Muay Thai sensation Kit Cope is heading back to his roots

Chidi Njokuani vs. Canada’s Ken Tran

Cung Le protege Elaina Maxwell vs. Roxy “Balboa” Richardson

By FCF Staff

After a five year hiatus from Muay Thai competition, outspoken four-time champ Kit Cope of Las Vegas will return to his roots when he faces fellow dual sport fighter Jose Palacios of San Jose, Calif. in a featured main card welterweight (147 pounds) bout presented by upstart Muay Thai promotion Lion Fight Promotions at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Sat., Nov. 19.  Chidi Njokuani, the 23-year-0ld brother of UFC star Anthony Njokuani, will also put it on the line on the card against Canada’s Ken Tran in a 170-pound catchweight fight.

The 34-year-old Cope drew mainstream attention to the sport of Muay Thai in 2004 when he was featured on the memorable 2004 MTV True Life episode, “I’m a Muay Thai Fighter,” which followed Cope’s journey to Thailand for bare-knuckle rules competition.  The program earned widespread acclaim amongst viewers and earned Cope a return to the series in a 2008 episode, “I’m an MMA Fighter.”

Whereas he has compiled a stellar 23-1 (9 KO’s) career record in professional Muay Thai competition, Cope  has struggled in the sport of MMA, his career record in the sport standing at 4-7.  In his last MMA start on March 11, Cope tapped out to a rear-naked choke at the hands of Freddy Assuncao in the second round of their bout in Bellingham, Wash.

“I’ve always been a Muay Thai fighter.  Even when I was fighting under MMA rules, I was a Thai boxer at heart,” said Cope in a press release.  “Until now, though, there weren’t any big opportunities in the sport of Muay Thai.  Lion Fight Promotions is changing that, though, and I’m looking forward to getting back to doing what I love.  Muay Thai has given me the life that I have today and I can’t wait to get in the ring on Nov. 19.”

In the main event of Lion Fight Promotion’s fourth installment of its “Battle In The Desert” WBC championship Muay Thai series, Las Vegas resident, Chaz Mulkey, will take on British striking machine Simon Chu, at middleweight (160 pounds).  In women’s action, Cung Le-protege Elaina Maxwell of San Francisco, Calif. will make her pro Muay Thai rules debut against Los Angeles, Calif. resident Roxy “Balboa” Richardson at super lightweight (140 pounds).