Tickets to Thai boxing “Muay Thai” fights

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is a centuries-old martial art from Thailand. It began as close-quarters combat in warfare and became the country's national sport. Today it has a following around the world and often appears in mixed martial arts (MMA), where many fighters borrow its techniques.

Chaweng, on Koh Samui, has two stadiums that stage regular fight nights: Phetchbuncha and Samui International Stadium. They are only a few hundred metres apart and take turns hosting fights, so there is usually one event on any given night. Tickets are booked for the seat category and date you choose. You can pay on the spot before the fights start, or book and pay in advance and receive a voucher.

What you will see in the ring

Muay Thai is known as the "art of eight limbs" because fighters strike with fists, elbows, knees and feet. Shins are used constantly too, so "ten limbs" would arguably be more accurate. Clinching and throwing add a grappling element. Almost the whole body is a legal target, apart from the eyes and groin, and flying downward elbows are allowed. This makes the sport demanding to watch.

A bout is five three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks. In the breaks, cornermen give their fighters massage, water and tactical advice. A knockdown brings a 10-second count from the referee, and if the fighter cannot continue, the fight is over. Sweeps and throws do not count as knockdowns, and fighters are expected to resume quickly. Judges assess the overall performance, so a fighter who dominates early but loses control later may not win.

Traditions that set it apart from other combat sports

Before the bout, each fighter performs the Ram Muay, a ritual dance, wearing the Mongkon, a ceremonial headpiece. It was traditionally given to students who had proven themselves, and monks often bless it. Many fighters believe it carries special power. Only the fighter and the coach handle it, it must never touch the ground, and it is removed before the bout begins.

The Pra Jiad is a cloth or rope band tied around the arms. Fighters wear it before and during the fight as a good-luck charm from their family. In some customs it contains a piece of the boxer's mother's dress, symbolising her blessing for his health and safety.

Live Sarama music accompanies the fights. It starts slowly during the Ram Muay and builds in tempo and volume as the action heats up. The band plays the Pi Java (Javanese clarinet), Klong Kaek drums, Ching cymbals and the heavy Kong Mong drum.

Each stadium has its own fight nights, ticket categories and start times. The package details below cover these.