Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA is a Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) gym based in Phuket, Thailand.

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA
Est.2021
Founded byGeorge Hickman
Frank Hickman
Alex Schild
Primary trainersGeorge Hickman (Head coach)
Frank Hickman (Wrestling)
Alex Schild (BJJ)
Andrew Wood (S&C)
Current titleholdersAlexander Volkanovski
Zhang Weili
Past titleholdersJiří Procházka
Training facilitiesPhuket, Thailand
Websitewww.bangtaomuaythai.com

History

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA was founded in 2021 by brothers George and Frank Hickman after they left their coaching positions at Tiger Muay Thai.[1][2] Both of them competed in collegiate wrestling at Bloomsburg University before they eventually ended up in the MMA world.[2][3] in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, Tiger Muay Thai had to temporarily shut down and the brothers started thinking about opening their own gym.[2]

Other co-founding members of the gym are BJJ coach Alex Schild and strength and conditioning coach Andrew Wood who were also coaches at Tiger Muay Thai.[2][4][5] All four were part of the team that coached UFC Featherweight Champion, Alexander Volkanovski.[4][5]

The gym officially opened for April 2022 after some delay.[2][4][6] Volkanovski and number one pound-for-pound kickboxer, Superbon Singha Mawynn conducted seminars during the grand opening.[7]

Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA first received media attention when it was noted that Jiří Procházka was training at the gym in preparation for his fight against Glover Teixeira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 275 in Singapore.[4] In addition Zhang Weili at the same time was also trained at the gym for her fight against Joanna Jędrzejczyk at the same event.[4][8] This fight would determine the next challenger against Carla Esparza for the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship. Both Procházka and Zhang would go on to win their fights at UFC 275.[9]

Zhang Weili had also selected Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA to prepare for her title challenge bout against Carl Esparza at UFC 281.[6][10][11]

In June 2023, World Boxing Champion Tyson Fury trained at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA for a brief period during his visit to Thailand. [12][13]

Notable people

UFC

ONE Championship

Muay Thai

See also

References
  1. "George and Frank Hickman leave Tiger Muay Thai". Asian MMA. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  2. "MMA, post-Covid, is thriving. Asia is the sport's Next Big Thing, experts say". South China Morning Post. 2022-10-30. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  3. Carlson, Ollie (2020-02-25). "How the Hickman Brothers created a network of next-generation superstars". thebodylockmma.com. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  4. "'Training in paradise': Bangtao MMA gym changing the game in Phuket". South China Morning Post. 2022-04-30. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  5. "Coach Schild open to ONE grappling return, but fighting days are over". South China Morning Post. 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  6. Tabuena, Anton (2022-08-10). "Photos: Weili Zhang training in Bangtao, Thailand ahead of UFC title bout". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. "Superbon wants to give MMA a shot, UFC's Volkanovski keen to train him". South China Morning Post. 2022-04-26. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  8. "UFC: Volk's quick turnaround no surprise – 'his work ethic is insane'". South China Morning Post. 2022-05-06. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  9. "Coach Schild open to ONE grappling return, but fighting days are over". South China Morning Post. 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  10. "UFC: Zhang Weili already back training at Bangtao as she bids for belt". South China Morning Post. 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  11. Beaupré, Drew (2022-09-16). "MMA Reporter Documents Journey Preparing For His First Fight". MMA News. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  12. "Tyson Fury parties with dwarfs in Phuket". Asian MMA. 2023-06-11. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  13. Newswire, MMA Fighting (2023-06-21). "Tyson Fury rips 'little s***bag' Joe Rogan for starting 'absolutely ridiculous' debate over Jon Jones". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  14. "Loma Lookboonmee says: 'be ready for my right kick'!". Asian MMA. 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  15. "Now training full-time, John Castaneda says to expect 2.0 version: 'I'm fully focused on this sport now'". MMA Junkie. 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  16. "Shannon Wiratchai tells ONE Championship 'I'm ready, let's do it'". South China Morning Post. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  17. "Sam-A moves to Phuket ahead of Kompetch fight". Asian MMA. 2023-05-11. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  18. MMATechnique (2023-03-26). "Inside Bangtao (Ep. 1): Savvas Michael". Retrieved 2023-07-10.
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