MMA fighting for piece of the Thai pie

BANGKOK - As someone who has practiced Thai boxing (Muay Thai) for 30 years, Chatri Sityodtong knows very well the challenges he faces as he tries to bring his version of mixed martial arts (MMA) to the Southeast Asian nation.

Sityodtong, who left a Wall Street career to start the ONE Championship in 2011, said the first major problem was a Thai misconception about the series born of televised western versions of cage fighting.

"Thais have a misconception, they think ONE Championship is about MMA," Sityodtong, who has Thai and Japanese parentage, told Reuters in an interview.