Contender Asia with no doubt has given Muaythai the exposure the art and sport deserves. 16 Fighters from around the world were selected to take part in what was to become a hit reality TV Show which showed the journey of those amazing muaythai athletes, and the sacrifices they made to become the Contender Asia champion.

Home of the Contender Asia Trainers – sanctioned by WMC

Over the show’s 15-week broadcast, over 400 million people followed the journey of these warriors, cried when their hero left the loft and shared in the joy when their favourite made it to the next round.

The backbones of the show with no doubt were the contender trainers taking on the task of being mentor, coach and brother to these fighters. The coaches were hand-picked from the Lamai Gym because of their experience in having trained world champions for many years, their ability to deal with different cultures and who would be on the fighter’s side, be it in defeat or in victory.

Week by week the audience followed the strict training regimen and after the final episode, many of the coaches were invited to give seminars around the world.

This reflects the quality of the Lamai Gym trainers, whom are with no doubt some of the best in the world.

What is it like learning Muay Thai in Thailand? Zidov Akuma who featured on the The Contender Asia tells you exactly how it is, calling upon his own experiences, trials and tribulations.

How did you come to train in Muay Thai in Thailand?

When I moved to Thailand, I first spent 2 years in Ubon Ratchatthani in the Isaan region of North Eastern Thailand. I trained with Ole ‘Iron Fist’ Larsen of Denmark at the Legacy Gym. After 2 years of working with Ole, I entered The Contender Asia and met loads of other high-class fighters, who I kept in touch with. Lamai Muay Thai had featured on the show and I enjoyed my time there so together with Stephan Fox, I relocated to Koh Samui and started training at Lamai Muay Thai.

Are you happy training at Lamai Muay Thai camp?

Having trained at Lamai Muay Thai for 3 years now, I must say that I’m very happy here. After a difficult time in my life, I can truly say that I have found a new family. My trainers, Pi Deng and Gai, are two of the best on Koh Samui and do their utmost to look after me, every day.
Stephan Fox had ensured me that I would be able to get plenty of fights if I moved to Lamai Muay Thai and he has been true to his word. I’ve had loads of fights inside and outside of Thailand and can honestly say that I am living my dream; travelling the World to face the best fighters another nation can offer.

What is your long-term goal in Muay Thai?

I was incredibly lucky to be accepted on The Contender Asia but I’m incredibly proud of how much I have achieved since then and I think that people understand how much I love this sport. In the future, I hope to become World Champion and beat John Wayne Parr.

Would you recommend other people learn Muay Thai on Koh Samui?

Learning Muay Thai on Koh Samui is great. The island offers beaches to relax on when you are finished training and the nightlife in Chaweng is also good fun. After a hard week of training, most of the fighters head over to Green Mango for a few drinks and a bit of fun. I would love to bring my family out here so that they could share this life with me, I honestly feel that it is one of the best places in the World.