THEEBAN : FLYING THE MALAYSIAN FLAG IN IMMAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

pix on right by Ong Chen Fai

Many martial artist would be familiar with ADCC ( Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship ), the prestigious grappling championship started by Sheikh Tahnoon son of United Arab Emirates leader.

Come 12 to 19 November, the world's attention will again be at Middle East, this time for Mixed Martial Arts as The Kingdom of Bahrain, a tiny but progressive middle east country that lies in the middle of the Persian Gulf will be hosting the largest event in the history of amateur MMA at the Khalifa Sports City Arena; The 2017 IMMAF World Championships.

This 4th edition of World Championship is set to be the biggest event in the history of amateur Mixed Martial Arts with more participants than all the previous years and representing nations from all continents, and it is also the first time IMMAF is organising this event outside of Las Vegas. The pass four events in Las Vegas is usually organised as part of the annual UFC International Fight Week.

This World Championship is hosted by Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation (BMMA) and endorsed by the Bahrain Olympic Committee. More than 250 athletes from 40 countries from around the world are expected to compete in the World Championship.

The success of Bahrain being granted as the host for this year owes to the pivotal role and efforts of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa to strengthen the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position in the sport of MMA globally.

His Highness Sheikh Khalid efforts also helps the formation of BRAVE Combat Federation, the premier MMA promotions in Middle East formed in 2016. On 17 November IMMAF World Championship will break for a day for pro MMA action under the BRAVE banner. Hence the week of amateur MMA and pro MMA is called the International Combat Week Bahrain 2017, which will have other activities such as sports expo and food carnival.

The IMMAF World Championships commences with an Opening Ceremony and Tournament Draw on the evening of 12 November at 7pm. It then comprises 4 days of preliminaries from 13 to 16 November (starting 3pm on 13-14 Nov; starting 2pm on 15-16), pausing for professional MMA event, ‘BRAVE 9: The Kingdom of Champions’ on 17 November, and culminating with IMMAF’s Finals and Medals Ceremony on 18 November (at 3pm).

Brave held it's first 2 event in it's birth country Bahrain. On a course of going international and making BRAVE a global promotions it has been held in Brazil, India, Khazakhstan and Mexico. BRAVE 9 will be the much-anticipated return to the Kingdom of Bahrain after almost a year. It will have 16 pro bouts, headline by the Lightweight title fight between Ottman Azaitar vs Alejandro Martinez.

The 2017 IMMAF World Championships is set to be IMMAF’s biggest yet and spans 14 weight categories, from Strawweight to Lightweight for women, and Flyweight to Super Heavyweight for men. Check out the provisional list of National Teams and Athletes (click here to view)

This year, Malaysia will be participating the World Championship for the 2nd time. The first time we send athlete was in 2014. That was the time when MASMMA (Malaysia MMA Association) was formed. Malaysia is the first country in Asia to formed a MMA association which is affiliated to IMMAF.

Thanks to MIMMA, Malaysia was one of the earliest country in the world to have a well organised nationwide amateur tournament. Started in 2013 and from it's roster of inaugural champions, 5 were selected to represent Malaysia to IMMAF's first World Championship in 2014. The team comprised of Allen Solomon Chong, Adrian Tham, Keanu Subba, Prabu Somainadu and Chong Jing Yi.

Team Malaysia - IMMAF World 2014

IMMAF takes athletes safety seriously, hence they have a strict rules which emphasis strongly that athletes competing in the World Championship are strictly prohibited to have any pro combat sports record. Due to the unregulated MMA event in Malaysia during the formative years and when MASMMA was not formed yet to help regulate the sports, most of the Malaysian athlete was not able to compete.

According to Brent Yap, MASMMA secretary, it was a huge learning experience which they take positively to grow MMA in Malaysia. MASMMA now works very closely with MIMMA to further grow Malaysian MMA at amateur level. With Tune Talk as the main sponsors, MIMMA is now in it's 5th season and has over the years produce many outsanding MMA prospect for Malaysia, some of which has turned pro.

For the pass 4 season, MIMMA was competed with a tournament format. Fighters have to get it all right every time they fight because only victor get to progress to further round. This does not provide athletes with enough chance to fight and gain experience in the cage, hence in an effort to build fighters by giving them more fights, the league system is introduce this year, pitting fighters in their weight class to fight each other to collect points.

This brings a whole new ball game into the fight. Now fighters and his team needs to have strategy and study the weakness and strength of their opponents.

IMMAF also organised regional Championship such as European Championship, Africa Championship and most recently in Singapore for the Asian Championship in June.
Closer to home, enable Malaysia to sent a team which comprise of Jace Law (MIMMA4 Lightweight Champion) and Jihin Radzuan (MIMMA4 Female Champion). Chong Jing Yi (MIMMA1 Middleweight Champion) and Amirah Najwa.

For this year's edition of IMMAF World Championship, Theeban Govindasamy has been selected as the sole Malaysian athlete. Theeban is a former national Karateka. In MMA, he is a genuine product of MIMMA. He first fought MMA in MIMMA season 2. The following season in 2015, he made it to the Semi-Finals.

Last year's season 4, Theeban moved to welterweight and manage to fight all his way to emerged victorious as the Welterweight Champion. In this year's MIMMA League, he has fought 4 times and is leading the pack in his Welterweight category.

Theeban brings to the cage great striking, owe to his years of Karate. For his MMA & grappling, Theeban is training at Klinch MMA with David Hulett, an American pro with more than 30 MMA fight under him.

Theeban in MIMMA5 league ( pix by YK Tang )

For IMMAF World Championship Bahrain, Theeban is moving up to Middleweight. This is to reduce the stress of cutting weight as the Championship is a tournament format over a period of one week.

Joining him at Bahrain is Prem Kumar and Syarul Raziff. Both are officials with MIMMA, Prem playing the role as coordinator and match maker and Syarul in the medic team. They are at Bahrain as IMMAF officials and will be busy applying their expertise at this World Championship.

Prem Kumar and Syarul at Bahrain - IMMAF World Championship

According to Brent, this is surely a good exposure for them and MASMMA are always open to expose more Malaysian officials for an event this large a scale.
"We need to not only develop MMA athlete but also officials, so that we can grow in all aspect of the MMA sports"

Brent Yap MASMMA Secretary ( pix by Ong Chen Fai)

As the fastest growing sports in the world currently, IMMAF is on it's mission to bring MMA into the Olympics. The structure has already set in place for Malaysia to excel and grow in this sports. Many gyms are growing and new ones being formed as more and more people takes up martial arts and delve into MMA.

We are now already not in the stage of educating about MMA, as previously MMA has an image of being a brutal and violence sports. MASMMA and MIMMA has played its role in providing the strictest standard of safety and medical care. RTM1 has broadcast MIMMA's fight regularly and through mainly social media the awareness of MMA has imcrease leaps and bounds.

Let's hope and contribute in whatever way we can to help produce more MMA talent in Malaysia. For this year, let's all lend our support to Theeban Gobindasamy as he fly the Malaysian flag in Bahrain. All the best Malaysia!

Theeban at the IMMAF 2017 World Championship Opening ceremony accompany by his girlfriend Darshanaa

LIVE ONLINE INTERNATIONALLY
Download the Bahrain TV app onto your mobile device to view the full 5 days of the 2017 IMMAF World Championships live.
The Bahrain TV (Ministry of Information and Affairs) app is downloadable from iTunes and Google Play.

AIRASIA AND UFC JOINING HANDS

Nov 3, New York. As the whole world is eagerly waiting to watch UFC 217 go down in Madison Square Garden on 4 Nov, a huge news announced by UFC; integrated partnership with AirAsia, Asia's leading low-cost carrier, to serve as the global brand's first-ever "Official Airline" sponsor.

Click here to read the official announcement from UFC.com

Air Asia Group CEO Tony Fernandes (right) with UFC's President Dana White

“In many ways, UFC’s rapid rise as a global phenomenon parallels AirAsia's,” said Tony Fernandes, Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia. 

UFC began in 1993 as a martial arts competition that pitted different style with each other to determine which martial arts is the most effective. It's where the terms MMA ( Mixed Martial Arts ) is coined as athletes began to cross train to learn the best bit from different styles of martial arts. But the no holds barred nature and minimal rules of the early days received many negative attention. 

In 2001, it was sold to the Fetittas brothers and Dana White. From then it slowly reform and introduce weight classes, stricter rules and practice a business friendly corporate culture. From better marketing and promtions, it's Pay per View reach and coverage grow tremendously and  became mainstream as TV deals are signed and their athletes became more well known. 

MMA grew leaps and bounds and are considered the fastest growing sports in the world. Today UFC is the most watched MMA promotions in the world with a huge fan base.

As for AirAsia it began as a small airline. In 2001 music executives Tony Fernandes and his business partner bought over the debt ridden semi-government company with a dream of turning it into Asia first low cost carrier. 

Battling a market that was totally new in online purchase and budget airline format, it was a very tough beginning, but with a one track mind full of determination and never say die attitude, Fernandes and team revolutionized air travel in Asia and lead many initiatives which is an industry's first.

Working on the tag line of 'Now Everyone Can Fly', the company grew from two planes in 2002 to a fleet of 86 aircraft flying 30 million people around the world. Their continuous drive for improvement in customer service using the latest technology enable them to win as Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline for the fifth year running at the 2017 World Travel Awards Asia and Australasia.

AirAsia's North Asia President Ms. Kathleen Tan (middle left) and World Travel Awards Vice President Mr. Chris Frost at the 2017 World Travel Awards Asia and Australasia.

Tony Fernandes (with cap) together with Dana White, flanked by AirAsia girls and UFC ring girls

This partnership with UFC marks another major involvement in sports by the world's best low cost carrier. As advocates of creative marketing strategies, this venture provides another strategic platform for the airline to further elevate its brand and achieve greater reach to consumers globally. This is not the first time AirAsia signed a partnership with a global brand in sports.

In 2011, AirAsia partnered with English Premier League Queens Park Rangers Football Club as the official sponsors for their 'Away Shirt'. 

In the same year, they partnered with 1Malaysia Racing Team as the official team partner of Caterham F1 racing team.

The foray into MMA began through their sister company Tune Talk (Malaysia's largest mobile prepaid MVNO service provider ) in 2013 when Tune Talk launched Malaysian Invasion MMA (MIMMA) the biggest amateur MMA tournament in Asia,...and some say the world. 

MIMMA is now in it's 5th season and has become the platform that has unearth many Malaysian MMA talent.

Tune Talk then became a major sponsor for ONE Championship, mostly in event held at Kuala Lumpur, but the familiar red circle logo has been absence since the last ONE event in Kuala Lumpur, which was in August this year, but it's presence was still largely felt through  it's backing of the Malaysian MMA athletes that compete in ONE Championship such as Peter Davis, Ann Osman, Keanu Subba, Gianni Subba, Agilan Thani and Ev Ting.

Tune Talk Warriors

Tune Talk also supported local MMA promotions such a Ultimate Beatdown (Malaysia pioneer in MMA promotion) and most recently expanding their support to Bangkok's Full Metal Dojo 15. 

Looks like Tune Talk is going regional and perhaps we will get to see more Malaysian fighter participating in Thailand.

Since 2015 Tune Talk also became the official sponsor of Malaysian Paralympic team extending their Malaysian Invasion concept to Para Games through Malaysian Invasion Spirit in Motion (MISIM)

So what can fight fans expect from the partnership of AirAsia with UFC?  From the press release, it mentioned that activation activities will be in full swing starting from Nov 25 in Shanghai's UFC Fight Night : Silva vs Gastelum, this is the focus as AirAsia operations are mostly in Asia and China present a huge market for them.

A sweepstakes or lucky draw will be organised to bring two damn lucky winners to watch a UFC event in 2018,...and this winners gets UFC VIP Experience tickets!

Co-branding activities via AirAsia and UFC media platform will also see chance for fight fans to participate in training sessions featuring UFC athletes. As a Malaysian, I am hoping AirAsia will start this initiatives by bringing these elite athletes to conduct seminar or meet the fans session in some of the leading gym in Malaysia.

Another big news...through this partnership, a deserving MMA prospect base in Asia ( I am very tempted to say ' a bloody lucky fellow' )  will get to win a AirAsia sponsored UFC Scholarship. This 'lucky fellow' will be to flown to Las Vegas and train at the state of the art UFC's Performance Institute. 

What is this you ask? Oh well,... it's just a place where UFC housed THE most advance training facilities, backed by high level coaches and an elite training program plus advice on diet and mental preparations for high performance athlete!

If you are a fight fans and merchandise collector, I suggest you start flying AirAsia more often because surely they will be UFC merchandise co-branded with AirAsia in the flight; and do register as AirAsia BiG member to collect points when you fly, this points will certainly comes in handy for future promotions.

Expect also to see some of AirAsia plane spoting UFC aircraft livery in upcoming weeks or months. From this, expect also to see many of your friends makes lots of posting in social media of selfie shots before they board the plane.

I for one would love to see the AirAsia stewardess with UFC ring girls oufit serving me food in the plane....one can dream right, but from pass news, I believe high chances that AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes is game on doing this.

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

JIHIN 'SHADOW CAT' TOOK HOME GOLD FROM JOHOR INT. JIUJITSU CHAMPIONSHIP

MIMMA4 Female Champion, Jihin Radzuan aka the Shadow Cat from Ultimate MMA Johor Bahru took home 1 gold and 1 bronze from Johor International Jiu-JitSu Championship.

The two day event 14-15 October was held at Plaza Sentosa Johor Bahru. More than 150 participants competed in Gi & No-Gi category. Gi was contested on day 1 and No-Gi on the 2nd day.

Day 1 Gi category saw 153 entries, while Day 2 No-Gi saw 102.

Jihin participated in two category. She took the Gold in the No-Gi Blue belt 56.5-58.5 kg,
In the Semi-finals she defeated a girl from Checkmat (Pamela Mae) with high elbow guillotine. While in the finals defeated another girl from Checkmat (Hai Qi) with toe hold to firmly secure gold.

Jihin executing the toe hold

No-Gi Blue belt champion. Jihin was happy competing in her now favourite Wonder Women rash guard. It was a gift by her sister

In Female Absolute ( no weight limit ) she went against One Championship MMA athlete, Tiffany Teo. She lost the fight and got a bronze.

"It was a good experience coz the no gi rules is modified IBJJF rules. We play advantage and penalty which mean no one can stalling."

Jihin has dominated in amatuer MMA by winning the MIMMA4 female category and has recently turned pro and took a win in her pro MMA debut in Ultimtae Beatdown 23. JIJC was not her first grappling competition. She first participated in Johor BJJ Open 2 and won a silver in juvenile category.

The 2nd time she competed in Johor BJJ Open, she got 2nd place in juvenile and gold medal for no limit weight female white belt.

She will be competing again this Saturday 28 Oct in Johor Muaythai Open, in the 54kg pro Muaythai.

Ask wheter she will take a break from competing after this...

"I don't think there is a break in my dictionary. After Johor Open Muaythai, I will be fighting K1 Kickboxing in Ultimate Beatdown: Medini Showdown this 4-5 Nov. I will continue competing to gain as much experience as possible"

Monarchy MMA had a dominating performance emerging as champions for for Gi & No Gi. They took home 8 golds and accumulated 98 points for Day 1, followed by Checkmat International A and 3rd placing goes to Fortitude BJJ A.

As for Day 2, again on top with 9 golds and a haul of 111 points, followed again by Checkmat International A & Reps Doberman.

Event coordinater FS Cheng was very happy with the turn out and he thank all the sponsors, team and competitors and their supporters for coming out to make the first Johor International Jiu-JitSu Championship (JIJC) a success. 

sponsors for 1st JIJC

building future generations

JIJC is not FS Cheng  first BJJ event, in total he has organised 4 times Johor BJJ Open before this and JIJC is a rebranding for Johor BJJ Open to bring it a level higher and appeal to the international athletes and he ask all the Jiu-Jiteros to be ready for the 2nd JIJC early next year!

( check out  more amazing pictures in JIJC FB page)