Cody Stamann’s return to Michigan and plan to compete at 145 pounds add a local storyline to the Nov. 7 Detroit card, where he will face Jake Peacock in the main event. Peacock, a Muay Thai fighter born with one arm who has competed in ONE Championship, will meet the Michigan native and former UFC competitor at the Masonic Temple. Organizers say the card will bring local and international talent together.
The event is presented in collaboration with Mitten Muay Thai and scheduled for the Masonic Temple, according to ClickOnDetroit. ONE Championship’s athlete profile identifies Peacock as a limb-different fighter and documents bouts including his matchup against Shinji Suzuki at ONE 171: Qatar, per ONE Championship. ClickOnDetroit describes Stamann as a Michigan native and former UFC fighter.
A Local Favorite Returns Home
Stamann has his own storyline heading into the fight. He told MyMMANews that he is moving back home to Michigan from Las Vegas and plans to compete at 145 pounds going forward. He said the weight cuts he used to make at bantamweight left him drained by fight night. “By the time I step on the scale, I was half dead,” Stamann said.
The move to 145 pounds comes as Stamann returns to compete in front of a hometown crowd. ClickOnDetroit reported that gym owner and former MMA fighter Munib Salmani praised Peacock’s ability, saying he uses his half arm in ways viewers might not notice at first and highlighting his kicks.
Building Competitive Fights, Not Mismatches
Salmani told ClickOnDetroit that organizers want to match skilled fighters rather than put on lopsided bouts. The Nov. 7 card is expected to include MMA-versus-Muay Thai matchups as well as Muay Thai-only competition.
Muay Thai includes punches, kicks, knees and elbows, as well as clinching; ground wrestling is not part of the sport, according to ClickOnDetroit’s account. Salmani characterized it as arguably the most violent combat sport, while organizers say technical skill and conditioning are important to matchmaking.
Michigan Rules and the Local Scene
Michigan administrative rules define Muay Thai as a form of boxing that permits blows with the hands, elbows, legs and feet, as well as clinching, according to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The materials reviewed here do not establish which specific regulatory arrangements apply to the Nov. 7 bouts. The Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission’s results list a separate mixed martial arts event at the Masonic Temple on Aug. 9, 2024.
The Detroit-area gym scene extends beyond the teams associated with this card: Mash Gym says its Muay Thai program serves students in Metro Detroit communities including Livonia, Farmington Hills, Southfield and Dearborn, according to Mash Gym.
A Gym Owner's Bigger Plans
Salmani told ClickOnDetroit that his experience as a fighter informs his work with athletes. He said competitors may distrust promoters, and argued that his team understands the demands fighters face, including cutting weight, selling tickets and finding support.
“Our goal is to not just make money, we want to really grow the sport,” Salmani said, according to ClickOnDetroit. He described his organization as the only Muay Thai startup in the United States.
Salmani owns Weavers Boxing Gym in Garden City and is preparing to open a gym in Dearborn Heights for Muay Thai and MMA fighters. ClickOnDetroit reported that six fighters from his gym are expected to compete on the Nov. 7 card. Salmani predicted Detroit fans would see a special and unique show, with a high-level fight card.
