Long Beach, CA — On Friday September 2nd the Muaythai Premier League hosted the biggest Muay Thai event to hit North American soil. Buakaw, Julie Kitchen, Nathan Corbett and many other top international talents showcased their skills on the event. The night’s main event featured Buakaw Por. Pramuk against Warren Stevelmans.

Buakaw came out to loud cheers from the fans and he did not disappoint. Buakaw started off slow in the first round as he felt out his opponent, but began to pick the pace up in the second round. Leg kicks and knees to the body started to pay dividends and as the rounds passed you could see Stevelmans begin to slow down. Buakaw began to unleash with a variety of strikes as elbows, knees, punches and kicks all connected with ease. In the fourth round a push kick knocked a fatigued Stevelmans down and the referee stopped the fight. There was some protest from Stevelmans, but the ref had seen enough and Buakaw claimed the WMC junior middleweight title with the fourth round stoppage. It was an exciting fight by the Thai star and a treat for the fans in attendance.

In the night’s co-main event Nathan Corbett made quick work of Tomas Hron. The Australian Corbett implemented his will early on and knocked Hron down with a body shot and a hook to the head. Hron answered the referee’s count and then Corbett delivered a vicious elbow that knocked Hron down once again, opening up a cut. Hron once again answered the referee’s count, but shortly after a third an final knockdown ended Hron’s night. It was an exciting American debut for Corbett as he put on a show for the fans in dispatching of Hron in the first round.

Simon Marcus and Artem Vakhitov met in a re-match and fought an exciting three round fight. The fight was closely contested as both Marcus and Vakhitov showed great technique. Marcus successfully scored from the clinch with elbows and knees on various occasions. When the third round started there was some showmanship from both fighters as they taunted each other. Marcus pressed the action and delivered some vicious elbows in the final round and the fight ended up in the judges hands. All three judges scored the fight for Marcus who took home a unanimous decision.

In another re-match Marco Pique looked to avenge a KO loss to Nieky Holzken. The fight was close in the first round as both fighter landed solid strikes. The action continued in the second round and it was likely tied one round a piece going into the third. Holzken pressed the action in the third eventually knocking Pique down with a punch-kick combination, unlike the first bout Pique was able to get up, but as time wound down Holzken tried to seize the opportunity to finish the fight once again. Pique was in trouble as Holzken unleashed punches and kicks until the final bell. In the end a majority decision went in favor of Holzken.

Julie Kitchen made a successful American debut against Martina Jindrova. Kitchen was clearly the fan favorite as the crowd erupted with cheers when she came out to Tupac and Dr. Dre’s “California Love”. Kitchen was able to implement her will in the fight, Kitchen scored with her strikes at will and looked great in the clinch as she implemented a solid attack mixing in knees with the occasional elbow. In the end Kitchen earned a unanimous decision from the judges.

Denis Schniedmiller edged Mehdi Zatout by split decision after three rounds of action. Schniedmiller pressed the action and used some solid hand combinations to the body to due most of his damage. Zatout seemed to have trouble adjusting to the pressure Schniedmiller was applying, but seemed to adjust in the final round. Despite the adjustment it ended up being too late to sway the fight in his favor.

Baxter Humby scored the night’s most impressive knockout when he used a spinning back kick to the body of Zidov Domenik to end his night early. The former Contender Asia participant went down and was not able to get up after the kick landed flush. With the win Humby takes home the WMC intercontinental championship.

Filip Virlendin scored a doctor stoppage over German opponent Martin Jahn after the first round of their bout. An overhand right by Virlendin hurt Jahn early in the bout and Virlendin pounced on Jahn looking to finish. The round is completely one sided and a bloodied Jahn was not allowed to continue after the first round due to a cut above his eye.

Artem Levin look relaxed and confident in his victory over David Keclik. For three round Levin picked apart Keclik who didn’t present much of a challenge for the Russian fighter. Levin used a variety of strikes to score, he didn’t seem to be worried about anything Keclik had to offer as he kept his hands low the entire fight. As the final round was winding down a flying knee from Levin ended the night for Keclik as he scored an impressive knockout.

Valentina Shevchenko defeated Angelique Pitiot by split decision. Both fighters were technical in the bout, but Shevchenko scored with various throws as it was clear she was the stronger of the two fighters. In the end the fight was close, but the judges ruled in favor of Shevchenko

In the night’s opening bout Michael Dicks defeated Leo Monteiro by unanimous decision. Dicks implemented leg kicks early on in the bout, but strayed away from that plan until late in the third round. Monteiro has some excellent exchanges with Dicks, but Dicks pushed the pace and controlled the fight as well as landing with various strikes throughout the bout showing a well rounded style.

Results:
Buakaw def. Warren Stevelmans via (T)KO at 1:59 of Rd. 4 (wins WMC Junior Middleweight Title)
Nathan Corbett def. Tomas Hron via KO at 2:38 of Rd. 1
Simon Marcus def. Artem Vakhitov via Unanimous Decision
Nieky Holzken def. Marco Pique via Majority Decision
Julie Kitchen der. Martina Jindrova via Unanimous Decision
Denis Schniedmiller def. Mehdi Zatout via Split Decision
Baxter Humby def. Zidov Domenik by KO at 1:40 of Rd. 1 (Humby wins WMC Intercontinental Title)
Filip Verlinden def. Martin Jahn via (T)KO (Doctor Stoppage) at 3:00 of Rd. 1
Artem Levin def. David Keclik via KO (Knee) at 2:28 of Rd. 3
Valentina Shevchenko def. Angelique Pitiot via Split Decision
Michael Dicks def. Leo Monteiro via Unanimous Decision

Source: Muay Thai Authority