Dozens of Thailand's best police officers punched, kicked and wrestled each other in a no-holds-barred fighting tournament aimed at proving that there are still “good” and honest cops out there.
The first ever Cops Combat mixed martial arts tournament, which featured 96 athletes, took place on Tuesday and came after a poll showed only 10 percent of Thais have confidence in the Royal Thai Police.
The contest, organized by Saudi Arabia's Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), aimed to boost the police's public image and galvanize the force, with participants engaging in three-minute continuous fights in full contract fighting style, as if to defend themselves against attackers.
The winner received a prize of 5,000 baht (£107) and the honor of subduing the opposing “suspect.”
The fierce battle began with the challengers bowing politely to each other and then trading ferocious punches and kicks as if they were facing real criminals.
In one bout, fighters in red and blue uniforms approached each other cautiously at first, the red fighter threw the first punch, but his opponent countered with a kick.
After a moment's hesitation, the two men got into a boxing hug, or “clinch,” and desperately tried to punch each other.
In the end, the fighter in the red uniform overpowered his opponent, taking him to the floor and pinning him down.
Thailand is known for its traditional martial art, Muay Thai, in which fighters use every part of their body, from fists and elbows to shins and knees, to defeat their opponents.
Police officer Rachanat Hongtawee, who lost in the 85kg bout, said the experience reminded him of his daily job confronting suspects.
“Because of my job I am the first to come into contact (with suspects) but sometimes suspects resist arrest,” he told AFP.
Despite his loss, Hontawee declared the competition “definitely a good experience.”
Aek Amorn Preda Akkarakul, a spectator at her colleague's match, felt that public trust in the Thai police needed to be restored.
“I want to reassure people that there are still good cops out there,” he said.
Thai police have been battling a long-standing reputation for corruption and brutality.
A Transparency International survey published in late 2020 found that nearly one in two Thais said they had paid a bribe to police in the past 12 months.
This reputation was further boosted in 2022 by the case of a police officer (nicknamed “Joe Ferrari” by luxury car enthusiasts) who was sentenced to life in prison for torturing and killing a suspect who was trying to extort $60,000.
CIB Commissioner Jirabop Bridai said in the event's opening video that the competition would encourage Thai police officers to stay healthy and “serve the people”.
