Kim Khan Zaki also known to fight fans as Zig Zach rose to fame after competing in the Contender Asia Season 1. The only Singaporean fighter in the Muay Thai reality show, Zig Zach gained entrance to The Contender Asia after winning the WMC Superfights World Muay Thai Heavyweight Grand Prix in Singapore. One of Singapore’s rising fighters, SG Pro – Fight Community got the chance to put Zig Zach in the hotseat, so sit tight as we grill Zig Zach on Muay Thai, representing Singapore in overseas fights and more in an online interview! This is one interview where Zig Zach let loose!

SG Pro: Zach, first of all, thank you for finding the time to do this interview with us!

Zach: No problem at all. I usually take awhile get to my email, thus the lateness in replying but I eventually get there! Haha!

SG Pro: First off, tell us how you came to fall in love with the Art of Eight Limbs?

Zach: I used to be a slightly overweight kid in school. I also got in a lot of trouble in school. I wasn’t a bully or a bad kid…but I always just seemed to either get kinda picked on or some kids who in gangs would think they were big shit and would treat some others like crap. I had a really bad temper and was never scared to get in a fight. I would never let anyone push me around in school or outside for that matter. So I always ended up fighting! But I remember one of my classmates, who was a Burmese kid and was really tough and strong. His dad was a Burmese boxer so that kinda got me thinking about trying it out. I read up about it and found Muay Thai instead.

SG Pro: Who is your favourite Muay Thai fighter and why?

Zach: There are loads of fighters that I have looked up too and really enjoy watching and kinda put it into my own fight training and style. Here are the few that have made a bigger impact. When I was just about starting Muay Thai, the most popular fighter then was, Namkabuan “The Ring Genius” Nongeepayahut, I like watching him move around in the ring and countering. He was a technical fighter and was always keeping the work rate up, constantly kicking, kneeing, punching or throwing elbows. Even when he was on the backfoot he just looked in control of the fight!! Just an intelligent fighter to watch. Nokweed Davy, a legend in his time known for his devastating kicks and for being the first Thai to fight in K-1 against Jerome Le Banner. I trained with him in Samui and he used to make me do a whole lot of kicks in training!! I guess I have him to thank for my kicks now!!  My trainer, Bangman that I’ve been training with for awhile now had trained as a boy from a very young age and was fighter of the year in 2004 and is the Rajadamnern Stadium Champ at 105lbs, Linglom Tor.Chalermchai. He was just awesome to watch. Quick and hard hands then throwing in some hard low kicks and to top things off he was awesome in the elbow department!

SG Pro: Interesting, how has the Contender Asia change your life?

Zach: The Contender Asia was a BIG stepping stone for me as a Muay Thai fighter.  I was pretty unknown and very much the one with the least experience in it. I think alot of people expected me to get the crap kicked out of. What happened in my first fight was truly unlucky and I’m just glad I got asked to do a re-match at the finale to finally showcase my skills. Contender Asia also really helped with the exposure of the sport and changed the perception people have of Muay Thai fighters. It raised all our profiles a lot, I mean, I get recognized a fair bit now sometimes and it’s always funny when people come up to me even outside of Singapore in say Sweden or in a club in Australia or on the streets of Malaysia and go…”Hey are you Zach from Contender? I saw you on TV” I never really expected things like that to happen.

SG Pro: You just had a fight on Planet Battle in Hong Kong, how was the experience like?

Zach: Planet Battle was amazing. I’ve heard nothing but compliments and good things from all my friends who have fought on their promotion. We were taken care of very well by the promoters. Everything we wanted or needed was attended to promptly by the staff. Allowance, flights, fight purse, transport, press conference…. everything was just really well organized. I lost my fight to a fighter from Thailand by the name of Phet Tanawat. He has had over 250 fights. Fight was pretty even until the 2nd round where I kicked him and he caught my leg and pushed me against the ropes. As I fell I got caught with a knee to the chin!!! Took an 8 count and carried on fighting. I lost on points in the end. You win some, you lose some.

SG Pro: You have taken part in quite a number of Muay Thai events. Which one stands out in your mind?

Zach: Yeah I’ve been to a few events and I have to say the one that really stood out to me was the K-1 event, ”Rumble of the Kings” in Sweden. I wasn’t there to fight but was actually cornering for Dzhabar Askerov. This was a pretty huge event in Europe with fighters coming in from all over the world! The venue was massive and the whole event was being recorded and televised on Eurosport. Everything just was so well organized and professionally done. Things like the lights, sound, stage, security to even just having decent food for the fighters in the dressing rooms!

SG Pro: When will your next fight be at?

Zach: I was supposed to take a fight in Phuket at the End of November. Nothing big and glamourous as Planet Battle of K-1 Sweden! I’ll see though, as I have yet to confirm it with my trainer who arranges my fights up in Thailand. Otherwise it’ll be 2010? Am really hoping the promoters will start flying me to Australia, Japan or Europe for a fight or two? I wanna rake up a few more good fights before I hang up the gloves.

SG Pro: What is your favourite Muay Thai technique?

Zach: I guess if you’ve seen most of my fights you can guess I love kicking! It’s just awesome to hear the sound of landing a low kick on the thigh or a high kick to the arm/head. But in the last two years since my shoulder surgery and all, my trainer has really changed me into an elbow fighter too. I won maybe my last 4 or 5 fights with elbows knocking the opponent or cutting them. So I’m quite happy with the change!

SG Pro: Who was your toughest fight thus far?

Zach: I think when I fought for the WMC Muay Thai Against Drugs in 2006 was pretty much the toughest fight for me. I think it was this fight that really made me stand out and made a mark as a fighter here. I fractured my rib in the 2nd round and then got cut in the 3rd by an elbow. I carried on fighting and I leg kicked the hell out of him and kneed him loads and he just still kept coming at me. I finally knocked him out in the 5th with a huge head kick! Those who were there that night will tell you it was an AWESOME fight.

SG Pro: What would you say is your best achievement thus far in Muay Thai?

Zach: I guess winning the WMC Muay Thai Against Drugs 2006 was something I can be very proud of. First Singaporean to win a WMC belt! But I guess it has to be the two fights I had in Contender Asia that I’m very proud of. I really got to show people what I was all about. I wasn’t just a pushover and I didn’t get in because I was the “local boy” and needed to make the numbers up on the show. I know I wasn’t the best, but I’m definitely not the worst and not a push over!

SG Pro: You are the only homegrown local Muay Thai fighter who fights internationally, do you feel the pressure of representing Singapore in fights overseas?

Zach: It may sound funny but no I don’t really feel the pressure? I just go in the ring and do my best and try to entertain the crowd as much as I can. This might sound abit controversial (and bitter) and it sounds better in my head maybe? Don’t get me wrong on this and start sending me hate mail people. I love Singapore, it’s my home and all that. But the Singapore Sports Council or the goverment has NEVER given me a single cent or helped me or even said a simple THANK YOU to me for what I’ve been doing in my career. When I step in the ring I represent myself, my gym, my trainers, my loved ones, people who have supported me and people who have been there for me…and then I guess lastly comes Singapore. The only reason I can think of as to why I’m representing Singapore, is just coz I was born here and raised here? I can already hear the bitching on the internet forums.

SG Pro: Do you see yourself being a full time Muay Thai instructor teaching Muay Thai to the locals or even starting a gym of your own?

Zach: At the moment, I’m pretty much a full time Personal Trainer and my job funds my training and my travels to Thailand for training or fighting. I’ve always thought of opening a place of my own but rent is just a killer in Singapore. Eventually when I’ve got the right idea, sponsors and investors, I would love to have my own gym. It would be focused mainly around the fitness and personal training side of Muay Thai. If the business was good, then I’d look at sponsoring and nurturing youths and talents to represent the gym in competitions.

SG Pro: You were on the cover of Men’s Health, how did that come about?

Zach: Contender Asia was a huge success and being the only Singaporean guy in an international hit reality tv show has its perks I guess? Actually one of my friends who was my agent pulled some strings for me and they did an interview and said ok we’re going put you on the cover too! I was like….”HELL YEAH!!!” now he better get me on Playgirl like he promised!

SG Pro: Besides Muay Thai, are you interested in any other fighting arts? Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Boxing?

Zach: Funny enough, no. Not really, I never wanted to do anything else but Muay Thai really? I’m definitely not into MMA or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’m just not into the whole training and fighting where you find yourself having a guy press his crotch in your face! Don’t get me wrong I have the utmost respect for them as fighters and I know it’s very practical and a HARD sport but it’s just not for me.

SG Pro: I guess everyone have their likes and dislikes, if weight class isn’t an issue, who would you want to fight and why?

Zach: I haven’t really given that much thought on exactly who I want to fight, but I know I’d really like to fight some of the Japanese fighters in K-1 Max. Some of the Japanese fighters on K-1 Max are pretty good and I think I think there could be a good chance of winning one or two fight in that promotion. Sometimes I wish I was a lighter weight to compete in Singapore. I guess I’d like to fight a Singaporean and truly claim that I AM Singapore’s best. It would be a bit more interesting for me and it’d make me work harder to keep me at the top of my game here at home. Sometimes I feel that I’m Singapore’s best because I’m just unchallenged at my weight category. It’s not the kinda thing I’d want to be known for. So if ever there was a 70 – 72kg Singaporean that wants a challenge in full Muay Thai rules for the top spot here. Get a decent prize money up for grabs and we’re good to go.

SG Pro: What do you do in your spare time?

Zach: I’m usually on the internet reading up on fights or watching videos, or downloading live DJ sets from my favourite artiste/producers/acts, or I’m trying out new tracks on my decks. But recently I’m also working with a company in the U.S on some vitamins and supplements products. I can’t reveal too much, but it’s a really cool company and they have got a very cool concept. I’ll save the juicy details for another interview somewhere down the road!

SG Pro: Through your facebook profile, we saw that you like DJing, so which clubs do you DJ at?

Zach: I love DJing. I usually do Guest DJ slots as I prefer doing one off gigs. I’ve played quite a few places in Singapore. Le Noir, Clinic, Supperclub, KM8, Cafe Del Mar, Azzura just to name a few. I’ve played abroad too with gigs in Hong Kong at a club called Volar and also played in a club in Koh Samui called Hush. At the moment no gigs planned, but there is interest in me doing New Year’s Eve on the beach club Azzura, so that could be really good! You can check out my DJ promo mixes here. www.soundcloud.com/zigzach

SG Pro: What do you have to say about the rising interest in the fight game here in Singapore? 2009 alone and we’ve seen more coverage on MMA and Muay Thai in the media than we have seen for the last 10 years.

Zach: The media has helped a lot with pushing martial arts and that’s a great thing!  It is helping people and uptight parents to realize that it’s not just a rough rugged hooligan thing to do, but that it is a great fitness alternative, stress relief and also a self defense training! What more could you ask for? The fight scene here has gotten so much better. And the guys training now are all soooo lucky to have top quality training! I mean 10 years ago when I started there was only ONE gym!? Now there are 13 gyms maybe? I was watching some amateur fights the other day and the quality of fights have gotten heaps better. With the gyms now getting in trainers from Thailand and the boys taking the initiative to travel up to Thailand to train and fight. It will only just get better and better. We just need to have competitions more regularly for the boys. So that they lose touch and lose motivation, training and training with nothing to look forward to is demoralizing!

SG Pro: And it’s time for our little word association again! This is how it works, i’ll throw out something and you will have to give a description. Here goes nothing, Muay Thai.

Zach: Muay Thai to me this is the ultimate stand up fighting sport in the world. The hard hitting blows that could knock a person out is complimented by the beauty and gentle side of the wai kru and the kind nature of the Thai people. That is Yin and Yang right there. =) Muay Thai is the ONLY sport that I never stopped practicing or loving. Muay Thai changed me as a person. Not just physically but also mentally, it has made me a better person and made me who I am today. It will always be in my blood.

SG Pro: The Contender Asia.

Zach: Big stepping stone in my career. Lots of highs and lows in the show for me! Very glad I finally decided to do it, was actually very close to turning it down!! Meeting the some of the top fighters and also catching up with some old friends on the set. Most of us became really good buddies at the end. Lastly, meeting the man Mark Burnett himself!

SG Pro: Zidov “Akuma” Dominik.

Zach: Heavily tattooed!!! Eats a ridiculous amount of sugar and junk! Never gives up in a fight!! Crazy party animal and a really good laugh to have around!

SG Pro: John Wayne Parr.

Zach: The king of bad jokes! A legend in the sport! Super fast and hard puncher! And an all round super super nice guy! Am very lucky to have been able to meet him and have such a great time during the filming of Contender Asia.

SG Pro: Yodsanklai Fairtex

Zach: Eating and fighting machine! Awesome eyes that can read punches before they are thrown! Amazing left kick! Crazy strong punches too! During filming, when I saw him kicking the pads and bags, I would thank God I was on the same team as him!

SG Pro: BXG.

Zach: Joe and Joy were awesome trainers and I would say they are the gym and people that have helped me get to where I am the most. The gym was well organized and had well structured classes. I miss training a lot at BXG, Joe and Joy really focused on my strengths and fighting style and made me work on it over and over in training. Just wish BXG weren’t in Katong! I live in the west side of SG! D’OH!!

SG Pro: BNM Muay Thai Gym.

Zach: Way too many TVs! No honestly it’s a really beautiful gym and has top class facilities. It really had a lot of potential to be an amazing gym. But sadly it didn’t really take off.

SG Pro: Samart Payakaroon.

Zach: Legend! Another one of those very naturally GIFTED & TALENTED fighters. Defensively he just had such a good eye for seeing punches or kicks coming at him and he would just move by just a centimeter to dodge it! Offensively he punched HARD and he also was just calm and technical and always controlled a fight making it look so damn easy! Was awesome to watch in Boxing fights and Muay Thai fights. He was also famous for his good looks, singing and acting.

SG Pro: Danielle Jeanie Poa.

Zach: Awesome night at sterolab! Lychee Martinis! Butt Cheeks! Before you all jump to conclusions on the whole thing. it was a namecard that she handed to me and the name of the company she worked for was Butt Cheeks!

SG Pro: And of course last but not least, Zig Zach.

Zach:   Wasn’t that the Singaporean guy that fell over in Contender Asia??? haha Personal Trainer, Professional Fighter, DJ and just your very average fun loving guy at the end of the day!! A “Zach of all trades!! Ohhhhh I am the one and only Zig Zach……Literally!! I asked my thai trainer before if there were any fighters in Thailand that have the fightname Zig Zag in Thailand and he said, “No,you are the first and only one!”

SG Pro: One of the longest word association we ever had there, Zig Zach. With that we come to a concluding end to your interview. Any parting words for our readers?

Zach: Just a huge thank you to the fans (if there are any out there!)! Also wanted to say a HUGE Thank You to my loved ones that have been there with me through the good times and the bad times, I know I can be difficult at times but I do appreciate everything that you’ve all done for me. My sponsors. Toni&Guy, Kombat Gear, Tuffboxing, 3rdborn (Bali) OPRC, Vanda Boxing, BXG, & Nikon. Thanks for believing in me and helping me out.

SG Pro: Zig Zach, thank you so much for your time and we hope to see you fighting soon in the ring again!

Zach:   Thanks SG Pro for the interview! Appreciate you guys coming forth and asking me for this interview. You guys can keep up to date with my life on my personal website and blog, www.zigzach.com Thank you everyone for taking time to read this interview.

*SG Pro – Fight Community would like to thank Zig Zach for finding time to do this interview with us. Credits to Mr Daniel Lois for the photos. Do continuing visiting SG Pro – Fight Community for more MMA goodness!