This episode is my annual Muay Thai business review — looking back at 2025 and outlining where I'm heading in 2026.

I've been doing this as a written blog for years, but this is the first time I'm breaking it down fully on the podcast.

This show sits at the intersection of: Muay Thai, Business, Media And building real careers in combat sports In this episode, I cover:

Why I left Fairtex after 7 years

What I learned working with top promotions and fighters

Building a personal media brand in Muay Thai

Writing Muay Thai: The Complete Insider's Guide to Training, Fighting & Business What content actually works (and what doesn't)

My goals for 2026: newsletter, consulting, LLC, partnerships

Building a successful Muay Thai fight team looks very different in Thailand than it does in the United States. In this episode I sit down with Sean Madden, long-time Easton coach, Team USA IFMA coach, and veteran of both the American and Thai Muay Thai systems.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Becoming a professional Muay Thai fighter isn't about talent alone. It's about planning, money, health, opponents, visas, and survival.

In this episode, Matt Lucas and Jonathan Pu'u break down what it actually takes to turn pro and how most fighters mess it up.

We cover: How many fights you really need Why money matters more than skill early on USA vs Thailand costs Selling tickets & building a following Health insurance, visas, and savings Why breaking even is the real first goal This is a long-form masterclass for fighters who are serious about longevity not just chasing a "pro" label.

In this episode I talk about why consistency matters more than virality. Living in Thailand for over 10 years. What fighters, creators and trainers get wrong.

I've commentated 10,000 or more fights. I worked with Fairtex, WBC, MAX Muay Thai, Lumpinee, and documented thousands of fighters.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

With 30 years in Muay Thai, David McVicker shares his journey from fighter to coach, the challenges of training his own son, and his mission to build the next generation of Australian Muay Thai talent.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Max Cruz has fought everywhere — Phuket stadiums, Bangkok gyms, Rebellion in Australia, Muay Thai League, and Cambodia, where he made over 130,000 baht for one fight. In this interview, we break down what real life as a foreign fighter in Thailand actually looks like.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

American Muay Thai legend Brett Hlavacek sits down with me in Thailand to talk about 20+ years in the sport — from fighting 40+ pro fights, to coaching at Rose Muay Thai, to becoming the WBC Northeast Director.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Julio Lobo has spent nearly a decade living and fighting in Thailand — battling legends, training under Leo Elias, and now passing his knowledge on to the next generation at Phuket Fight Club.

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

From a small town in New Mexico to shaping the future of Muay Thai in Malaysia, Jena Johnson's journey is nothing short of inspiring.

In this interview, she shares how it all started, pro fighting in Malaysia, bringing up Johann Ghazali, her promotion Muay Girl and Rentap Fighting Championship plus more

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH

Kru Petchto Sitjaopho — known as Kru F — shares his journey from the Golden Era of Muay Thai to coaching in today's globalized fight world. He talks about his favorite fighters, training philosophy, OneSongchai days, the evolution of promotions, and the timeless importance of consistency.

Learn how Muay Thai has changed, how Sitjaopho Gym helped open Thailand to the world, and why Kru F's advice is simple: "Don't think too much. Just do it."

Want to learn more about the sport? Check out:

Muay Thai The Complete Insider's Guide To Training Fighting And Business: https://a.co/d/iFTOOKH