As many of you may know, I’m an avid MMA enthusiast. Over the years, I’ve trained in various disciplines that find themselves at home in MMA, including Muay Thai, BJJ, Taekwondo, and other traditional martial arts.
Recently, I presented research on MMA in Vietnam at the Martial Arts Studies (MAS) conference (you can read about it and see the presentation here). While my full research paper will be published later this year, a key point emphasized in both my presentation and paper is the rapid development of MMA in Vietnam. Particularly, I’ve highlighted the expectation that we would soon see Vietnamese fighters not just breaking through, but succeeding in the international MMA scene.
I’m pleased to report that as of Friday, August 23, 2024, this anticipated breakthrough has indeed occurred. Phan Van Nam, also known as Nam Chou, made his professional MMA debut with ONE Championship at the renowned Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, marking a significant milestone for Vietnamese MMA. I had a chance to catch up with Nam this week and gain personal insight into his debut bout, the development of MMA in Vietnam, and more.
Background
Nam’s credentials in the local scene are impressive. He currently holds the 56kg championship in Vietnam’s premier league, the Lion Championship. Additionally, he has claimed titles in other promotions such as the MFL (Mekong Fighting League), which was established by Johnny Tri Nguyen—a notable figure in Vietnamese martial arts whom I had the opportunity to interview recently. It’s worth mentioning that Johnny has recently launched a new league called “Gods of Martial Arts”, featuring innovative traditional styling and unique locations as part of the fight spectacle.
Returning to Nam, I have met him a number of times through MMA events in Vietnam and have always been impressed by his dedication to martial arts and friendly attitude. While he began as a student of traditional Vietnamese martial arts (Võ Cổ Truyền), for years he has now been teaching and training MMA, waiting for the burgeoning scene to develop so that he has the opportunity to go ‘pro’.
Thankfully, his hard work has come to fruition, as in his bout last Friday, Nam finally had an opportunity to fight in the ‘big leagues’, facing Estrada Donga-as from the Philippines in a flyweight bout at ONE Friday Fights 76.
The Fight
Under pressure from his Filipino opponent in the first round, Nam and Dong-as consistently fought for control, exchanging heavy punches, kicks, and spurts of ground activity that showed the fight was up for the taking and either one of the solid fighters could emerge as the victor.
As the second round progressed, Donga-as showed signs of fatigue, struggling to maintain his earlier aggression. Nam capitalized on this opportunity, increasing his offensive output and taking calculated risks.
With just over a minute remaining in the second round, Nam unleashed a barrage of powerful strikes that sent Donga-as to the canvas. The referee officially declared Nam the victor by knockout at 3 minutes and 52 seconds of the second round.
Behind the Scenes: Nam’s Perspective
I caught up with Nam following his victory, and he shared valuable insights into his experience and the challenges he faced:
- Stepping onto the International Stage: Nam emphasized that while local tournaments were challenging, entering the international arena brought a new level of stress. The heightened quality of fighters and the expectations from fans added significant pressure.
- Adapting His Fighting Style: Nam revealed that his natural style leans towards wrestling. This is often displayed in his bouts where he smothers and wears out opponents by dominating them on the ground. However, for his ONE Championship debut, he had to adapt his game plan. With less than two weeks to prepare, Nam and his coaching staff worked to modify his approach to suit ONE’s requirements for an “all-out war” rather than a wrestling-heavy strategy, which might have been less exciting for the audience.
- Opponent Analysis: Nam acknowledged the psychological pressure of facing an opponent from the renowned Team Lakay. He was aware of Donga-as’s strong striking skills and anti-wrestling abilities, which only added to the challenge.
- Match Reflection: Interestingly, Nam expressed surprise at his opponent’s unexpected initiative to wrestle. He credited his victory to maintaining control throughout the match and seizing the opportunity for a TKO in the second round. Nam humbly noted that he still has room for improvement to perfect his skillset for future ONE Championship appearances.
- Vietnamese MMA’s Future: Nam spoke positively about the rapid development of MMA in Vietnam over the past three years. He believes that there are many other excellent Vietnamese fighters who could perform excellently in ONE Championship. Personally, Nam expressed his desire to continue competing in this arena, aiming to elevate Vietnamese MMA on the regional stage and create opportunities for future fighters.
Despite the challenges of short notice preparation and the need to adapt his fighting style, Nam overcame the odds to secure a momentous victory, which marks a significant milestone in his career and for the development of professional MMA in Vietnam.
Nam’s debut demonstrates that fighters from Vietnam are not only capable of competing on major international stages but are also able to win in impressive fashion. As Nam and other Vietnamese fighters continue to gain experience at this level, we can anticipate more competitive and exciting performances in the future.
This victory is obviously a great career turning point for Nam, but it also validates the development of the sport in the country and paves the way for more Vietnamese fighters to make their mark on the international scene. We eagerly anticipate Nam’s future appearances in the ONE Championship cage and the emergence of more local talent in international promotions.