to round kicks) practice. Especially in the final round, Samgor was threw to the canvas as many as 6 times. Han won the bout without any dispute.

The third bout was the 65kg category between Petnamyik and Yu Dawei. Yu was helpless before the Thai. Although he managed to slam Petnamyik to the canvas with a lifting throw in the 1st round, in the rest of the bout he was pounded by standard Muaythai combos of punchs, kicks, elbows & knees. Yu's side kicks did not hurt the Thai, but Petnamyik's inside round kick hurt him repeatedly instead. Yu clutched his groin in pain many times. From what I see they were not intentional fouls, but rather China-made groin cups offered lousy protection indeed (Sanda fights in China were constantly interrupted in the same way), compared to the iron cups the Thais used. As a result Yu's side threw in the towel before the start of the 4th round.

The fourth bout was the 70kg category between Pajansak and Lin Jianshen. Pajansak was the Asian Games gold medalist in Sanda, and he was formidable. His "Thai Sanda" was really Muaythai used specially to counter Sanda's techniques. The Thai was quite resistant to throws and had a very light fighting stance. He often used his front leg round kicks, as well as elbow and knee strikes to punish Lin, who had much problems fighting back. His front leg low kick also caused Lin to clutch his groin many times like Yu. Although he lasted the five rounds, there was no doubt Lin was no match for the Asian Games champion.

The fifth and final bout was the 75kg category between Sitichok and the Mongolian Baoligao, last year's King of Sanda. The 1st round was quite uneventful, with both fighters testing each other out. But to the shock of everyone watching, in the next round Baoligao knocked out the Thai with a left high round kick!!

That was right after he knocked down the Thai with the same kick and he was already given an 8 count. Baoligao's combos of hooks, side kicks and clinching knees were fast and impressive, true, but that's because Sitichok had nothing to show at all. His defences were loose, passive, and thus gave Baoligao many good chances which he took full advantage of. Sitichok was out cold and had to be carried out of the Ring on a strecher and sent to hospital where he remained in a coma until today! I mean, this is the first time this type of thing happened, which was totally disgraceful for Muaythai to say the least.. The Chinese (Mongolian) King of Sanda achieved a complete victory, no doubt about it. So the final result is 3 : 2 China win.

*The 2 VCDs of this challenge, titled Muaythai VS Sanda: Humiliation is now available at $10. They are in MPG format. Readers interested in getting them pls email me here.  

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