Matt Deisel Muay Thai Interview | Phat Chats Round 6
Matt Deisel is a Pursuit Muay Thai and Bailey Fight Team veteran, with nights on Muay Thai Grand Prix, MTL10 and Domination behind him. We filmed this at Empire Fight Series Legacy in March, before he beat Ryan Smith of Three Lions Gym on a majority decision. Here are his 3 extra minutes.
Matt Deisel vs Ryan Smith at Empire Fight Series Legacy
Empire Fight Series Legacy was Saturday 28 March 2026 at Motormall Prestige & Performance in Wangara, Perth's northern suburbs. The card had a 64 kg 4-man tournament, a WA vs SA main event, and every fighter from Phat Chats Series 1.
Matt's bout was a pro fight at 61.2 to 63.5 kg against Ryan Smith of Three Lions Gym. He won on a majority decision (Aus Muay Thai results; the WA Combat Sports Commission sheet has the weights and the result). Here's how Muay Thai fights are scored. Aus Muay Thai spells him Diesel and the commission sheet has him as Matthew Deisel.
Matt is a Pursuit Muay Thai and Bailey Fight Team veteran with fights on Muay Thai Grand Prix, MTL10 and Domination, logged on muaythairecords.com. He started late, he says. In the quickfire he picked elbow, clinch, pads, power and aggressive.
Phat Chats is our quickfire interview series. Matt's pro fight ran 5 rounds of 3 minutes. Round 6 is the 3 extra minutes after the bell. 17 questions, one clock, and the fighter picks who sits in the chair next. Robbie Mars filmed Matt's at the show on 28 March 2026, before his own walkout. Hence the "tonight" in his answers.
The 3 extra minutes
Hardest you've ever been hit?
Matt: That's a really great question. First thing that comes to mind is Eli Everett, the only person that ever knocked me out. But also Anthony Gilbert, who fought him last year, was one of the smallest I've hit but he hits like a truck. Oh my god.
Scariest opponent you've ever faced?
Matt: That's a really good question as well. I reckon it would be Anthony as well. He was a lightweight champ at the time and he's got a highlight reel of all his fights. He's a great fighter.
Best knockout of your career?
Matt: I've only got one knockout and it was against Dave Flanagan back in 2020. It was a bit of an ugly knockout but I'll take it on the record.
Favourite fighter of all time?
Matt: I reckon it would have to be Khumsab or Duk. I'm not sure if he fights anymore but he used to be a coach at Pursuit and he's my all-time favourite fighter. Muay Femur, just beautiful Muay Thai, beautiful human being.
Best fight you've ever seen?
Matt: Again, I think it would have to be Khumsab versus Alfie Ponting on Muay Thai Grand Prix maybe a couple of years ago. It was just beautiful Muay Thai. The decision didn't go Duk's way. I think it could have went either way but that was a beautiful display of Muay Thai between two great fighters.
Most up & coming Muay Thai fighter right now?
Matt: In all of Muay Thai is a really hard question. Just because he's here tonight and he did really well, I think Bailey Merrett, someone to watch. He's doing fantastic. He's got a knockout tonight as well. Great blow, great fighter.
Muay Thai to you in one sentence?
Matt: Being the best version of yourself that you can be.
Quickfire: punch, kick, elbow or knee?
Matt: Elbow.
Quickfire: clinch or range?
Matt: Clinch.
Quickfire: body kick or head kick?
Matt: Body kick.
Quickfire: teep or low kick?
Matt: Low kick.
Quickfire: pads or sparring?
Matt: Pads.
Quickfire: fight in Thailand or at home?
Matt: Home.
Quickfire: power or speed?
Matt: Power.
Quickfire: aggressive or counter fighter?
Matt: Aggressive.
Biggest Muay Thai advice to your younger self?
Matt: My younger self wasn't really that young. I started Muay Thai quite late but some of what my first coach, Mod, taught me is just keep going and I try and live by that. Just keep going. Doesn't matter what happens. Just keep going.
Who should do Round 6 next?
Matt: Maybe Asanee Suwan, one of our other coaches as well. Asanee Suwan, and I think he'd be great. His English might not be great but I reckon he'd be a good interview. Interesting character.
What Matt fought in
Every fighter on the Legacy card was in Supa Phat: Ghost Series Muay Thai Shorts in Mint Green and Electric Blue, and Sentinel Boxing Gloves. Matt picks power, and power needs a wrist that holds, which is what the Sentinel Boxing Gloves are built around: cowhide, with a strap that locks the wrist in. The shorts are microfibre and don't hold sweat, which matters over 5 rounds.
More Phat Chats
Who's next in the chair? "Maybe Asanee Suwan, one of our other coaches as well." Asanee, you're up for Round 6. He fought that night too, across the ring from Shawah Jin of Lovett Muay Thai. Watch Shawah's episode next.
The rest of Series 1 was filmed at the same show. Connor O'Reilly and Trent Hodgkinson met in the 64 kg tournament final, Noah Combes faced Trent in the semi, and Jayden Panucci had the main event. Watch every Phat Chats episode, then follow @xmattydeeeeeeeex.
Filmed and cut by Robbie Mars for Supa Phat, Perth, March 2026.
