Asia Fighting Championship is expanding to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where some of the region’s top muaythai exponents will converge.
In addition to Kuala Lumpur, two other dates in the region are also being added for 2018. No details were released on which city and what date the ties will take place.
Sasidharan Unnithan said: “The AFC was developed primarily to provide a professional platform for muaythai fighters to showcase their talent across the region and worldwide.
“It is an honour for us to be able to expand the platform and to have the event be staged in Kuala Lumpur for the first time ever.”
President of the Malaysian Muaythai Association Datuk Muhd Shahnaz Azmi said the sport of muaythai has been growing tremendously over the last few years, including right here in Malaysia.
“The Asia Fighting Championship will give our fighters a chance to challenge for honours just months after a successful SEA Games showing. It is an honour for us to be able to expand the platform and to have the event be staged in Kuala Lumpur for the first time ever,” he said.
The event in Kuala Lumpur, which is scheduled for the middle of 2018, will have fighters coming from host country Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Among them will be renowned Malaysian fighters like captain of the Malaysia muaythai team Ali Yaakub (picture above), Saifullah Ismail and Mohamad Amirul along with Singapore’s Brandon Ng.
The event in Kuala Lumpur is sanctioned by the World Muaythai Council (WMC) and the Malaysian Muaythai Association.
There will be between 10 to 12 professional bouts across six weight classes, and comes at the back of Malaysia’s tremendous set of results at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia snagged a total of four medals – two gold, one silver and one bronze – at the event.
The AFC will be working very closely with the WMC in the organising of the event in Malaysia, which also include ensuring the best practices in safety and medical protocols.
Stephan Fox, the Vice-President of the WMC and the General Secretary of IFMA, said that Malaysia is one of the leading countries worldwide in muaythai. Malaysia also hosted the Emmy-award nominated series Challenger Muaythai 2012, which garnered a nomination at the Emmy Awards for best non-scripted entertainment series.
Malaysian muaythai fighter Ali Yaakub who will feature in the KL event said that he was looking forward to the event in front of his home crowd.
“It will be an amazing opportunity for us to fight in front of our home crowd. I am looking forward to getting into the ring, and to hear Malaysian fans roar for us.”