Santai Muay Thai Gym (San Kampphaeng, Chiang Mai, Thailand) held what I would like to see as the beginning of a pattern of Muay Thai fights to come. Santai Festival’s February 15 main event was a female fight between Sawsing Sor Sopit and Farida Okiko with a purse equaling 55,000 THB (at time of writing, approximately $1,560.00 USD). This is remarkable in Thailand as female Muay Thai fighters are awarded significantly less prize money than males.
Santai owner Nik Hjalmarsson on the event:
The idea of making the form like this was the fact that it is very hard for females to make money from fighting; we wanted to whip it up a bit and make it interesting. In this small festival there was two of the best 54-55 kg female fighters in the world fighting over a purse five to ten times bigger than what they are used to. Our hope is that others will follow, the female scene is on the rise and the top girls are very entertaining to watch. The undercard also contained two more superstar females, Nong Pat and Kwanjai plus Northern Thailand top fighters like the rest of the girls.
Another factor was the Western girls training and fighting here are not finding fights in the Western world. Make your own fights!
Get something started, get sponsors and partners, GO!
The Results:
1. Palangboon W.Santai – Ekthavee Sitjaynuch, 43 kg, Palangboon wins decision.
2. Payayong Sor Sor Chiang Mai – Quang Thong Phetreanthong, 48 kg, Payayong wins decision.
3. Ibrahimovic W.Santai – Ekvoravit Por Puiboonphuet, 65 kg, Ibrahimovic wins KO Round 3.
4. Erin W.Santai – Kongkanlaya sor sor Chiang Mai, 52 kg Lanna 8 Province Championship Fight, Erin wins TKO Round 4 after 2 8-counts.
5. Tamtong Sitjaynuch – Tonphet Phetreanthong, 59 kg, Thonphet wins decision.
6. Kwanjai Pabaijaturat – Nong Pat Ko Saklampang, 54 kg, Nong Pat wins decision.
7. Sawsing Sor Sopit – Farida Okiko, 55 kg, Santai Challenge championship fight, 50 000 THB to the winner, Sawsing wins decision.
8. Ante W.Santai – Narongdet Por Puiboonphuet, 69 kg, Ante wins KO Round 2.
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