On October 19, 2024, Kuala Lumpur’s PITT Club turned into the wildest playground for combat sports enthusiasts and casual onlookers alike. For the 1st time, Full Metal Dojo’sFight Circus was held out of Thailand, and it was a night filled with punches, giggles, and enough bizarre antics to make even the most serious of fighters crack a smile.
Founded by the greatest showman of combat sports, Jon Nutt – former emcee for MIMMA. Fight Circus 11 was held in KL as a Halloween reunion gathering MIMMA. Not just many former MIMMA fighters was there, but also many of the production crew, cut man, judges, referee, photographer, Tune Talk management and myself as a media person ( Warriors.Asia ) that cover many seasons of MIMMA.
As the doors of PITT Club KL swung open, the arena looks phenomenal. The lights and screen synchronize with the night’s energy of everyone there. A warm nostalgic fuzzy mood was all around as many familiar faces greeted each other like long lost friends. Smiles & hugs filled the arena. The last most of us see each other at one arena was in the grand finals of MIMMA Season 5 – March 2018.
As dawn came, the air of energy began to raised, fueled by people dressed in everything from traditional fight gear, prisoner’s coverall to The God of Thunder himself – Thor. Yes, you read that right, Thor! The sight of Odinson, towering over others with his sculpted muscles and blond flowing hair circling the ring was worth the ticket price alone. The pre-fight preparation, resembled a bizarre Halloween fashion show more than a pre-fight event.
The show began with the Ringmaster Jon Nutt making an entrance as he swagger on to the ring., Rousing up the crowd by brandishing his lanky frame in every corner of the ring in true showmanship form.
Suddenly the current viral tune of Abuya Skibidi Bom Bom filled the air. As Ijam Asri( former MIMMA Season 1 heavyweight finalist ) walk out with a beanie and styling a sarong. His opponent, wearing a prisoner overall with Dr Hannibal’s mask and dangling prison chain around his neck was the pro boxer & BKFC fighter Jonny Tello. The fight rules – Foot in tire boxing.
Next up is Physical 100 challenge between two long time alumni of Fight Circus, bodybuilder & strength conditioning master trainer Walter John Veale vs 2017 FMD Lightweight champion – Tommy Hayden.
Fans of Muaythai was treated to a cosplay bout next. Nidal Mahmoud @ The Joker, aptly dress as one with prison garb enter the ring with another convict – Muhammad Hafiz. Fighting their way to determine who gets the Ringmaster approval for early release from Sungai Buloh Prison.
The Fight Circus ring has 4 corners, so why not have four people inside fighting right? With weapons some more! Weapons of mass destruction of the soft fluffy kind ?
This was supposed to be 4 corner fight among 4 former MIMMA Heavyweight, namely, Tsan Nieng Khai ( MIMMA 5 Heavyweight Champion ), Azreel Izat ( MIMMA 5 Heavyweight finalist ), Darren Low ( MIMMA 3 & 4 Heavyweight champion ) & a heavyweight representative from Thai – Jaksri Jantong. But Darren blew out his knee in training so his replacement is his compatriot from Sabah, non other than MIMMA 1 Lightweight Champion The Orang Utan – Allen Solomon Chong.
I don’t know who had more fun, the four adults in the ring whacking each other with stuffed toys or the wild cheering crowd outside the ring giving them instructions!
After wild quadruple whack-a-fighter was over, came the high-octane pro wrestling between Azwan Serigala & former Malaysian ONE Championship Featherweight Champion AJ Pyro!
I used to watched lots of WWF ( now WWE ) on TV as a kid growing up, as I grew older I was put off by the over the board acting. But as more and more documentary about how dedicated these pro wrestler giving their all to entertain the crowd. Putting their body on the line & on top of that, have to play the character to keep the crowd engage, this gives me a new found respect for pro wrestler.
This bout of AJ vs Serigala is my first time seeing a pro wrestling match live & I must say I truly enjoyed it. I dare say this was the best bout of the night. AJ & Serigala performed some truly stunning moves, choreographed dance of muscle and mayhem and they carry their persona from the start till the very end, truly genuine artist at work!
Come next is definitely a bout you can only witness in Fight Circus – Wheelchair boxing. Before I knew Darren Low blew out his knee, I was impressed that he put on the act way before his bout began, by walking on crutches and having his knee wrap. Turn out this wasn’t an act ?. So the wheelchair certainly came in at the right time.
Turn out, the sly Jon Nutt took this opportunity to challenge Darren as they both slug it out sitting down. Thor and Allen couldn’t just push & watch and they also join in the craze.
Time for some seriousness. Enter Coin Flip Boxing. Mirage Khan looking slick with his shades and coat ala John Wick, accompanied by equally dapper looking dudes. His challenger was Bryant Tan, his opponent in the MIMMA 4 Middleweight Championship bout which Mirage won. This rematch in tire boxing was to me the most serious looking fight. As both boxers bob & weave to execute crisp boxing techniques.
Back to some whackiness. Jon Nutt up the ante as he announces next bout to be the Siamese Twins Boxing. Who better to do this but the two sets of most notable siblings of MIMMA, The Kalai Brothers ( Effendy & Eddie ) and The Amal Brothers ( Naimul & Dhiaaul ). These four fought each other numerous times in the many seasons of MIMMA. Effendy & Eddie was finalist for MIMMA 3 &5, MIMMA 4 respectively. Naimul ( MIMMA 5 Flyweight champion ), Dhiaaul ( MIMMA 5 Bantamweight Champion ), Siamese twins fight need a referee that understand the physical demand, so referee Daniel Chee & Ashton Thomas merged themselves as conjoined twins to do the job.
Hyping up this bout is Rashid Salleh, former MASMMAA ( Malaysian MMA Association ) president, sportscaster & producer. He co-host with Jon in many seasons of MIMMA. Tonight his duty doing the commentary, but took over Jon’s role to announce the ultimate foursome scrimmage.
Up next come Kicking Only bout between two Former ONE Championship fighter Peter Davis vs Riki Corminal. Why kick only? Coz Peter needs to keep his face flawless to earn a living.
Not satisfy with kicking around in the early round, they both decides to chop down each other’s thigh with some low kick contest. Great way to ready for the after-party one legged dance.
Final bout is the main event! Brawla in Kuala! The Ringmaster himself Jon Nutt stepped up to exchange blows with the fighting Blob from the Land of Smiles – Blobtang . This Blob didn’t give any smiles on that night as he tries to tear down Jon, it wasn’t easy for Jon even though he has the height and reach, Blobtang was absorbing Jon’s full force roundhouse using his belly like a lazy Sunday stroll in KLCC Park.
Both fighters traded strikes and takedowns, each trying to outdo the other with their flashy moves. The referee looked like he was trying to mediate a very intense family dispute at the dinner table. Just when it seemed one fighter would secure the win, the other countered with a dramatic flip that had everyone gasping, because Jon inadvertently landed in a very undignified pose, reminiscent of a yoga instructor trying to find inner peace after tripping over a cat.
As the night came to a close, attendees left with sore cheeks from laughing and the unmistakable feeling that they had just witnessed something spectacularly ridiculous. Fight Circus had once again proven that while punches might be thrown, it was the joy of the event that really packed a punch.
So that’s it folks! The night ended with thumping EDM music spun by the DJ’s & two ‘kwailows’ whom clearly didn’t get any contract from Jon, entering the ring & brawl with each other try to impress Jon….but where’s Jon? … busy preparing for the next Fight Circus 12! The whole night was a whirlwind of laughter, camaraderie, and enough selfies & groupfies to fuel social media frenzy for weeks.
In the end, PITT Club was left buzzing, and attendees were already pondering what absurdity Fight Circus 12 would bring. One thing was for sure: it would be another round of hilarity mixed with fierce competition, and if you don’t get a front-row seat, you will miss out on the greatest martial combat show on earth!
Hey a legit Halloween party cannot end without knowing who won the best outfit award. The honour goes to….Brian Ebersole! Dude grew real hair with bulging pec & delt.
Picture with watermark belongs to combat sports master sifu shutterbug – YK Tang. Check out his incredible work at YK Tang Photography
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