Thai police try to punch up force’s flagging public image with ‘Cops Combat’ MMA competition

Khaki-clad Thai cops threw bone-crunching right hooks, wrestled and launched devastating sweeping kicks at each other in a brutal tournament on Tuesday aimed at punching up their public image.

The bouts at Bangkok’s Rajadamnern Stadium followed a recent opinion poll that showed only a little more than 10 per cent of the public had confidence in the Royal Thai Police.

So, in an attempt to boost their image, the kingdom’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) summoned 96 of the fiercest officers to fight each other in a full-contact mixed martial arts tournament.

Thailand is known for its traditional kickboxing sport Muay Thai, where fighters use everything from fists to elbows, shins and knees to overcome their opponents.

The “Cops Combat” competition involved contestants fighting in three-minute bouts, using full-contact fighting styles from Thai kickboxing to Japanese Jiu-Jitsu.

Winners get a 5,000 baht (US$136) prize and the honour of subduing “the suspect” – their opponent – Rattawut Jiamsripong, deputy commander of the Police Training Centre and one of the main organisers, said.

Two cops wearing white T-shirts, khaki uniform trousers and head guards stepped onto the stage under the smoky haze of red-and-blue neon lights.

The pair bowed politely and smiled at each other but, as soon as the bell rang, they fought as if they were up against a true criminal, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks.

Ratchanat Hongtawee, a police officer who was defeated in an 85-kilogram match, said the experience reminded him of his daily work when he is often confronted by suspected criminals.

“I am the first contact [with the suspect] in my line of work … and sometimes they resist arrest,” he said.

Despite losing, he said, “this is definitely a