SABAH FIGHT VOL 2 : SUNNY 'THE SILENCER' WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP CUP FOR LABUAN

March this year, I think should be dubbed Sabah Muaythai month. 10-11 March saw Elopura Fights 2nd Edition held in Sandakan. Then a week after in Papar, YB Datuk Rosnah Cup was held at Sabah Muaythai Camp. March ended with the return of SABAH FIGHT. 

It was held on 31 March 2018 at Yayasan Sabah complex ground in Kota Kinabalu. This was the 2nd edition after a year break. Organised as part of a big youth festival named : FIESTA BELIA SEPANGGAR, it was the center of attraction among many other activities specially cater for the youth and the young at heart.

Sabah Fight vol 2 was organised by Persatuan Belia Inspirasi Kinabalu and sanctioned by Sabah Muaythai Association. 12 amatuer rules fight plus another 7 pro rules Muaythai was competed.

The pro Muaythai held at night draws huge crowd as lots of local fan favourite fighters was featured. See below for the full results.

Amateur rules bouts

Female 50kg pro: Tu Sin Yee vs Arteng 

39kg Juvinile category pro: Azman vs Daniel

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Randal won the Kelab Sukan Inspirasi Boreno Cup

Randal 'The Slayer' Kadayum of Kinabalu Fighters, multiple championship holder whom announced his retirement in Sabah Fight 1 (Dec 2016) could not resist temptation to come back and put on the boxing gloves and compete for the huge 60kg Championship Cup.

His return was triumphant as he defeated Muhd Fahmi of PDRM after a 3 rounds decision victory. 

After Sabah Fight 1, Randal has basically stop from competing in combat sports and participate mostly in marathon. But this year he started to train again and March was a hectic month for him. 

17 March he won Gold for his Cage Boxing participation in Borneo King of the Cage. March 25, saw him again participating in boxing. This time again victorious with Gold at the Mayor's Cup Boxing Tournament, beating a SUKMA athlete.

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Rizal unleashing low kick on his opponent

Muhd Rizal of Karabaw return to the Muaythai ring for the 67kg bout.The last we saw Rizal in action was in Dec 2017 at Labuan BMAEX , which he fought pro Kickboxing. He lost the bout via TKO. In the Sabah Fight 67kg, Rizal gain back winning ways when he won by 2nd round TKO against Tengku Faris of PDRM.

The Kings Legacy Cup 60kg sponsored by Kinabalu Kings was up for grab between Opong Maphilindo (Kinabalu Kings) and Fadhil (Selendang Kuning). Fadhil convincingly won the cup winning via 1st round TKO.

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The main fight of the night saw hearing impaired fighter Sunny 'The Silencer' Sabornido of Borneo Combat Gym Labuan fought against Ali Hobbit of Revolution Gym.

Sunny was looking to win a championship title to start his 2018 well after a lost last year fighting pro Kickboxing at Labuan BMAEX. As for Ali, the YB Datuk Rosnah Cup he won in just two weeks ago serves as a motivation for him to add another championship cup to his collection.

The fight went the distance and judges decision went to Sunny Sabornido. 

Sunny is a true inspiration. Works as a machinist by day, he trains at night at Borneo Combat Gym (BCG) Labuan. He has been active in Muaythai comp since 2010. Back in his home town Keningau when he was a kid , his interest in martial art lead him to try Karate. He moved to Labuan and tried Taekwondo.

He stopped his training when he moved to study in Tuaran. After graduating high school, he moved back to Labuan, tried boxing but it all didn't work well as the big obstacle of communication between him and trainer.

It was at BCG Labuan that he finally found his dream of progressing in martial arts. Head coach and BCG founder Alvin Chong took him under his wing and guided Sunny. Alvin invested his time to learn sign language to ensure he can impart his knowledge properly to Sunny.

Sunny with his coach and mentor Alvin Chong

Through lots of hard work and lots of patience, Sunny began to improve and to this day has collected a number of championship title, among them,

• 2011 : MUAY THAI FIT WARRIOR ZON MALAYSIA TIMUR SARAWAK
• 2012 : MUAY THAI FIT WARRIOR ZON SABAH
• 2013 : MUAY THAI CHALLENGE SINGAPORE
• 2014 : D-1 FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP RHINO WARRIOR SABAH
• 2014 : DIHNAR D-1 AKINABALU, SABAH
• 2015 : INTERNATIONAL WUSHU OPEN TOURNAMENT KUALA LUMPUR
• 2017 : INTERNATIONAL MUAY THAI PRE SEA GAMES CHAMPIONSHIP KUALA LUMPUR

Sunny aims to proof that even when has hearing disability, with hard work and determination he is able to go far. He is Labuan Deaf Association President and wants to use his position and his achievement in martial arts to inspire and improve the lives of those with hearing impaired.

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In the amateur category saw the participation of fighters from SMK Pulau Gaya.
This is a high school located at the Gaya Island which is 30 mins boat ride from Kota Kinabalu. SMK Pulau Gaya Muaythai Club is just 3 months old. It's an initiative from Sabah Muaythai Association to introduced Muaythai as a co-curriculum at the school every week.

According to Sabah Fight matchmaker and coach at Revolution Gym, Dhillon Tahing, he was amazed at how fast the students pick up the basic. They work hard and showed tremendous interest. Dhillon selected a few potential talent for the competition team to train at his gym in Alam Mesra.

Their school teacher Miss Nirwana and Cikgu Maznun is very cooperative. After school they fetch the students at the jetty with their car to Revolution Gym and waited for them to finish their training and send them back to the jetty.

The school principle are very supportive of the Muaythai Club program. He said the students who joined has become more discipline and was able to focus better in class. Some of these students used to be trouble maker, but after starting Muaythai, they become more obedient and cooperative.

To ensure these students does not use Muaythai as a way out of studies. Dhillon has set the condition that Muaythai Club members of the school must have good exam results. The teacher chip in by giving these students extra class to improve their studies. Dhillon set his goal to help and mould these students to achieve success through Muaythai.

Two of them, Abdul Tawab 14 and Mudzil Qamir 13 was selected to be part of Sabah Muaythai team competing at the Nationals Inter School & Club Championship in Kuala Lumpur last week ( 4-10 April ).

Dhillon Tahing flank by Adbul Tawab (R) & Mudzil (L) and their teacher Ms Nirwana

Abdul Tawab won bronze in the Nationals Inter-School

Mudzil won the silver

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Special edition Sabah Fight Tshirt sold by Band of Gorilla

Sabah Fight spoke person Lucky Akbar Liun explained that Sabah Fight serve as platform not just for amateur or newcomer to gain fight experience but also for those that wants to turn pro. He said he hope to make Sabah Fight a place where amateur fighters with some fight experience can take up their first pro fight.

Lucky represent Kelab Inspirasi Kinabalu, the main committee that organised the whole festival. Lucky adds that Festival Belia Sepanggar objective was to bring youth of all ages and races together, through activities that specially cater for them and Muaythai was one of that.

Thei objective was certainly achieved. That week, Yayasan Sabah ground was packed with many visitors especially youth to take part in various activities such as Remote Control Car Race, Futsal, Hip-Hop Dance-off, Fishing Contest, Auto-Show, Battle of the Band, Rock Concert etc.

Lucky wants to convey his special thanks to BAND OF GORILLA, the official sponsors that provide the printing material such as buntings, poster and backdrop for the Fiesta

look for Band of Gorilla for your printing needs

The VIP that graced the opening  of event, Tuan Hisyam Abdullah , representative of Tan Sri Pandikar Amin (center) , En Nourman Rayn - President of Sabah Youth Council (in blue long sleeve). Dg. Mas Safiah - Youth & Sports Ministry officer ( in maroon headscarf)

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MUAYTHAI PIALA YB DATUK ROSNAH - WAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS IN PAPAR

Away from the bustling lights of Kota Kinabalu city  lies the grand Sabah Muaythai Camp, in the area of Papar. It's currently the only Muaythai camp in Borneo. This is the effort from Sabah Muaythai Association in the process of making Sabah a Muaythai powerhouse.

The Camp open in November last year with a Youth Muaythai Championship officiated by
Y. B. Datuk Rosnah Bte Abdul Rashid Shirlin, the member of parliament of Papar and Deputy Minister of The Works Ministry Malaysia. During that time YB Datuk Rosnah promise to continue supporting the development of Muaythai in her area specifically and Sabah in general.

That promise materialised in the organising of YB Datuk Rosnah Muaythai Trophy, which was organised on 17 March 2018. In the dark of the nights among the village houses, Sabah Muaythai Camp became alive with music and energetic music that accompany the 9 bouts contested under pro rules.

The boisterous cheering crowd and the thunderous voice of emcee extraordinaire Vallerio Gumbilai, truly makes the event happening!

YB Datuk Rosnah in her officiating speech

The attendance was unexpectedly good, curious spectators from around the villages packed the camp and enjoyed a night of combat sports action that combine new upstart young talent and also senior more experience fighters.

full attendance

It's a good development for the sports, exposing it to more new fans around Papar. Hoping that attendees see the potential of the sports to develop the mind and body of youngsters and support it by encouraging their children to take up Muaythai. Sabah Muaythai Camp is an ideal place for this as it houses good facilities and knowledgable team of trainers.

check out the training schedule for Sabah Muaythai Camp

Dolphina - SS Fighter Sarawak ( right ) getting a close decision win vs Mardeana - Revolution Gym

They may be still young, but their fighting spirit is top level!

Co-main event , Ady of Karabaw (left )  winning via split decision over Hafiz - 66 Unicorn

The hi-lights being the main card fight for YB Datuk Rosnah Cup, between Ali Hobbit ( Revolution Gym ) and Muliadan ( 66 Unicorn ). This is a come back fight for Ali as he has not been competing for close to 2 years.

Ali from Tanjung Aru, whom is 29 this year began his martial arts journey by learning Tae Kwon-Do from Muslee Tuah. 6 years ago. But as Muslee began to introduce Muaythai techniqes, he showed interest and has focus on making the art of the 8 Limbs his main style of martial arts.

He did dabbled into MMA too by competing in Jesselton Fight League and Fight Fest. But mostly seen his success in stand-up fight. Tasting success in Muayfit Warrior, STAND Kickboxing and his 1st pro Muaythai fight in a Boxxtomoi event in Penang.

Ali has a full time job in Nosoob Penampang, installing kitchen & bathroom accessories. But he supplement his income by teaching Muaythai in private training classes in The Peak condominium and also coach in Revolution Gym.

The title fight vs Muliadan on 17 March night currently is his biggest win. It was a sweet start for him after a long lay-off. It took him 4 round to secure the win via TKO. He is eager to continue being active in competition and want to aim to collect a title belt in future competition. Ali will see action again this end March in Sabah Fights Muaythai.

YB Datuk Rosnah present the prizes accompany by Sabah Muaythai president Hj Nazri (2nd from left ) and deputy president Ajman Ajmain

Revolution Gym head coach and founder Dhillon Tahing ( holding trophy ) with his team

The successful outing for SS Fighter from Kuching with 3 gold 

GLORYA NATE - WINNING HEARTS WITH HER FACE, KICKS, PUNCH and CUP CAKES

When you are a women with a beautiful face, usually going into combat sports is the last thing you would do. Imagine getting bruised and cuts that will become scar. But this is the new era. The female gender is no longer the stereotype we used to think. The new era women are strong in all aspects, the mind, the heart and the body.

Warriors of Borneo talk to such a person, young Nak Muay name Glorya Nate from Sabah Khai Muay. Glorya is a familiar face in the local Muaythai & Kickboxing scene, being active in many local fights events. Blessed with a face that belongs to beauty magazine cover, she can seriously kick butt and bake up a storm too! 

Glorya most recently competed in Elopura Fights 2 in Sandakan. Although the results was not in her favour but she is high spirited and take it as a good learning experience. 

Glorya vs Linn in Elopura Fights 2

Let’s get to know her a bit better. 

Her full name is Glorya Nate Freddy born in the town of Kudat, 3 hours drive up north of Kota Kinabalu. But she grew up in Kota Kinabalu. She spend her high school life in two different schools. Form 1-4 in S.M All Saints, Likas but moved back to Kudat for her form 4-5 in S.M.K Matunggong. 

She then moved back down to KK to further her tertiary education when she turned 18 to attend Asian Tourism International College taking Diploma in Pastry Arts.

A great pastry chef in the making

Sharing her passion for pastry with her families

Glorya was exposed to martial arts from a young age as both her parents' father are ‘Guru Silat’ ( Silat master ), but her personal journey only began in 2015, when out of the curiosity of following her brother to Kinabalu Fighters gym in Lintas. She competed in K1 and Muaythai and has garnered 9 fight record. She now is a full time Muaythai athlete in the Sabah SUKMA team. 

Glorya ( blue ) competeing in amateur Muaythai

We ask Glorya what interest her in competing ? Aren’t she worried of getting her pretty face hit?
“I believe that everyone have their own passion in something and my passion is Muaythai. I am not scared to get hit in the face but of course I won’t let my opponent hit my face for free haha. I will never go this far without all the people that has been supporting me and have their trust on me since day one." 

How is like dividing your time between training, studies and family time?
“It is never easy to balance out my studies, training and fighting. Especially when I have a kitchen class and at the same time I need to cut weight. For now I have pass all my subjects and decided to defer my practical to focus in SUKMA in Perak in September later this year." 

"My family especially my dad are very supportive since he was a national athlete for kayak back in 1997 . He is now 51 years old and still competing. We always support each other even though our passion is for different sports."

competing in Kickboxing

Glorya used to train at Borneo Tigers MMA in Inanam. She now trains at Sabah Khai Muay, a new training center set up by Sabah Muaythai Association for state Muaythai athlete. One of the reason for me switching gym is because of the location. 

“ I am staying in Papar area now and Sabah Khai Muay is closer. Also it is normal for a fighter to switch from one gym to another gym/trainer to grow in their skills. 

But even though I’m in a different gym now. I still respect, honour and remember my previous coaches and gym. I felt privileged to be able to learn from them. My coach in BTMMA is a very good coach he will never give up on his fighters.” 

with coach Rayner Kinsiong at Sabah Muay Thai camp Papar

Glorya with her previous BTMMA coach Marc (right) and team mates in Labuan Borneo Amateur Challenge (BAC)

competing in Kickboxing in BAC4

Please take us through your fight in Elopura Fights 2. What happened? 

Pro level is on another platform and I wanted to feel how my training really works in pro rules Muaythai. Elopura Fights 2 was my pro debut and I participated to gain more experience. 

I fought in amateur level a lot. In amateur rule it is more focus on gaining point, while in pro rules aggressiveness is key. I was carried away with amatuer game plan instead of imposing my will and a bit shocked on the impact from the strikes because there’s no protection gear for pro. I accept that I lost the match but I gain good experience, I will definitely learn from this and will comeback stronger.”

I will be back stronger!