In Episode 236 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with his cousin Deutsch Pu’u — a former professional fighter with a background in boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

Deutsch shares his journey growing up in American Samoa, where structured martial arts training was limited, and how he developed through boxing before competing professionally across multiple combat sports — including K-1 kickboxing and Muay Thai.

This episode goes beyond fighting and dives into something bigger: building a future pipeline for combat sports in Samoa.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Growing up in American Samoa and learning to fight without formal structure
• Transitioning from boxing into kickboxing, MMA, and Muay Thai
• Fighting in K-1 and adapting without a traditional Muay Thai background
• Training at Fight Capital in Las Vegas with Jason Andrada
• How Muay Thai changed his approach to striking (elbows, knees, clinch)
• The importance of structure, coaching, and proper education in martial arts
• Building a pipeline to develop fighters from Samoa and bring them into Muay Thai
• Creating opportunities for the next generation through coaching and systems

Deutsch also shares his vision for introducing structured Muay Thai and combat sports programs in American Samoa — with the goal of developing world-class fighters from the island and creating long-term opportunities through proper coaching and mentorship.

This episode is about more than fighting — it’s about family, legacy, and building something that lasts for the next generation.

Support the show

Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
+1-805-456-3316

💬 What Do You Think? Join the Discussion!
📩 DM us on Instagram: @muaythaipodcast
💥 Join the Black Room VIP Community to talk more about this topic!

📺 WATCH & LISTEN NOW: Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & More!

👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 235 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down virtually in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Joel “The Wolf” Licata, a Muay Thai fighter turned coach who spent five years living and training in Thailand.

Joel shares his journey of starting Muay Thai later in life, moving across the world during COVID to train full-time in Chiang Mai, and developing his skills under legendary trainer Thailand Pinsinchai.

In this episode, they discuss:

• What it’s really like training in Thailand with no other foreigners
• The difference between Muay Thai in the U.S. vs Thailand
• Fighting in Thailand as an older athlete and smaller weight class fighter
• Competing internationally, including fights in Thailand and Mexico
• The risks of fighting, including injuries and Joel’s decision to retire
• How Muay Thai evolves across different rule sets and promotions
• The importance of clinch work and technical development
• Joel’s transition into coaching at Rising Tide Academy in Maryland

Joel also breaks down how training in Thailand shaped his understanding of Muay Thai and why bridging the knowledge gap between Thailand and the United States is critical for the sport’s growth.

This episode is a must-listen for fighters, coaches, and anyone considering training or fighting in Thailand, as well as those interested in the long-term journey of Muay Thai beyond just competition.

Follow Joel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelxthewolf

Train with Joel at Rising Tide Academy: https://risingtidemartialarts.us/

Support the show

Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
+1-805-456-3316

💬 What Do You Think? Join the Discussion!
📩 DM us on Instagram: @muaythaipodcast
💥 Join the Black Room VIP Community to talk more about this topic!

📺 WATCH & LISTEN NOW: Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & More!

👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!

In Episode 234 of the Pu’u Muay Thai Podcast, Jonathan Puu sits down in person in the Black Room at Teep Studios in Scottsdale, Arizona with Mike Martinez, founder of Monster Promotions and longtime coach, matchmaker, and event promoter.

Mike returns to the podcast (previously featured on Episode 164) to break down what it actually takes to build Muay Thai events in the United States — from matchmaking and fighter development to the real economics behind running a show.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Monster Promotions started and why it was built
• The reality of running Muay Thai events in the U.S. (costs, logistics, and risk)
• What makes good matchmaking — and why “easy fights” don’t grow fighters
• Building fight cards, tournaments, and title bouts
• The challenges of promoting in smaller markets like Flagstaff, Arizona
• Elevation, travel, and preparation for fighters competing at altitude
• How fighters and gyms can better support promotions and grow the sport
• The importance of relationships, collaboration, and long-term vision in Muay Thai

Mike also shares insight into upcoming events like Cinco de Monster, expansion plans into Las Vegas and Phoenix, and how promotions are evolving with media, livestreaming, and modern marketing.

This episode is a must-listen for fighters, coaches, gym owners, and anyone interested in the business and growth of Muay Thai in the United States.

Learn more about Monster Promotions: https://www.monsterpromotions.org/

Support the show

Leave a message or text us 24/7/365!
+1-805-456-3316

💬 What Do You Think? Join the Discussion!
📩 DM us on Instagram: @muaythaipodcast
💥 Join the Black Room VIP Community to talk more about this topic!

📺 WATCH & LISTEN NOW: Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts & More!

👊 Train hard, stay sharp, and keep the Muay Thai spirit alive. See you next time!