August 2011: Five Kickboxing and Muay Thai Fights to Watch

With the first weekend of August upon us, it's a good time to detail some of the action that kickboxing and Muay Thai fans will see over the course of the month. It's Showtime won't be in action and the Muaythai Premier League won't be debuting until September, but some rising promotions and smaller fight groups are putting together quality cards. Muay Thai has the bulk of impressive bouts this month, with Thai Fight traveling to Japan and two strong fight cards happening in the United States.

5. Errol Zimmerman vs. Nicolaj Falin: Merseberger Fight Night 4 (August 28, Spergau, Germany)

This bout in Germany will mark the third of 2011 for Errol Zimmerman, as he tries to distance himself from the struggles he experienced under the K-1 banner. The Golden Glory fighter has defeated Mourad Bouzidi and Zinedine Hameur Lain so far this year. Nicolaj Falin was blasted by American heavyweight Mark Miller on the United Glory card in Russia on May 28th. Falin was coming off of a good tournament win on the European circuit, but was knocked out by Miller in under ten seconds.

4. Ky Hollenbeck vs. Simon Chu: Battle in the Desert 3 (August 20, Primm, Nevada, USA)

Ky Hollenbeck has established himself as a pivotal figure in the continuing effort to build the image of American Muay Thai. He'll be defending his WBC Muay Thai interim world middleweight title against Simon Chu in this bout. Chu is a strong Muay Thai fighter from Leeds, England. He lost to Halim Issaoui in the opening round of the Fight Code Dragon Series kickboxing tournament earlier this year.

3. Saenchai Sinbimuaythai vs. Kevin Ross: M1 Muay Thai Grand Championship (August 14, Commerce, California, USA)

The legend meets the American standout, as Saenchai and Kevin Ross square off for the first-ever WBC Muay Thai diamond belt. Saenchai hasn't posted a pristine record this year, but with wins over the likes of Kongsak Sitboonmee and Liam Harrison, he won't be going anywhere any time soon. Ross is 1-1 in 2011, having competed on the first two fight cards promoted by Lion Fight Promotions this year.

2. Fabio Pinca vs. Yuya Yamato: Thai Fight Extreme 2011 Japan (August 7, Tokyo, Japan)

Fabio Pinca, the Thai Fight 2010 champion. Pinca took his first fight after the 2010 tournament win in May, at the Thai Fight Extreme event in Cannes, France. That bout was also against Yamato. It was one that Pinca was winning. Then he got cut in the second round, and the cut was bad enough to force a stoppage. The champion will be looking to avenge that loss here, and he seems to remain in good form if his July win over Ding Ning in Hong Kong is any indication. With no word on further non-tournament bouts for Pinca, this may be the French fighter's final warm up before the Thai Fight 67 kg. tournament starts up again later this year.

1. Cosmo Alexandre vs. Sakmongkol Sitchuchoke: Battle in the Desert 3 (August 20, Primm, Nevada, USA)

Cosmo Alexandre fights for the second time in the United States (and the second time for Lion Fight Promotions). Alexandre was able to get past Cyrus Washington in May, evening up his record on the year after dropping a kickboxing bout to Giorgio Petrosyan under the Fight Code banner in March. The former It's Showtime 77 kg. MAX champion and King's Cup winner is facing a Muay Thai legend in Sakmongkol If you're not familiar with Sakmongkol, see his bouts against Jongsanan Fairtex. While the height of his career is past him (he's moved to Colorado and taken on the role of a trainer), he's still a dangerous fighter. He dismantled James Martinez, veteran of The Contender Asia, in June.