Hun Chan Reach, coach of the Cambodian Top Team (CTT) MMA team, is optimistic that all three of his fighters – Koramak Chan Reach (Pheng Sopanha), Long La and Rin Saroth – will bring home a championship MMA belt from the upcoming Gods of Martial Arts (GMA) event in Vietnam.
The August 2 tournament will see Chan Reach take on Malaysian Tan Bo Meng for the 57kg belt, while Long La will face another Malaysian, Terenz Tan, for the 59kg belt. Saroth, meanwhile, is set to compete against Thai fighter Chayut Rojanakat for the 68kg title.
Their title shots follow their impressive wins at the May 24, GMA competition. During that event, Saroth defeated Thailand’s Tanawat Ratchinnarit in the second round; Long La knocked out Myanmar’s Saw John in the first round; and Chan Reach won on points against Malaysia’s Prakas Manimaran.
CTT confirmed that all three fighters are well-prepared. The club highlighted the significance of all three matches being MMA title bouts.
“This time, CTT is sending a strong team to compete. All three fighters are ready. Whatever the outcome, please join us in supporting our Cambodian athletes,” said the club, in a Wednesday social media post.
The team’s head coach expressed strong confidence in all three of his charges, affirming that each of them is capable of bringing a championship belt home from Vietnam, based on their preparation and hard training.
Alongside promotional shots of the three upcoming title fights, coach Chan Reach posted a message on Wednesday.
“We have a plan to bring three more belts back to Cambodia!” he said.
This confidence in securing three titles is based not only on the fighters’ skills, but also on a track record of success by CTT athletes in international competition, where they have repeatedly returned with trophies, medals and belts.
Most recently, 17-year-old Chan Reach won the ISKA Kun Khmer South East Asia championship belt in Phnom Penh on July 20. CTT proudly celebrated his victory.
“Koramak is not yet a superstar, but he is a rising star in martial arts whose light is beginning to shine brighter in the combat sports world. He continues to sharpen his skills in Kun Khmer, kickboxing and MMA, all in pursuit of his big dreams for the future,” said the club.
