Coach/Corner Duties: Day of the Fight

It’s tiiiiime 🥊 Aside from the grueling fight camp, another big factor in a fighter’s success and safety is what happens on the day of. As a corner/coach, it is your responsibility to prepare yourself and your fighter with the little things outside of the competition that can impact their performance.

I. Before Leaving for the Venue

Fights are stressful events, so avoid scrambling for items at the last minute. Make sure you and your fighter have everything planned and packed the night before.

• Corner Kit Checklist

  The checklist will be divided into two categories: what you will need pre-fight (when you register and warm-up the fighter) and during the fight (what you can take with you to the ring).

  I. PRE-FIGHT

  The following items are essentials when you register as a corner and what you will need to help your fighter before they go in:

  • Wear t-shirt/hoodie, pants and sneakers *Muay Thai Ontario has a strict dress code for corners, and you will not be permitted if you wear sleeveless tops, shorts or open-toe footwear .

  • Valid ID with name, picture, age and address (e.g. driver’s license)

  • Valid background check

  • Valid Muay Thai Ontario registration

  • Muay Thai pads and belly pad

  • Cooler with ice

  • Thai liniment

  • Yoga mat (if the fighter does not have their own)

  • Breath mints (make sure your breath is on point when you speak to your fighter up close lol)

  • Extra snacks, water and electrolyte drinks

  II. GOING INTO THE RING

  These are the only items you can have in your corner bucket to take to the ring:

  • Mongkon and flowers (worn by the fighter)

  • Corner-man scissors

  • Athletic trainer’s tape

  • Disposable nitrile gloves

  • Ice pack with ice inside

  • Water bottle

  • Fighter’s mouthguard

  • Face towel

  • Microfiber towel or sponge (to wipe corner if water spills during the break between rounds)

  • Enswell

  • Band-aids, cotton swabs

  • Ziplock (for garbage)

• Fighter Item Checklist

  Other than knowing what you need, please make sure that your fighter also has their items. This is especially crucial if you will be working with a first-time competitor.

  • Hoodie
  • Sweatpants
  • Socks

  • Slides *so that the fighter avoid swalking barefoot after their warm-up

  • MTO medicals (must be paper) and 2025 Membership registration (digital or printed)
  • Valid ID (with their name and age)
  • Mouthguard with case
  • Muay Thai shorts with compression shorts/leggings underneath

  • Groin protector
  • Handwraps
  • Sparring gloves (for warm-up)
  • Water & electrolytes
  • Snacks
  • Two meals (one right after weigh-ins and one two hours before fight)

  • Towel

  • Yoga mat

II. Weigh-Ins

• Timing

  Coordinate with your fighter to arrive at least 30 minutes before the official start of the weigh-ins; this is to ensure they are at the front of the line and guaranteed to replenish as early as possible. Weigh-ins are generally timed four hours before the first bout, and since line-ups are not scheduled until all fighters are registered, it is better to get the fighter to eat, rehydrate, and rest as much as they can, in case they are one of the first to compete in the night.

• Attitude

  Keep things light :) The fight hasn’t begun and you are surrounded by other gyms (maybe your fighter’s opponent) so avoid the fight talk and save that for the warm-up. When you talk to them this early into the competition day, be open and friendly, the time to be a focused coach comes later.

III. After Weigh-Ins (& Before the First Bout)

• Eating and Resting After Weigh-Ins

  Now that you have registered and your fighter has weighed in, it’s time for him to eat, hydrate, and rest. Find a place where he is comfortable doing this; some fighters prefer to have their own privacy and not be near other fighters and coaches in the warm-up area, others eat by their car outside if the weather is nice. Regardless, find the option that works best for your fighter.

  Remind your fighter to take their time and not to eat to fast! This may come off as common sense, but many fighters experience stomach pains after eating too quickly after a fasting period.

  Depending on your fighter, they may either want to sleep right after or take a walk around to digest. Regardless, do not let your fighter leave the venue; make sure wherever they go, they are within your line of sight or easy for you to access. If they want to take a walk, they can do so within the venue, not out in the parking lot (especially if it is hot or cold outside), and not for long periods of time (e.g. no more than 10 minutes is ideal). If they underwent a weight cut, they should not waste their energy walking before their fight.

  Another reason to keep your fighter close is to minimize potential interactions with their opponents or rival gyms. Although this isn’t a common occurrence, some competitors may interact with their opponents to “psych them out” before the bout and may come in the form of verbal or visual intimidation (e.g. snide remarks, glaring). Fighting is more than just using what you’ve learned in camp; it is also about dealing with or avoiding distractions before the start.

• Fighter and Coaches Meeting

  Before the doors open or the first bell begins, the promoter and Muay Thai Ontario staff conduct a mandatory fighter and coaches meeting. Ensure you and your fighter/s are present as the final line-up, bout rules and gear collection are discussed. This will also be a chance for you or your fighter to ask questions if necessary.

IV. Getting Closer to the Fight

After the line-up is finalized at the meeting, plan your fighter’s prep. This consists of replenishing your fighter again after weigh-ins and the warm-up itself.

• 2-3 Hours Before the Fight (Replenishing & Staying Focused)

  Best practice is to get your fighter warmed up four-five fights before(e.g. If your fighter is Fight #9, they must start warm-up by Fight #4 or 5). But before they warm up, ensure they have at least eaten their second meal at least two to three hours before their fight so they can be digested (not bloated) before they warm up. If there are no early knockouts, each fight from start to finish generally takes up to 15-20 minutes total (e.g. entrances + fight rounds + break between rounds + results + exit). If we return to the example of your fighter being Fight #9, get them to eat thirty minutes to an hour before Fight #1 so they can be ready to move by Fight #4 or 5. When eating, remind your fighter to listen to their body and to eat just enough so they aren’t bloated or still hungry after.

• Coordination

  Not all promotions are equal. Some promotions have a digital system or volunteers going into warm-up areas to give live updates on bout numbers to the fighters and coaches. Others have no such system and coaches must make do with what they have. If you have a second corner, or another student in the audience, get them to message you which fights are on while you are in the warm-up area with your athlete. Staying with your athlete ensures you can warm-up immediately if some fights end early and your fight gets moved up. You are also there to ensure your fighter stays focused or rested if necessary. Oftentimes, a fighter’s loved ones (e.g. family, training partners) may attempt to visit them in the warm-up area or a fighter contacts them (e.g. video call, texting). This can be a distraction and it is your job to ensure no one is around to distract your fighter in-person or over the phone. The fighter should also avoid being on social media, and only use their phone for music to get into their zone.

• 1 Hour Before the Fight (The Warm-Up)

  The warm-up consists of two parts: the massage and the workout. Both are meant to physically and mentally prepare the fighter to compete, but not deplete them beforehand.

  1. MASSAGE (10 min. max)

  When conducting the massage, avoid pressing deep into the muscles as this has a relaxing effect and will prevent the fighter from easily contracting the muscles when moving. Focus on applying the liniment on major contact points (e.g. chest, arms, thighs and shins) and avoid getting them in sensitive areas (e.g. face, armpit and groin).

  2. STRETCH (3 min. max)

  Your fighter may have their own stretching regimen already in place, just ensure they are prioritizing dynamic stretches (e.g. active, controlled repetitive movements which increase the heart rate) and engage their joints (e.g. shoulders, wrists, elbows, hips, knees, ankles) instead of passive stretches (e.g. holding a single position and slow the heart rate).

  After the massage and stretch, get your fighter to wrap-up. If the corner gear is unavailable, get them to use their own gloves. If the gear is available, let them wear it to get used to the weight and feel.

  3.WARM-UP (7 min. max)

  • Skip, or if there is no space, cycle between jumping jacks, switches, high knees, and twists (2 min)

  • Shadowbox (5 min): Focus on footwork (all directions and pivots, changing speeds from slow to fast), favorite combinations and defense.

  4.PADWORK (10-15 min. max)

  Do two minute rounds with 30 second breaks. For rounds 1-4, ensure that every hit your fighter gives, is accurate and thrown with fight-intensity. Practice exchanges in round 5 with medium intensity to avoid risking injury to your fighter.

  
  R1: Punches Only

  R2: Kicks Only

  R3: Clinch/Knee Only

  R4: All Weapons *prioritize your fighter’s go-to combinations

  R5: Light offense to defense exchange

  Some fighters will want to save their energy after the initial warm-up, others may request extra to get in the zone. Both are fine as not all fighters are the same. Just ensure that you do not deplete your fighter if they request for an extra round or two. Instead of going for power shots, get them to drill responses instead.

• Attitude

  Be reassuring and supportive. Your fighter will be battling between nerves and excitement. Focus on the following:

  • Celebrate their strengths and avoid criticisms.

  • Remind them to use one to two of their best weapons.

  Explain the game plan once they get into the ring and if this is an opponent they haven’t faced, proceed with caution:

  • Make their opponent miss by using their footwork

  • Intercept their attempts with their lead weapon (jab, teep or inside leg kick)

  • Defend, counter and leave

  If your fighter expresses doubt, remind them that now is the time to focus on what they can do instead of how they could’ve prepared before. The time for corrections will come later; now is the time to build confidence.

V. The Fight

Your fighter’s name has been called and it’s time to walk up to the ring and show what they can do.

• Before Round 1

  After the sealing of the ring, your fighter will face you one last time for their mouth guard and head gear. This will be your final opportunity to give them advice before the start of the round. Give them a final boost of confidence with a smile and remind them of what they need to do.

• During the Rounds

  Observe and give simple instructions when necessary. Even if your fighter may not be able to hear you (e.g. the audience is louder, adrenaline), there is a chance that they will. Keep it simple as the longer the instructions, the harder to follow, as fights can get fast-paced.

• Rest Between Rounds

  No matter the outcome of the round, greet your fighter. Be careful not to let your emotions overtake you. The moment they take a seat:

  • Take three deep breaths with them

  • Focus on what they should stop, start and continue

  • Go over them one more time before the round ends and reassuringly send them back to the ring

  Remember, you only have one minute with your fighter. Make it count and focus on being constructive, not aggressive.

• After the Fight

  The final round is over and your fighter walks back to you. It’s easy if your fighter dominated. But that will not always be the case; regardless, greet your fighter with a smile. It takes a lot of bravery and discipline to prepare and compete; if they aren’t elated, your fighter may feel discouraged: show them you are proud anyway. Their value as a person is beyond their achievements in the ring, and they must always feel that you see it too, even if they may not feel the same way about themselves.

  When the announcer gives the results, whether a win or loss, show respect. Sometimes judges will not acknowledge your fighter’s efforts even if they were dominant, but the ring is not the place to show your disappointment. You can request a formal inquiry into the result, but do so after your fighter has left the ring.

  If they look like they want time for themselves, let them. Don’t pressure them into talking if they are not in the mood. Before leaving, express your pride in their efforts and remind them to rest and that you can discuss with them in detail their performance the next time they’re in for training.

  *However, if your fighter received significant hits to the head, make sure to stay with them for at least an hour before they leave, and ensure they do not leave alone or drive on their own.