Fresno's Malaipet Sasiprapa Fights For World Title Belt

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Valley fighter is in Las Vegas getting ready for a Muay Thai fight this Friday night.

Malaipet Sasiprapa owns and runs a gym in north Fresno. Muay Thai is also known as Thai Boxing and is one of the disciplines used in MMA.

On Wednesday, Lion Fight, the promoters of the event posted on Twitter that Ky Hollenbeck pulled out of this weekend's world title fight because of injury.

Sasiprapa will still fight at the Tropicana for Lion Fight 32. But his opponent will be another fighter who was born in Thailand.

Action News caught up with Sasiprapa recently to ask him why he decided to get back in to the ring. The 34-year-old last fought more than a year ago and lost by split decision at Lion Fight 23.

Sasisprapa is from Thailand, now calls Fresno home and is a seven-time world champion in the sport of Muay Thai.

"You know, fan club or friends. They want to see again. They want to see me come back and put on a good show, you know? Go in the ring because they haven't heard from me in a year," said Sasiprapa.