Former world champion, Irshaad “White Tiger” Sayed, has recently announced his retirement from professional Muay Thai, at age 22. White Tiger is throwing his hunger for fighting into the MMA cage, where he’s knocked out opponents with devastating body shots and head shots. With just six pro MMA fights, the Muay Thai stylist, is only two fights away from a RUFF (Ranik Ultimate Fighting Federation) championship.
In a few quick years, when his wrestling and ground game peak, he will likely be competing at the elite championship level of MMA.
FSA: How good is your ground game, wrestling, and takedown defense?
White Tiger: It’s getting there, I’m trying to develop some offence off my back, so that I can be a well rounded MMA fighter, not just a striker.
FSA: How good are your reversals and sweeps, how are you at getting off your back?
White Tiger: My sweeps are okay, I can pull them off sometimes, most of the time I just scramble to my feet, it’s all about heart, I got heart.
FSA: Has MMA training expanded your already effective stand up game?
White Tiger: Absolutely; fighting Muay Thai, I never had to worry about takedowns, I could just come in and do my thing; I can’t do that in MMA with all the takedowns and slams. I’m pushing my standup to include a lot more in and out motion with the feet, so that I can control the fight. Getting into and out of punching range and takedown range quickly, and maintaining proper distance to stuff a shot, it’s a different awareness and a different set of skills.
FSA:What’s next for your career?
White Tiger: I got two more fights for RUFF and if I win, I might fight for the championship. That’s all I’m focused on right now, those two fights… and getting a shot at that belt.
The hope for Sayed is, that training and fighting at the highest levels of MMA, will soon be his new full-time gig. Brutal sparring; the daily blood wars in the cage, and on the matt; are just a part of his career and journey into the elite ranks of professional Mixed Martial Arts. White Tiger is hungry, he has killed before, he waits silently in the shade of the tall Buffalothorn tree; where the young Tiger humbly gathers wisdom, and patiently gathers strength; for a day soon shall come, a day when the Tiger will strike, and again rule the jungle.
Irshaad “White Tiger” Sayed
- Pro Muay Thai and Kickboxing 28 fights, 20 wins, 8 losses, 11 KO
- Pro MMA 6 fights, 4 wins, 2 losses, 3 KO
Titles
- W.P.M.F world muay thai muay thai champion, 57.5kg, 2007
- W.M.C I-1 Asia muay thai champion, 60 kg, 2008
- SAAKA k1 kickboxing champion, 60-65kg, 2008
- W.M.C I-1 lightweight champion, 60kg, 2009
- W.M.C Planet battle lightweight champion, 60k
Here’s some footage we shot of Irshaad sparring and showing some techniques he’s like to use in the cage.
(thanks to Phuket Top Team for letting me shoot some nice stuff)
