Amateur Muay Thai athletes to compete in Niagara Falls

The art of eight limbs is coming to Niagara Falls this Saturday.

MAS Thaiboxing and Bloodline FightSports are hosting a Muay Thai event, Rising Starz, at the Late Club. The sport orginated in Thailand with fighters using their fists, elbows, knees, and shins.

“Top notch amateur Muay Thai athletes will light the night as they exhibit the skills of their craft & their passion for the sport of Muay Thai with rounds with the art of 8 limbs,” said the Facebook event page.

Stefan Dronjak, one of the fighters for the event, has been active in various forms of fighting for his whole life and started Muay Thai when he was 15.

Dronjak said there will be 14 matches featuring fighters from Ontario and Mexico. He said they were able to bring them from Mexico because he’s fought there in the past.

“Just having those connections, we were able to bring them up here and have an even better show,” Dronjak said.

Jose Barcelata, the coach for team Bstriking Mexico, brought two of his fighters—Karen Cerbon, 19, and Jonathan Diaz, 15 — from Veracruz, Mexico.

He said it’s their first time to Canada.

“It’s a great experience,” Barcelata said. “We’ve been fighting together for a few years now and it’s our first time over here,” he said.

The event is one of the first the Late Club has hosted since four men and one woman were shot at the club last year on Labour Day weekend during a rave. The injuries were non-life-threatening.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first fight is scheduled to start between 7-7:30 p.m. The Late Club is located on 13030 Lundy Lane, Niagara Falls.

Tickets can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite for $40, or at the door for $50.