Exclusive: DellaGrotte tips Egan for big future

Hugely-respected MMA trainer Mark DellaGrotte has exclusively told setanta.com he expects Tom Egan to become a "top-level 155-pounder".

Muay Thai man DellaGrotte, who coaches Kenny Florian among a number of top fighters, has taken Egan under his wing after the Dublin fighter fled to the US in search of the world's best coaches.

Having lost his UFC debut to John Hathaway without throwing a punch in anger, inevitable question marks have surfaced regarding whether Egan has what it takes to compete at the top level.

DellaGrotte is in no doubt though, although he admits the 20-year-old may need to drop to 155 before he makes his most telling impact.

“Between the first fight he had in my gym and the last fight just recently, I have seen a huge difference in the space of two weeks in Tom Egan," DellaGrotte told setanta.com.

“Nobody wants to go to a new gym and try to be the hero and try to be the tough guy. Tom was humble, very willing to learn, it took a couple of weeks to fully open up but he is showing his true self now - that's for sure.

“Between the first time he was here and the last time, it’s like night and day.

“The biggest thing Tom lacks is experience. It’s not like you look at him and say he needs to work one thing – he just needs experience. He needs to be around good training partners, good coaches, and he just needs time.

"But I don’t see any significant holes in his game. He’s very well-rounded and he is only going to get better.

“He has an absolutely chance of making it. I’ll be honest, like I am with Tom, the US has most of the top fighters and top coaches. We’ve taken the sport by storm. But the longer Tom works with top level guys he will develop further and faster and in my opinion he is right up there with all the top-level guys at 155."

Elaborating on his 155 theory, DellaGrotte believes Egan can compete at either weight category...but he hints the lightweight division is best-suited to the Irishman's title dreams

“Tom is fighting at 170 now, but Tom could potentially make 155. He’d be a very strong 155. I’ve got him sparring with 170s and 155s and he does great in both weight classes.

“But he may have to adjust to 155. A lot of fighters do that. They make their breakthrough in the weight class where there is a space, but then they migrate and adapt.

“Both divisions are difficult, but in my opinion he could fight in either one of them. It’s just a question of which one he is gonna make the greater impact in."

http://www.setanta.com/uk/

Fighting fit for Arafura

TERRITORY Muay Thai fighter Andrew "Cold Steel" Castle is already glowing with Arafura Games anticipation.

Castle will lead Darwin's charge on to the international stage when the famed martial art is debuted at the 10th instalment of biennial Games.

And already he knows that none of his fight experience - spanning an impressive eight wins from 11 outing - will compare to the four-day showcase of action which will see more than 160 fighters from 15 countries go toe-to-toe.

"Wherever we fight there is interest and excitement in the Games," Castle said. "The energy is going to be amazing, it's going to be nothing but Muay Thai wherever you look. That sort of energy can bring something extra special out of you in the ring."

Castle was there in 2007 when the Muay Thai's addition as the Games' 27th sport was made.

His attitude then is the same as now - it's good for the local, national and international profile of the sport.

"The Arafura Games is a huge thing to be a part of and an important step for Muay Thai one day getting into the Olympics."

NT representative for the World Muay Thai Council and tournament organiser Corey Impelmans is keen to put Darwin on the world Muay Thai map.

"I've coached hundreds of fighters, successfully run this club (Man Ho Academy of Martial Arts) for 25 years, hosted local, national and now an international event.

"It's a proud achievement to know we are playing a part in putting Muay Thai on the Olympic agenda."

Traditional Muay Thai powers Thailand, Pakistan, Indonesia, Singapore and China have committed teams to the tournament with Australia also fielding an elite-amateur and development squad.

Andrew Aloia
http://www.ntnews.com.au/

Suspect in killing of Muay Thai association head falls in Rizal

MANILA, Philippines - The suspected killer of the head of the Muay Thai Association of the Philippines was arrested in Tanay town in Rizal province, a radio report said Wednesday.

Radio dzBB's Benjie Liwanag Jr. reported that Sonny Sumales was arrested in an operation conducted by police and military operatives in Barangay Daraitan in Tanay.

A joint team of the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines arrested Sumales.

Sumales faces criminal charges for the killing of Muay Thai Association of the Philippines president Robert Valdez last Saturday.

The report, however, did not say if investigators had determined the motive for the killing. - GMANews.TV