MMA Phuket -

After a day of grappling competitors, coaches, fans headed back home to freshen up and relax before the BBQ Beatdown event began. Several notable fighters/coaches were in attendance for the MMA fights. K-1 Max veteran Ole Laursen, Swedish Grappling sensation Malik Mawlayi, and Bangkok Fight Club instructor Alex Berezovik were in attendance. Serving as Judge for all 5 of the MMA fights were, UFC Vet Mike Swick, KOTC Vet Chad Hamzeh, and SuperPro Koh Samui BJJ Instructor Jack Magee, all three fighters veterans of over 10 professional MMA fights. Referees for the Matches were Ray Elbe and Alex Bezerovik.

Highlights from BBQ Beatdown V, included Thai fighter Ngoo Ditty extending his MMA win streak to 4 fights with a spectacular double leg takedown, followed by a cartwheel guard pass and a RNC finish.

Professional Female Muay Thai fighter Claire Haigh made her MMA debut against a much heavier male opponent and won a hard fought 3 round decision.

After competing during the day at the Nevertap tournament and winning first place in his division, Andreas Hesselback gave up 30lbs to face Professional Muay Thai fighter Nick of the Legacy gym as a late replacement for an injured fighter. The fight was fireworks from beginning to end. After a Ref stoppage to allow the ref to check Nick’s broken nose the bout was restarted. During a flurry of punches the heavier fighter landed a crushing right hand following Andreas Hesselback to the mat with hammer fists giving Nick his first MMA win, by TKO late in the 1st Rd.

The main event of the evening featured two Muay Thai fighters currently ranked in the top 15 Muay Thai fighters in the Country of Thailand. Singjok Legacy a Lumpinee stadium champion, training under Ole Laursen of the Legacy Gym in Ubon Thailand has competed in MMA Internationally with fights in China and Russia. Bernueng TMT is a WMC world Muay Thai champion who made his debut MMA fight earlier this year in Russia losing a close Decision.

Agreeing to a combination of Pride/UFC rules this fight lived up to the hype. Bernueng won the first round on the judges card thanks to a late “Rampage Jackson” style slam, followed by gaining the Mount on Singjok. The second round featured several exchanges on the feet, with Bernueng securing a couple more takedowns and attempting a solid Armbar submission, only to be reversed by Singjok. In the third and final round Singjok tried to rally from behind gaining the mount position over Bernueng and attempting to finish the fight. In the end it was too little too late. Judges Jack Magee, Chad Hamzeh, and Mike Swick all scored the bout 2 rounds to 1, allowing ref Alex Berezovik to raise Bernueng TMT’s hand as the winner.

Look for a rematch of these two warriors in Ubon later this year.

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