RepreZent V, Deadly Venoms - July 26, 2025

I’ve been dragging my feet, and my heart was really not in writing this blog, as Ontario lost the National 75 kg title. So I wrote it with a heavy heart, while wiping my tears… with Champion Wipes. If you’re expecting a funny read… Don’t!

It was the night we had all been waiting for, for some time. One of the best fight cards I’ve seen. The organizer, Kru Rommel from M-Town (Milton Muay Thai), had been working day and night to put this event together. During the fighters’ meeting, he mentioned that if anyone wanted to buy him a shot, it would be cool but rumor has it, when people offered him a shot, he asked for a Shirley Temple. I still owe him a Shirley Temple!

During the fighters’ meeting, Kru Dylan once again discussed the issue of wearing flags to the ring. At the previous event, Kru Dylan said that fighters could wear the flags up to two meters away from the ring. Kru Laura argued and said only a meter and a half. So they settled on a meter and a half. At RepreZent, MTO really let loose and said, “Guys, just keep it out of the ring.” Kru Laura also asked the fighters to be respectful and not throw each other over the ropes, but isn’t that half the fun?

I finally had a chance to chat with Jacob Ordonez (Siga). When I mentioned in my previous blog that I was looking to interview Siga, Mr. Ordonez, Siga’s father, sent me an elaborate message, responding to most of my interview questions. Thank you, Mr. Ordonez! Siga has 10 full siblings! A streak of 6 boys, followed by a streak of 5 girls! While I strive to work out the algorithm of how such an achievement is even possible, I salute Mrs. and Mr. Ordonez for their beautiful family.

Kru Rommel gave Jacob the nickname “Siga,” meaning “tough guy/bully” in Filipino slang. Siga started Muay Thai after his older brother Isaiah had his first fight, and within months, Siga was competing. After the fourth Ordonez brother joined M-Town, Kru Rommel really had to rethink the sibling discount! Siga is a six-time competing athlete at IFMA. I asked Siga why he thinks Canada hasn’t won gold at IFMA. He said that Canada is under-experienced compared to other countries where athletes are fighting every other weekend. “We need more experience with doing competitions.”

What Siga said helped me understand why MTO and Muay Thai Canada are advocating for local tournaments and fight night promoters and organizers. I recall Kru Alin thanking Kru Daryl for organizing the biggest Canadian Muay Thai tournament, the Canadian Muay Thai Open (CMTO). It all made sense now. These events, which are meant to support our fighters, cost money for space, judges, doctors, etc. So we all need to support the community whose sole purpose is to serve our athletes. If you’re not a fighter, attend these events to support them.

Siga is fundraising for his competition at IFMA 2026 in Dubai. He’s available for private training and pad work at M-Town. Let’s help him out as I’m sure he’d get into trouble if he tried to sell his fake gold Rolex! In pad work with Siga, you get to listen to him share his wisdom from years of competition experience all over the world. And you’ll get to see that Kru Rommel is even more pleasant coming to the gym at 8 a.m. on a Saturday, before he’s had his coffee. It’s really worth it!

Getting back to RepreZent V, here are only some of the highlights from the evening:

The younger Ordonez brother, Mateo, cornered by his older brother Siga, fought Santiago Nieva from Arshido. Mateo’s footwork that evening made me think of the Energizer Bunny commercial. The belly pads took a lot of beating during that fight, but Mateo took away the gold.

Julianna McDermott from Diamond Muay Thai fought McKenna Van Allen from Black Lotus. I had previously connected with McKenna for one of her kickboxing fights (read previous blog: Prestige Fight Series III). McKenna was a dancer until the age of 18. At 24, she’s had about 25 fights in Muay Thai and kickboxing. When Julianna and McKenna got in the ring, with my first fight coming up at CMTO, Kru Arash tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I want you to fight like Julianna when you grow up.”

This fight was amazing to watch and really raised the bar for all female fighters, as the implementation of technique and fight IQ was next-level. McKenna was very good at clinch and swung Julianna around as if she was 20 lbs lighter. McKenna also used a lot of feints, and the speed at which she threw the kicks made them impossible to check. McKenna won the belt that evening! Kru Arash is still speechless… which actually doesn’t happen often.

Kru Osvaldo Rafael from Downsview Muay Thai broke silence after years to fight Kimani Mwaura from Gracie Barra. It was very difficult to connect with Kru Osvaldo, as he was training 6 days a week while managing two businesses, teaching at two different schools, and fathering 3 kids and 3 dogs at home. I was a harassment complaint and a referee-blogging stoppage away when Kru Genie, Kru Osvaldo’s wife, stepped in and ruled in my favor.

I asked Kru Osvaldo why he decided to fight again, given all that he has going on. He said, “I’ve been training and moving with the fighters I train. The passion is still there. I have been cornering a lot of fights and that has reawakened my instinct to get in the ring again. Training has become a lifestyle for me now! I have all the tools and want to apply them.”

Kru Osvaldo also said that the pandemic made him feel a lot older. After the pandemic, Kru Osvaldo walked into the gym and told Ajahn Suchart, “Ajahn, I feel strong. I feel good!” Ajahn then told him, “You have to work harder!” Kru Osvaldo was cornered by Kru Alec from Etobicoke Martial Arts, who also helped train him. The fight was clean and efficient. Kru Osvaldo’s kicks came at corner’s commands, and he made the counter strikes work for him to save energy, but unfortunately, he lost in clinch. Looking forward to seeing Kru Osvaldo in the ring again.

The co-main event was between Noah Kirby from Westside Muay Thai and Marco Sanchez from York Muay Thai. I connected with Marco prior to the fight. Marco started boxing as a kid and has been doing Muay Thai for the past 5 years. He has fought at every Provincial tournament and every year at the CMTO and has been sharing his fight experience, teaching full-time at York Muay Thai.

Marco mentioned that he and his close friend Tarik Erdogan have been sharing a lot of experience; regularly being on the same fight cards and both winning their fights too. At the previous Provincial Tournament, Marco and Tarik took their sharing experience one step further when Marco forgot to bring his cup and had to borrow from Tarik. They now call it a lucky cup, as they both won at that event!

The fight between Marco and Kirby was everything you’d expect from an A-Class fight; short and calculated combos and endless elbows as counter strikes. I’m kind of new to clinch so I could be wrong, but I think Kirby has a new clinch technique: playing dead! And by dead, I mean dropping your hands down, bending your neck to one side, and giving the ref the puppy eyes. It actually worked, as the ref stopped the clinch.

Marco won the belt that evening, and he didn’t say it, but I’m sure he was wearing his friend Tarik’s cup. I think he wiped it with Champion Wipes before giving it back. The lucky cup is now available for rental, for a fee. Contact Tarik directly.

The main event and the fight we had all been waiting for: the National 75 kg Title between Alireza Jadidi from Diyako Academy / Toronto Kickboxing and Muay Thai (TKMT) and Deval Garvey from Dunamis Martial Arts (Calgary). I connected with Deval prior to the event. What a nice guy. Deval started Muay Thai 10 years ago, trying to escape the stress of working two jobs, one of which is being in the military reserve.

Deval missed his early flight from Calgary, being stuck at security. The border officer took one look at Deval and said, “Sir, you can’t take those weapons on the plane,” but he waited on standby and got to Toronto on time.

Alireza Jadidi is a friend and a coach, and what I would want to share about him would only fit in a book! But for now, let’s say he is a champion who started martial arts, like many underprivileged kids, on the streets of southern Tehran, fighting for his life. Many championship wins and many countries later, Alireza now has his own gym, Diyako Academy, in North York.

Alireza was cornered by Kru Ruben from TKMT that evening. The way Kru Ruben always walks ahead of his fighters, leading the way to the ring, makes me wonder if he’s going to take the first round for them. You know, it’s really not his fault that he walks as if he’s carrying bags of rice under his arms? Poor thing, his lats are too big!

Alireza and Deval got in the ring dancing and laughing. I had never seen two fighters kiss and hug this much in the middle of their fight. I was waiting right by the ring holding a tub of Champion Wipes, ready to wipe blood but there wasn’t a single drop…I think the two fighters should put their friendship aside and fight for real, again! Deval took home the belt that night. I admit, we couldn’t have lost the title to a better guy.

Aside from Kru Rommel serving the Chinese food from a couple of nights before, it was a very memorable night. I kind of remembered it in my tummy for a few days after, running to the bathroom carrying a tub of Champion Wipes!

Community Notes:

The biggest Canadian Muay Thai tournament, CMTO took place August 15 to 17th. There was this -45 kg chic from Kingdom Muay Thai who made a lot of fuss about her first fight at CMTO. I mean, does she eat or what? Stay tuned for that blog.

So, you know how Kru Day (Ajahn Suchart’s fight night) was scheduled four days in advance on the same day that SHEspars was scheduled, six months ahead? Ajahn Suchart also announced a youth seminar a week in advance on the same weekend as the biggest Canadian Muay Thai Tournament, which was scheduled and opened for registration six months in advance! Could someone please volunteer to help Ajahn with his calendar and event planning?

P.S. The Chinese food at RepreZent was fresh!

P.S.2. Champion Wipes are for wiping your gear only! For all other needs, take a shower!