This is my virgin experience watching a Muay Thai Fight live. The location I have selected was Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium as it was known to be the more traditional stadium for Muay Thai Fights. There are other locations to watch live Muay Thai fights in Bangkok such as Asiatique. I went there on public bus and was caught in the evening jam. I arrive around 5.30pm and the first match has started.

Upon reaching the venue, I have to obtain my admission ticket at the counter as I bought the tickets online. Then I was ushered to an area before the entrance to the ring to do covid test. I did not know that it’s a requirement to do this covid test before approval to enter and this is my virgin PCR test as well. After the medical staff “poked” my nose, I finally have admission rights.

I entered and was already crowded with mainly locals. I can see some foreigners like me and the majority of foreigners booked the more expensive seats very near to the ring. There were a lot of shouting and hand symbols among the local thais. Then I realised that while the fight is going on, another activity is also ongoing - punting.

Overall, there are 8 matches for the night. I watched the first four and came the break around 7.30pm. Based on the schedule on paper, the break lasts for 2 hours and the next 4 matches should start at 9.30pm. I went to the gents and asked the staff what time will the break end and was notified about 30mins instead.

The second round indeed started around 8pm. There were some foreigners who came back at 9pm and noticed that the second half had already began.

For the first and second session, there were matches ranging from more junior fighters to top level fights. The 4th match of each session is supposed to be the highlight of the session.

I began to write down notes on the rules of the game. There are 4 white boxes, with a judge seated in it, on each side of the square ring. Should there be no knockout, the referee will eventually collect a vote from these four judges and the winner is announced.

Here are the rules I have noticed:

• The electronic board at the ceiling of the ring indicates Match Number on the LEFT and Round Number on the RIGHT.
• Maximum round per match is 5 rounds.
• Each round is 3 mins.
• Each break between rounds is 2 mins, countdown by the electrical board.
• At the 9sec countdown, you will hear two rings to notify the fighters.
• Once the countdown timer ends, you will hear a sound to indicate the commencement or recommencement of the round.

It’s really exciting and everyone should watch a live Muay Thai fight in their lifetime. Although this is a super intense fight and injuries and knockouts may occur, it is a very well organised and regulated sporting event for the locals.