Members of Blayney's Aussie Martial Arts Academy's Punch4Pound Muay Thai gym training are heading to Dubbo next weekend to take on the Conquest 5 event.
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Of the four-strong Blayney contingent who will be competing, Dylan McNabb will be fighting for the NSW welterweight state title and Ginny Connors will be looking to take home the prestigious country cup title. It will be their sixth and twelfth fights on the big stage, respectively.
Scott McGlashan and Lachlan Robertson will also be taking part in their inaugural tournament.
The Academy's Sensai Terry Hunt said all four have been training hard ahead of the tournament and will represent the gym well in their respective weight divisions.
"All of them should do exceptionally well. They are all capable of bringing home the victory," he said.
"They are revved up and keen to go."
However, they will up against some of the top Muay Thai fighters in Australia.
"There's some pretty tough competition, including big names from Sydney," Sensai Terry said.
But what will keep them in good stead is the camaraderie, fitness and respect they have gained from their training in Blayney.
The September 6 outing starts off a busy few months for the Muay Thai participants and the Academy.
On the weekend of October 25 and 26, Dylan, Scott and Lachlan will join nine others from the Blayney group in competing at the Muay Thai Australia national championships on the Gold Coast.
That event, which brings together fighters from the age of eight through to 35, also acts as a stepping stone to the world championships - the seniors to be held in Brazil and the juniors in Thailand.
To get the locals up to the championships, the Academy will be holding a movie night fund-raiser at the Odeon 5 cinema in Orange on Saturday, September 13.
For $20 per person, enjoy pizza and the screening of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Tickets to that fund-raiser can be obtained by calling Sensai Terry on 0403 469 173.
Muay Thai has been growing in popularity in Blayney in recent times, much to the delight of Sensai Terry.
"It's good to see so many young fighters coming into Muay Thai. It's really good to get fresh blood into the sport," he said.
To help capitalise on that growing interest and the increase in respect being shown to local fighters from the wider Muay Thai community, Blayney will hold its first ever fight night, Conquest 6, on Saturday, November 29.
Like its predecessors, including Dubbo's Conquest 5, it will feature three world titles and numerous amateur titles.
