FMD 15 - WATCH FIGHTS AND CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN WITH YOUR GANGS

In Bangkok, Halloween will not come until it's 4 November 2017, because that's when all the gangs come out to play. They will be playing in a den, made of metal...full metal. Warriors will be 'playing' in the cage and they will be playing for keeps. They got one way,...they got one chance,...they got one night to make it count, for all their fate will be decided in the FULL METAL DOJO (FMD)

If some of the above lines sound familiar, then you are definitely blessed with memories of growing up in the awesome 70s/80s. To celebrate Halloween, FMD's mastermind, Jon Nutt has choosen THE WARRIORS as the theme for the night. The Warriors is a cult movie by Walter Hill released in 1979 about a group of gang - The Warriors; that had to battle numerous other gangs in their journey back to their home turf in Brooklyn.

Check out FMD 15 intro video with The Warriors movie as background

Certainly fitting the theme, FMD itself has achieved cult status among fight fans all over the world. Held in night clubs, MMA fight goes down with laser light and dizzying music as background. Don't forget the unforgettable ring girls!

For the 15th edition titled 'Come out to Play', there will be 9 Cageside Gang Tables for 4-6 people for the top gangs in the city. Every Cageside Table will receive 4 complimentary gang-affiliated vests. These are tailor-made original Bangkok motorcycle taxi vests in 9 different colors with actual gang logos from 'The Warriors' movie. 

Every competing gym's fighters will also be wearing different gang vests, affiliating your gang to the competing gyms, and giving you front row, on-camera access to the Greatest MMA Party Of All Time, streamed live to the world on the FULL METAL DOJO page. 

After you purchased your Cageside Gang Table, you will be contacted to choose your gang affiliation on a first-come-first-served basis. Full details and bookings at Ticketmelon

Full list of 'The Warriors' Gangs - Vest Colors - Gyms:

check the colours of your gangs

FMD is pulling no stop to make this edition the best edition yet with plenty of teaser video to whip up fight fans appetite for action.

In the main card is American Tommy Hayden (11-3-0) , whom is back to defend his Light Weight title. The title he won defeating UFC veteran Will Chope in Feb's FMD 13. Tommy will not let go of his FMD Championship \Katana easily, he will rely on his wrestling and ground game to put down his challenger from France Jason Ponet, whom has a formidable 28 fight experience (16-11-1)

Tommy fought twice in UFC in 2012 but after the two lost, injuries and a day job kept him away from training. He came to Thailand to have a change of lifestyle and took on a job as a school teacher. But being in the fight center of Asia, he couldn't resist getting back in the cage for a scrap. Meeting Jon Nut and FMD gave him another kick at reviving his MMA career. He is now on a 3 fight win streak after leaving USA.

Tommy's opponent Jason Ponet came from Savate background, he spent most of his fight career in France and the Europe fight scene. But he did record a victory in FMD 2 back in 2014. This young challenger is quick on his feet and possessed a vicious elbow and will be stylistically be a great challenge for Tommy.

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Borneon MMA powerhouse, Borneo Tribal Squad has regularly sent their pro fighters to participate in FMD. This time around, for Malaysian and Borneon fans to cheer on, will be Allen Solomon Chong.

Allen is a well known name in Malaysian MMA. He was the one who introduced BJJ to his home state Sabah. In 2013 MIMMA first season, Allen won the amateur tournament's Lightweight Belt. He has since turned pro and holds a record of 3-3-0. 

Training at Borneo Tribal Squad

Allen last fought in Australia's Hex Fight Series 10 in July this year. Eager to add more fights to his resume and looking to continue his two win streak he took the fight even when he had to endure a bad weight cut as organizer ask him to fight at catch-weight of 59kg. It took a heavy toll on his fitness condition.

But never to be a person that back down from a fight, he stepped in the hexagon cage anyway, but gassed out in 2nd round. Still he managed to last till 3rd round where he got knocked out by Ryan Robertson.

It was a hard lesson learnt. Usually fighting at feather-weight, this time Allen has moved to his comfortable Light-weight. He will be an underdog, facing Maes Meu, a Cambodian Kun Khmer practitioner. Maes holds an undefeated 5-0 record, with last four win by finishes.

A very scrappy fighter that display tons of fighting spirit and good conditioning. This was evident when you watch him in Feb 2017 FMD 13, vs Thai Jiriwat; despite being out-grapple and out-wrestle and being on his back majority of the time, he was able to stay very active, defended well and controlled Jiriwat's posture and eventually secure the win via a guillotine from his back.

Allen is a colourful character and is certainly a great addition to FMD because he always perform to entertain the crowd. But against Maes, Allen need to be on full alert and pick his shot.

Warriors of Borneo supports Allen to execute Full Metal action on Maes




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FMD 15 is 2 days away, I can almost hear the clanging of the beer bottles, inviting fight fans to come and watch the best show in town and the most radical MMA party in the planet!

Listen to what Jon have to say...

" Can youuuu digggg itttt..."

Who else can rock a shirt with his own face on it and look ultra cool but Jon Nutt

Full Metal Dojo 13 - A wild night where Wild Card dominates

The 13th series of Full Metal Dojo 13 went down at Insanity Nightclub, Bangkok on 25 FEB. 9 fights were featured, in a night of wild fights, wild results, wild party and Wild Cards! ( read the pre-event write up in this link ).

On cage side was ex UFC and Strikeforce fighter Jason 'Mayhem' Miller and One Championship fighter Brad Robinson giving live commentary for the benefit of those who watch it on the live FB streaming.

main event

Co-main event

Brad Robinson and Jason Miller on cage side

Check out the full results from Tapology :

In a highlight reel finish and one of the most shocking results was the Lightweight fight between Javier Trujilo of Bangkok Fight Lab vs Ryan Feltner “Crazy Gweilo”.

Ryan live up to his nick name Crazy Gweilo ( which means crazy white guy in Cantonese ) as he rushes in carelessly and his chin went straight into Rustam's right hand. The timer in the live stream was not even started yet when he fell down from that right.

Boom!...Fist to chin = KO ( pix by Brady Weeks )

Possibly the fastest KO in Asian MMA ( pix by David Ash )

Javier deliver a few hammer fist to seal the deal, but Ryan was already out even before the additional punches as referee Dana Blouin came in to stop it. This could be the fastest KO in Asia MMA.

" He doesn't even know which country he's in! " said Jason Miller as Ryan still look dazed when he stood up.

It was cross border rivalry at its best at the Featherweight fight, Maes Meu of Cambodia vs Jirawat of Thailand.

The Thai rushes in with a push kick. Maes instintly side stepped and Jirawat missed, slipped and fell. As he got up, Maes taunt him. Jirawat attacked and got a body lock and brought the fight to the ground. Maes able to switch, they scrambled and both got to their feet. But Jirawat looks better at grappling as he body locked Maes, picked him up and slammed him on the canvas.

Maes spend the rest of the 4 minute on his back as Jiriwat's superior wrestling control the game.

At the start of 2nd round, Maes return a favour with a front kick of his own which Jiriwat barely blocked. They grappled and Jiriwat executed a perfect Judo throw on Maes and he rushes in with a soccer kick that almost connect.

Referee rushes in to break the fight and gave a verbal warning to the Thai as FMD rules does not allow soccer kick to the head of a down opponent.

Pix by Brady Weeks

The fight restart and Meas connected with a front kick, punch exchange and Jiriwat with the take down. As Jiriwat was in Maes guard, he gestured with his left hand and the referee cut in and Jiriwat complaint of a eye poke.

Fight resume and this time Jiriwat with a hard right low kick and went in to grapple, again he executed a throw and the fight remain on the ground for close to 2 minute, as Jiriwat disengaged, they stood up. 

Restart and Jiriwat ducked Maes' punches and went for the body take down, but this time Maes got hold of a guillotine and shortly after Jiriwat tapped out.

It does not look like a deep guillotine, perhaps Jiriwat was already out of gas. Victory to the Cambodian.

Brad mentioned that he's been in the Asian MMA scene for around 10 years and they used to be no grappling or wrestling in South East Asian fighters, but now it's amazing to see Thais and Cambodians going at it with body slam, double leg take down and plenty of grappling.

The co-main event which almost didn't happened when Tiger Muay Thai's Ali Motamed's opponent pulled out in the last minute. In came the ever ready Luke Adams of Juggernaut Fight Club Singapore and FMD have a great match up at the co-main event.

pix by David Ash

Ali look lighter as he move laterally side to side stalked by Luke. A couple of kicks exchange at the beginning , Luke grabbed Ali's left kick got a single leg , good cage control and wrapped up both Ali's leg for a take down. Luke control well from top. When they stood back up, Luke easily took Ali down. At a north south position at one time landing knees. Even tried a toe hold but Ali survived.

pix by Brady Weeks

Ali tried to escape but gave his back and Luke capitalised and control the whole remaining round from top.

Round 2 was similar story, Luke exerting dominance from top , for almost 3 minutes constantly looking for a submission finish. In the slippery moment, Ali manage to switch, got top position, stacked Luke. Luke rolled and Ali connected with a knee to Luke's head. Luke scramble forward for Ali's leg, Ali escaped.

pix by Brady Weeks

The stalked each other. Luke's right brow bleeding. Luke again going for a take down, Ali avoided. At 1 minute left, referee Olivier Coste call for a time out to check the gash on Luke's right brow.
Medical team deliberated and decided to call off the fight as the cut's opening was too big.

Ali won by TKO and improved to 4-0. Luke was still fresh and could go on to dominate but it was not his night. This warrant for a rematch.

pix by Brady Weeks

Pitting two ex FFC warrior creates a highly anticipated main card in Tommy 'Wild Card' Hayden vs Will 'The Kill' Chope. In a combined record of 61 fight for both fighters, this is considered the card with the most experience fighter ever put up in FMD.

In FMD style, Tommy Hayden's walk in song was Trey Parker's 'Now you are a man', ...sang live by FMD's founder Jon Nutt himself.

Tommy Hayden walking out to Jon Nutt's singing

Will was expected to control the distance using his longer reach. But Tommy was very effective in initiating a few feints and immediately to the take down in the beginning of all 3 rounds.

pix by Brady Weeks

pix by David Ash

pix by David Ash

The clash of styles was very obvious, Tommy totally control the fight. He may be shorter but he does came well prepared looking rather buffed. He took the fight where he wanted...onn the ground and put a whole lots of pressure on Will and totally shuts down Will's game

Tommy earned himself a Full Metal Dojo's Samurai Sword as the winner of the Lightweight title. Tommy's victory capped off a very glorious night for Bangkok Fight Lab, making them 4-0 in FMD 13.

Where else can you win a Samurai Sword but in FMD

Time to partyyyy!

As for Will, it's just another day, another fight. He's in good spirit and will take this loss as a learning to do better against wrestler. No rest for him as on 5 March he will be in China to fight again

After fight, the party continues at Insanity, then to Movenpick, to Hooters and finally the FMD crew went to Guns n Roses concert in Bangkok!

Caught up with Jon after fight...

WRB: Did the show went as you expected?
JON: "I knew FMD 13 was gonna do well, but I didn't think it was gonna do that well in terms of the view in FB. We had like 100,000 view on FB. It was absolutely nuts! It far exceeded expectations!"

WRB: The Cambodian vs Thai match was a killa!
JON: "Definately gonna have more Cambodians on the next show. And Koreans, yea more Koreans on the next show. I had no ideas how large our market in Korea was. A lot of love from the Koreans."

WRB: Any rematch you wanna set up?
JON: "The only rematch I want to make is Luke Adams vs Ali Motamed. Luke Adams took the fight last minute and didn't have much prep. I think he definately overlooked Ali Motammed, ...Ali Motammed is a stud!"

The Rockstar of Asian MMA - Jon Nutt

FMD will be back!

MMA Showdown of the biggest fight card yet for FMD

When FMD released it's 13th edition poster....using a clever play of the 1987 Predator movie starred by Arnold Schwarzenegger. It got my attention, because that movie till today is my all time favorite movie. and with this, ...I know FMD 13 is gonna be awesome!

How awesome is that?...How about matching two ex UFC fighters together in the main card and a mouth watering featherweight fight. In the main event is Lightweight title fight between Will 'The Kill' Chope vs Tommy 'Wildcard' Hayden. As for featherweight, MMA standout Ali Motamed from Phuket's Tiger Muay Thai will fight American Luke Adams of Singapore's Juggernaught Fight Club. 

Calm before the storm...Will and Tommy having a drink at FMD's press con

Okay before we get all excited about the fights, let's just go back a bit in time to see how FMD has developed over the years. The party theme fights started with DARE. It was the earliest MMA promotions in Thailand, started in 2011. They held a few shows till 2013. American Jon Nutt was their face, emcee and practically coordinate almost everything for DARE. Eventually he left and formed Full Metal Dojo (FMD) on his own in 2014.

Many would think MMA would not flourish in Thailand given that the Thais are very protective of their Muaythai heritage. But with clever marketing, and a passion to bring people together for a wild good time, Jon was able to combine party theme, music, tourism and fight sports into one entertaining show. That is FMD, with an attitude. 



FMD also has play a huge role in showcasing the best new talents from Thailand and from around the region. Bringing more attention to the fight gyms in Thailand and growing the sports of MMA in this Land of Smiles

To date, FMD has consistently held shows since June 2014 and it has build itself to a legendary status in Asia as a unique MMA event. The fights are explosives and intense, the music is mesmerizing and hip moving, the people are cool and fun loving. If the bigger MMA organisation shows are mostly like attending a rock concert, attending FMD is like going to a underground metal or punk gig. It's trully an unforgettably enjoyable experience.

Jon is a very familiar face in Asia's MMA. Aside from his own FMD, he has hosted and involved in the very successful amateur MMA tournament in Malaysia - MIMMA, regional boxing event, Songkran MMA, Singapore Fighting Championship and emcee for Patong Boxing Stadium from for 2 years.

I'm with Jon at MIMMA 2016 Grand Final

His voice is distinctively macho and he emcee very well in providing the audience with bits of infor without talking too much to educate them on MMA. He always has the right things to say to draw them deeper into the fights. Sponsors also like him as he knows how to effectively promote and highlight them without being too hard sell.



Jon was having a hectic week as FMD 13 draws closer, at the same time his wife was heavily pregnant and when Warriors of Borneo talked to him, Jon was in the hospital waiting for his baby. ( He is now a proud father of a baby boy...Congratulations! )

Tell us about the concept of FMD 13: Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of.
It's a play on the songs by Alicia Keys, New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of. The idea from the songs was joke amongst friends actually.  If you don't know, well...my organisation are only made of 3 people, whereas other organisation ARE organisation. We're just a couple of guys that do this...me, Ree Webster and Richard Arthur.

Bangkok is where we represent. We've always consider it concrete jungle where dreams are made of, because, well New York was where immigrant used to go, all three of us are immigrants in Thailand and Bangkok is the spot where we feel most comfortable in life and hence it is the place where dreams are made of.




It's been a journey of more than 2 years for FMD since 2014, through the journey what has been the significant breakthrough?
Yea we've done 12 shows since June 2014. For any organisation, doing a steady amount of shows yearly, it Is what puts you in the next level of being a larger and more respected shows that has more integrity. Our shows are a parties. Our shows are literally party, not just MMA. You're not in a gym, not in a stadium, you're in a club! 

And the significant breakthrough was between me leaving DARE and starting FMD, realising that in all honesty, my shows and my events is different and sets apart from all other shows that just do MMA. Also the breakthrough is realising the difference between UFC fans and MMA fans. 

There are really not many MMA fans. Pretty much anybody that says they are MMA fans are actually just UFC fans and they won't go support local shows and watch other shows such as Bellator, WSOF, ONE or FMD. They just care about the UFC.

So the breakthrough that makes FMD successful is realizing that people that actually pay for shows, we realized are not MMA or UFC fans....we made our own fans, we made FMD fans. 

People that are comin' to Bangkok and they wanna party, they want to hear great music and they want to see great fights. So what sets us apart is that we have actually made our own fan base. A lot of them are actually fans and just friends of mine that just wanna come watch a great live action show, a real live 80s or 90s action movie if you will.





Jon has been trying a few times to make Will vs Tommy happened. It was planned twice but was scrapped as both fighters got injured in their muaythai fight. But this time it is finally materializing and Jon has put this main card as a Lightweight title fight, and with Full Metal Dojo style, the champion will not be awarded a big huge belt but instead a slick life size Samurai sword!

OK now back to the fights that will go down this Saturday. 

At his current record stands at 33-12-0, Will 'The Kill' Chope is considered the busiest fighters in MMA. He fights almost every month. Not just in MMA, but he also takes up Muaythai, boxing and kickboxing match. Last year alone he fought 15 times, 10 MMA, 2 K1, 2 Muay Thai,1 Pro Boxing. 

Will has the ambition of going down in history as the fighter with most fight...he is eyeing to beat Dan Severn's record of 101-19-7 and the still active Jeremy Horns' record of 91-23. At only 26, Will looks like a potential heir to that title.Will is based in Thailand and fighting is his full time job that puts food on his table and provides for his family. 

Asked on how his is able to keep injury free to fight regularly...
"Part luck, Part just training and fighting smart. I got a lot of experience and ring time. I know my limits. But accidents do happen...but I just have to recover and don't use them as excuses"

In an interview with John Hyon Ko of The Fight Nation. Will explained that there are ways to fight regularly, one just have to keep busy and take up any fights that come along. He said that a lot of fighters are like divas, they want to choose their opponent, their own timing and their choice of place...they want everything in their favor. 

So if fighters want to make a living out of fighting they can't behave that way. Will said lots of fighters he met admire how he can fight every month, but most of them don't really willing to do it. ( catch the interview in this link )

Will fought in UFC in 2014, losing to Max Halloway, the current UFC Interim Featherweight Champion. Most of his fights are main event feature. In April 2016, Will became URCC's Lightweight Champion, but he lost the title to Brazilian Fabrício Guerreiro last month at URCC 29

Considered the tallest Lightweight in MMA at 6ft 4, he uses his reach advantage fully to keep opponents at bay as he peppered them with strikes using his long limbs. And when he gets in the pocket, he lets loose his knees and those long limb will also swiftly sneak in for a choke.


On the opposite side of the cage is Tommy Hayden. He has a record of 10-3-0. He is a person that likes to scrap. 

As Jon Nutt puts it, ...
" I personally likes a fighter that really likes fighting, not just showing they like fighting. Tommy is a type of guy that if someone punch him in the face, he just smiles, that's the type of fighters I like and I want on my card."

Tommy was active in the American regional MMA scene till he was offered to fight at The Ultimate Fighter Season 9 in 2009. He lost that fight. He was back in UFC in 2012, fought twice but lost to Fabrício Camões and Dennis Bermudez.

He came to Thailand to refocus and coach at Bangkok Fight Lab. Tommy last fought in a China MMA promotion - WKG in Jan this year wining by submission in round 2. 

Ask about his take on fighting...
"Fighting to me is LOVE. It sorta reminds of of obsession. Honestly fighting is fear, its emotion, its anxiety, its happiness, its sadness, its everything roll into one, its life.

When I jump out of a plane with a parachute, that's fun. When I'm 100ft under water watching sharks swimming around, that's fun. When I'm doing something that could get me kill, that's fun for me. That's life for me. 

So every time I get to step in the cage, that is real life. That's when I experience my true self. That's when I get to express myself"

It's a great match and this is the card with the most experience fighters ever put up in FMD. Will is a striker and Tommy is a wrestler! Opposites attract and sure fire mayhem in FMD cage when the bell rings!

The Featherweight fight between Ali Motamed and Luke Adams is also a promising fight that will possibly be the fight of the night. Initially Iranian Ali was schedule to met ex UFC fighter Rocky Lee, but Rocky could not make it and it looks like Ali will see no action in the cage.

But a last minute arrangement materialize and the accomplished American Luke Adams stepped up to offer himself. Luke started his pro MMA career fighting in the regional MMA scene around California for 6 years.

He is now a coach in Singapore's acclaim fight gym Juggernaut Fight Club. Luke is riding on a 6 fight winning streak and all these 6 victory is finishes with either strikes or submission, that never goes the distance.

Iranian born Ali is a young fighter that started his amateur MMA fights in Malaysia and Thailand. He fights out of Tiger Muay Thai. In all his 9 amateur fights, 8 were victorious. Ali turned pro in 2016, fighting in China's Bullet Fly FC. He is now on a 3 fights winning streak. Luke is the most experience fighter Ali has met so far and a victory over him will certainly established Ali as a hot talent for the bigger organisations.

pix credit: David Ash of Singapore Maven

3 pro and 8 ammy cards are schedule this Friday. And all this will go down at Bangkok's happening night club, INSANITY NIGHT CLUB. Tickets is available at ticketmelon.com and at the door. 

And if you are not in Bangkok, do your self a favor, grab yourself a cold beer or any other beverage of your choice, some chips or buffolo wings ( if you are there, you can order it from the HOOTERS girls ), glue yourself in front of your computer or smartphone and click on to Full Metal Dojo FB and watch it on live stream!

Hooters...babyyyy. Pix credits :Pugilpix.com

Thanks to all the sponsors that is making FMD 13 happen

Get ready for an unforgettable night!