Pics from the Muay Thai Fight in Ratchadamnoen Stadium

Many of you have asked what was so exciting about the Muay Thai fights. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand, and is described as "the most violent contact sport in the world". After watching the fights, you will get little argument from us; there's nothing like seeing a fighter get stunned momentarily, and then succumb to an explosive barrage of elbows, kicks and knees to the head and torso. Approximately one in three fights ended with the losing fighter unresponsive to smelling salts placed directly under their nose, and them being taken out of the ring on a stretcher.

Most Thai fighters do the traditional pre-fight ritual, called the Wai khru ram muay, a combination of practical and spiritual preparations. This guy came up with his own! I'd make more fun him, except he damn near bludgeoned the other guy to death.

Here's the link to his funny pre-fight dance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWzPaM4wN1k

Web: I forgot to mention that one of my Bangkok "dislikes" is the fact that everyone here seems to really enjoy ogling my beautiful wife (literally, staring, followed by some more staring, followed by more than a few "once-overs". After seeing the fights and learning that almost all Thais go through Muay Thai training from youth... I think I'll "let" these dudes ogle away!