Fairtex is one of the most, if not the most renown, martial arts companies in the world.

The company began in 1971 under Philip Wong and has produced a litany of Muay Thai champions including Jongsanaan, Bunkerd, Kaew Fairtex and most recently international superstar Yodsanklai.

The company expanded from its original location outside of Bangkok in Bangplee and has had a successful run of equipment. Now solely based in the seaside tourist town of Pattaya, the company has begun growing even further pushing not only the limits of Muay Thai but also entering the world of mixed martial arts.

“Our equipment line is expanding,” Prem Busarabavonwong, managing director of Fairtex and son of Philip Wong said.

“We will now make MMA gloves and Gi’s for Jiu Jitsu. Our brand is going to be bigger than just Muay Thai now.”

The growth also sees a radical restructuring of the gym.

The top-class facility is installing several more Muay Thai rings, hot and cold baths for rehabilitation, a full MMA cage, a health cafe, a room dedicated solely to Jiu Jitsu, and strength and conditioning room with spring lanes.

The staff will be increased as well with a full-time nutritionist being brought on board along with a jiu jitsu coach, boxing coach, a strength and conditioning coach and five more Muay Thai trainers.

With the change of the gym comes a change of the lineup of the Fairtex fight team, notably the star of the Muay Thai team, Yodsanklai has recently retired.

Busarabavonwong was quick to note how unique Yodsanklai is.

“It’s hard to replace Yodsanklai. He’s one of those special people with real gifts. He’ll still be part of Fairtex working as one of our head distributors in China as a trainer again.

“Maybe if he gets hungry we’ll see him get into the ring again but right now he needs to settle and think about his future.”

In the meantime, Fairtex is scouting for the next top talent.

“We are looking for new talent now and we have a lot of young fighters from 18 to 19-years-old that we can build up. I don’t want to buy someone and use them. I want to build someone up that earns the position, that works hard and has talent,” Busarabavonwong stated.

The new talent also includes foreign and female fighters, most notably fighters such as Andrew Miller from Scotland and Stamp Fairtex, a strong female contender now transitioning into MMA.

“I think women will play a big role in MMA in Thailand and there will be more opportunity for females as our females already have great experience in Muay Thai,” Busarabavonwong said.

“They just need to work on their ground game and we hope to see our girls get into one of the big promotions like the UFC.”

Fairtex is almost done with its renovation and a grand opening is slated for December.