So you just landed in Thailand and think you’re ready for Rajadamnern? Most find out the hard way—they’re not. Let’s talk about why skipping local fights is a rookie mistake.
Every fighter who shows up here says the same thing: “I don’t want to fight locally; I only want the big fights.” I get it. You’ve trained hard, watched all the highlight reels, and think you’re ready to hang with the best.
For some, getting schooled by a Thai is part of the “authentic” experience. But let me explain why skipping the local scene is the fastest way to crash and burn.
The local scene has killers and…
To tell you the truth, you’re probably not good enough to face them yet.
Yeah, I said it.
People think local fights are a joke—staged matches with tuk tuk drivers or opponents who dive for 500 baht. And yes, that happens, especially in first-timer matchups. But once you’ve had one or two, the fights get real. Proper matchups. Real heat.
My last local fight was in October. Five rounds. Full kicking war. That guy wasn’t diving—he came for the win and his fight purse. Local doesn’t mean easy.
Your first fight is a feel-out round
The first one is hit-or-miss. You might face someone who takes a dive, or someone who really wants to take your head off. That’s fine—it’s not about the opponent. It’s about you figuring out how you respond in a real Thai fight.
You need that. Because jumping into stadium shows with no local experience? That’s how you get picked apart.
What about the “no elbows” rule?
Yeah, sometimes you’ll be asked not to throw elbows. I’ve only had this happen once. It’s not about fear—it’s about cuts. Fighters who go multiple times a week don’t want to get split open for 3,000 baht. Makes sense.
You don’t have to ask for no elbows—but don’t refuse the match if elbows are off. Take the fight. Bank the experience. Best case? You recover quick and fight again soon. That’s how you build a rhythm.
“Strengthening your bones” isn’t just a phrase
In Thailand, that means earning experience. Local fights give you exactly that. You don’t just improve your skills—you condition your body, your mindset, and your ring IQ.
Take Superlek. Wikipedia says he has around 200 fights. Reality? Closer to 500. He fought constantly in Issan—sometimes three times a week. Most were local scraps, many without elbows. Think that helped him later in the stadiums? Yeah. A bit.
Lessons from my old coach
My old coach down South warned against jumping into the Bangkok scene too early. Those small stadium shows? They’re full of landmines—hungry up-and-comers, washed-out vets looking for tune-ups, and everything in between.
You walk in thinking it’s your big break and end up getting dissected by a guy with 300 fights who barely trained that week.
The quiet trick foreigners use
You know what most foreigners do? They fight locally first—then lie about it when they go to the smaller Bangkok stadiums. No shame in it. Those fights aren’t regulated. They “never happened” if you don’t tell anyone.
And in the meantime, you learn how scoring works, what the pace feels like, and how to actually win a Thai fight.
You’d be stupid not to take advantage of that.
Durability isn’t a strategy
Yeah, you can tough it out and hope your chin carries you. But eventually, you’ll meet someone tougher—or worse, someone smarter. And they’ll make you look like an amateur.
So here’s your choice:
- Skip the local scene. Chase big fights. Get schooled. Sent back to the local scene anyway.
- Embrace the local scene. Learn. Level up. Fight smart.
Fighting locally isn’t just a stepping stone—it’s part of becoming a real fighter.
Miss that step, and you’ll pay for it later.
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Until next time.
Alex
