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Mathew Scott

Word was that Loma Lookboonmee would be a killer in the clinch
Word was right.
The Thai 23-year-old (4-1) stuck to what she knows best in taking her debut victory in the UFC, leaning on her Muay Thai brilliance in taking a split decision over Russian Aleksandra “Stitch” Albu (3-2) at UFC Fight Night 162 in Singapore on Saturday evening.
History was also made with the win as Loma is the first-ever Thai fighter to sign with the world’s largest MMA promotion. On the evidence shown Saturday night, they’re on to a good thing.


“This is more than I could ever have expected,” Loma said afterwards. “To actually get here and to actually win is beyond everything. I've never had a drink before and my coach [George Hickman] told me if I win I have to have a beer. So that’s what I’m going to do.”
Albu copped elbow after elbow when things got tight in the early exchanges. And a few nasty knees besides. It was pure Muay Thai.

The 29-year-old’s nose looked to be flattened and she was warned any number of times in the first as she held on to the Thai’s shirt and tugged away, trying to break from her clutches.
But Loma kept on coming. She tore off the ripped shirt between rounds and once again came out looking to pick her opponent apart. As the fight progressed, it became clear that the Thai was also able to soak up the pressure – and the punches.
‘I came here to fight my own style and to fight the way I train and that’s what I did,” said Loma. “I knew she had trained very hard and had come out there to win so I was surprised about how aggressive she was. I was happy with my elbows. I had trained hard with them, I threw a lot, and I liked them.”

Albu changed game plan as the bout progressed and Loma’s elbows and knees had found their mark. She kept more distance and landed a few of her own throughout and had the Thai on the mat and in serious trouble when the bell brought the bout to an end. The referees had it closer than it appeared, from cageside at least, at 30-27, 28-29, 30-29 but no matter to Loma
The Thai’s face showed afterwards she’d copped a fair few for her corner but she was smiling also backstage.
“Now I will take two weeks’ rest and then get back in the gym,” said Loma. “Everyone else in the UFC has a six pack so I’m going to have a six pack for my next fight.”

Loma started her martial arts journey inspired as a child by the sight of father Boonmee engaged in bouts staged in rural Thailand that can seem more like a two-man war. Once she’d witnessed her first, she couldn’t get enough.
Boonmee and mother Mon had made the trip to Singapore from Buriram to see the debut and to add to the occasion.
“If it wasn’t for the team at Tiger Muay Thai and my family I wouldn’t have the win I had today. I owe it all to my team,” said Loma. “It is a gift to have my parents here. They live in the countryside and they are here experiencing a new culture. Having them watch their daughter fight in the largest organisation in the world and winning, it’s the biggest gift I could ever receive in life.”

Hickman, coach at Phuket’s Tiger Muay Thai gym, is the man who has helped guide the young fighter’s transition into MMA – and into the UFC. He’d said pre-bout that Loma was still a work in progress. But he also stressed the fact that hers was a rapid learning curve, given the Thai star’s innate ability, and pure love of a scrap.
Given Saturday’s evidence, fans are in for a wild ride as Loma grows into this new code, and into the strawweight division.
There had been fears coming in to Singapore that the step up from atomweight – needed as the UFC simply doesn’t have that division – might be too much too soon for Loma. But come the weigh-ins and there were just two pounds separating her and Albu.

Where she needs to work now is on her muscle mass if she’s to climb towards the top of a division currently ruled by the pocket battleship that is Chinese champ Zhang “Magnum” Weili (20-1). That there’s strength in depth behind Zhang, what with the likes of Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade (20-7) and Rose “Thug” Namajunas (8-4) – and more – lurking with menace in the shadows, means it’ll be a steep climb.
But on Saturday in Singapore, the first step was taken.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

First Thai fighter in UFC, Loma Lookboonmee takes first win – and celebrates with first ever beer

Loma Lookboonmee clinches Aleksandra Albu. Photos: SingaporeMaven

Loma Lookboonmee strikes Aleksandra Albu

Loma Lookboonmee kicks Aleksandra Albu.

Loma Lookboonmee kicks Aleksandra Albu

Loma Lookboonmee fights Aleksandra Albu

UFC: Loma Lookboonmee’s remarkable rise from badlands of Thailand to shining lights of Singapore

Loma Lookboonmee outside her family home in Thailand. Photo: Thanit Watthanaya

Loma Lookboonmee at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai.

Loma during a fight for Invicta.

Loma Lookboonmee's family gym.

Loma Lookmoonbee as a young fighter.

Loma Lookboonmee watches on during training at Tiger Muay Thai.

Loma Lookboonmee with her family.

Loma Lookboonmee's father works with young fighters at their gym.

Loma Lookboonmee started her prom MMA career with a 3-1 run.

Loma Lookboonmee

Loma Lookboonmee poses next to a picture of Ronda Rousey at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai.

Loma Lookboonmee during training at Tiger Muay Thai

Loma Lookboonmee as a kid.

Loma Lookboonmee's father with her trophy haul.

Loma Lookboonmee's family farm.

Local youngsters at Loma Lookmoonbee's gym.

Loma Lookboonmee's father with a young fighter at the family gym.

Loma Lookboonmee with her coach.

Loma Lookboonmee works out at Tiger Muay Thai gym.

Loma Lookboonmee shows off her Asian Games gold medal.

Loma Lookboonmee as a young fighter

Loma Lookmoonbee's farm.

Loma Lookboonmee outside her family home at their farm in Buriram, in the Isan region of Thailand. Photo: Thanit Watthanaya

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Ben Askren at his open workout in Singapore.

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Ben Askren on his way to victory in One Championship in Shanghai. Photo / One Championship

Demian Maia at his open workout in Singapore.

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Nate Diaz poses after beating Anthony Pettis. Photo: Instagram

Jorge Masvidal celebrates his knockout victory over Ben Askren during their welterweight mixed martial arts bout at UFC 239, Saturday, July 6, 2019, in Las Vegas. Masvidal won by the fastest knockout in UFC history. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 17: Nate Diaz throws a punch at Anthony Pettis in the second round during their Welterweight Bout at UFC 241 at Honda Center on August 17, 2019 in Anaheim, California. Joe Scarnici/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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John Lineker makes his One debut. Photo: One Championship

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Muay Thai hero from rural Thailand gets a split decision win against Russian Aleksandra ‘Stitch’ Albu
‘Having my parents watch their daughter fight in the largest organisation in the world and winning is the biggest gift I could ever receive’



‘Having my parents watch their daughter fight in the largest organisation in the world and winning is the biggest gift I could ever receive,’ says Loma Lookboonmee.


Muay Thai