Cambodian kickboxing veteran Sor Sey will make his mixed martial arts debut on the international stage tomorrow night in Bangkok when he takes on Thai featherweight Komrid Hanbenjapong at Full Metal Dojo 3.

Powerful A Fighter Club brawler Sor Sey, who has fought over 100 Kun Khmer fights on home soil and currently boasts a 2-1 MMA record from Cambodian cage bouts, told the Post he felt “normal” ahead of his bout at the Live House Studio in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district.

“I can’t say yet who will win or lose, but all I know is I’m going there to fight and I will put on a good fight,” he said. “I train for this fight and so did my opponent so it will come down to who want it more.”

His opponent Komrid is a third Dan black belt in Shotokan karate who will be entering the MMA cage for the first time.

After two successful events in Phuket on June 7 and August 23, Full Metal Dojo (FMD) breaks into the traditional Muay Thai stronghold of Bangkok for the first time.

Picking up where cash-strapped MMA promotion Dare left off last year, FMD will look to attract a raucous crowd of local and expat combat enthusiasts with a 13-fight card stacked heavily with local talent.

“Full Metal Dojo is Thailand’s number one MMA promotion with an emphasis on promoting up-and-coming Thai and international fighters, and delivering a new platform for athletes to kick start their fight careers at high-profile international events in Thailand,” stated a press release.

“The promotion’s aim is to send fighters to the top organisations in the sport, including the UFC, Bellator and ONE FC.”

Headlining the night will be a clash between American Dylan ‘The Muscle’ Fussell (2-1) and Baz Mohammad Mubariz (4-2) of Afghanistan in a catchweight 74kg contest.

In his previous bout, which had him as a late call up to the main event of FMD 2, Fussell fell to a first round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) after having his forehead opened up by a vicious strike from Frenchman Jason Ponet (10-8).

In the co-main event of the same card, Mubariz won by unanimous decision over Sweden’s Kristoffer Persson (2-4).

Other bouts tomorrow night in Bangkok include the all-Thai battles of Siwa Konthieng v Chatmongkhon Simma (featherweight), Tanabadee Supparukephusakun v Supat Senapol (featherweight), Kritsada Kongsrichai v Manaschai Promswad (flyweight), Pongsiri Mitsatit v Payoongsak Singchalad (strawweight) and Wazin Hemhongsa v Thitiwat Rataniteetanayod (amateur bantamweight).

International match-ups include Canadian Cole Smith against Iranian Ali Motamhed (amateur bantamweight), Thailand’s Arthit Machungoen against Jhaymie Gayman of the Philippines (strawweight), Indian Susovan Ghosh against American Alex Schild (flyweight), Afghanistan’s Uloomi Karim Shaheen against Emilio Urrutia of the US (bantamweight), Lebonese Youssef Wehbe against Dmitrijs Homjakovs of Sweden (catchweight 72kg) and Malaysia’s Hisyam Sams against Thailand’s Thossawat Akkhanithin (featherweight).

The event, which includes live music and other entertainment, is slated to start at 3:30pm tomorrow, with all-access tickets priced at 3,000 baht (US$91.35) and 1,500 baht for a standard pass.

Officials at FMD, which is led by former Dare ring announcer Jon Nutt, have also expressed an interest in bringing an MMA fight card to Cambodia in the near future.