Team Micronesia competes in 2026 WBC World Amateur MuayThai Champs in Bangkok

Despite the disruption caused by Super Typhoon Sinlaku, Team Micronesia pushed through and still made it to the world stage of Muay Thai.

After flights were canceled and training was interrupted, four fighters still managed to travel and compete at the WBC World Amateur Muay Thai Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. The four-fighter team consisted of MCA-MMA Team Primeval's Dillan Pomdi, Jon Pinaula, Drae Hosono, and Kimora Quitugua.

On Friday, June 26, Pomdi, a WBC Pan-American silver medalist in 2025, came up short against Aashiq Nazeer by decision in the Adult C Class men's 57kg quarterfinals. In the Youth 16-17 boys advanced 66.678kg division, Pinaula was stopped by Ivan Bardin of WBC Muay Thai Russia via first-round knockout. Hosono dropped a first-round decision to Imronbek Agzamov of WBC Uzbekistan in the Youth 14-15 boys 57.153kg division, while Quitugua's bout against Caelyn Batac of WBC Muay Thai Canada ended in the opening round after Batac was awarded the victory due to injury.

For the athletes, simply making it to Thailand carried special meaning as the CNMI continues recovering from the typhoon.

"Being able to go on this trip despite Sinlaku is just a testament to all the support from our family, friends, and really our coach," said Hosono. "Knowing that we were still determined despite even myself not even having power when I left just shows how resilient we are as a team. I thank the legislators for contributing to the art of Muay Thai and Team Micronesia. I would like to personally thank Edmund Villagomez."

With the first-time experience competing for Team Micronesia, he said, "I myself feel proud and grateful to be a part of this experience. Being known as the first Team Micronesia is legendary, and this would be my first fight on the big stage representing the CNMI. That's just an honor. It just shows there ain't nothing MICRO about MICRONESIA!"

Preparation for the tournament began months before the opening bell, said Hosono. "To prepare for this tourney we've been in fight camp since about February. I myself had to cut weight to 125 pounds. It took a lot to make that weight. I was constantly checking my weight on the scale and made my diet strict. I would get at least two sessions in the gym every day, morning and afternoon. I always tried to be the first one there and the last to leave. Even after the typhoon we probably only had a week off and got straight back into camp. It really threw us off, but we came back and persevered."

Pomdi, for his part, said the team hoped its journey would inspire those back home. "Representing the CNMI and Micronesia is something we're very proud of," he said. "It's bigger than just fighting. We're representing our families, our community, and everyone who's been working hard to recover. We hope our journey reminds people that even after tough times, we can keep moving forward and continue chasing our goals."

He added that the team's preparation went beyond physical training. "The fighters have been training consistently with a lot of discipline. We've focused on conditioning, technique, sparring, and making sure everyone is mentally prepared. Muay Thai isn't just about being physically ready—it's also about staying calm, confident, and disciplined."

Quitugua, for her part, said representing the islands meant more than simply stepping into the ring. "It means a whole lot to not just us, but the whole CNMI and Micronesia that we were able to represent them in this competition," she said. "We showed that we are still strong and still here even after an extremely disastrous typhoon."

She credited coach Doram for preparing the fighters for every possible situation.

"We went through many different series of training to prepare for our fights," Quitugua said. "Coach Tai made sure to walk us through every possible scenario to prepare us for the worst. Our main goal was to train hard, and fight easy."

The team trains out of the MCA-MMA Team Primeval Gym, which serves as the headquarters for WBC Micronesia. Founded in 2011 by Dr. Tai Doram, the gym has become a hub for developing Muay Thai athletes across the region.

Pomdi said of the gym: "It's more than just a place to train—it's a place where people can grow, build confidence, and become part of a positive community," he said. "We welcome everyone, whether you're a beginner looking to get in shape or an experienced fighter wanting to compete. We want people to know that our gym is built on respect, discipline, and helping each other improve. Our goal is to continue developing athletes while creating a welcoming environment for anyone who wants to learn Muay Thai."

Doram thanked Rep. Edmund Villagomez, Rep. Vince Aldan, Rep. Marissa Flores, Rep. Thomas J. Manglona, Rep. Denita K. Yangetmai, Rep. John Paul Sablan, Rep. Malcolm Omar, and Rep. Joel Camacho for helping make the trip possible despite the challenges brought by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.