Phuket expat to compete in UFC
Mike “Quick” Swick will be swapping the beaches of Phuket for the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas when he takes on fellow UFC welterweight Alex Garcia on Saturday night.
As a veteran in mixed martial arts, 36-year-old Swick is considered favourite against the relative newcomer.
The fight will not necessarily be smooth sailing, however, as the Texan returns to the ring after being knocked out in the second round against Matt Brown in 2012.
Swick admits that following the fight he did deliberate about whether it was the right time to hang up his gloves. “After my last two fights, I thought my medical condition [esophageal spasm] would cause me to retire and be done,” he said.
It was in this enforced hiatus from the sport that Swick decided to move to the Thai island to recover and rehabilitate, and build the AKA Thailand gym, a matted MMA/BJJ training facility.
Although a regular visitor to Thailand since 2000, it was while on holiday in Phuket in 2008 when he realised he had found the perfect place, for work and play.
“It’s the most perfect location in the world. Thailand has the fight culture and authentic muay Thai training. The island is peaceful and low stress. The food is great and the lifestyle is affordable for aspiring fighters that need to train more than work.”
The two welterweights will battle at the same 16,800-seat venue where the damp squib “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao was held last month.
Asked as to whether he will compete again after the fight or, like many expats who choose Phuket as their adopted home, retire and take it easy, Swick said his ambitions were focused on only one thing at the moment.
“I plan to win in devastating fashion,” said Swick.