Reese McMaster won her professional Muay Thai debut by unanimous decision. Photos: W. I. Fight Photography.
It was a successful step on to the professional stage for Wickham’s Martial Arts Centre Muay Thai fighter Reese McMaster.
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McMaster started her pro career with a victory, defeating Alisha Khaddour, in the 48kg weight-class by unanimous decision at the Rebellion 33/Roots 28 event on Saturday night.
The Echuca fighter won all three three-minute rounds 10-9 on each of the three judges' scorecards.
Muay Thai is scored using a ‘10-point must system’ like that used in boxing, meaning one fighter each round must score 10 points, with the loser scoring 7-9 points depending on how close the round was.
Eighteen-year-old McMaster said it was a different atmosphere fighting at a professional event, having previously competed in the amateur ranks.
“I do think it was a little bit less intimidating because it was in the Q Room (in Thomastown) instead of the (Melbourne) Pavilion, just because that's where the amateur shows were held as well,” she said.
“I think that took away some of the nerves because it wasn't as large of a venue, but the whole process was a little bit more intense.”
McMaster connected with a right elbow late in round one, opening up a cut below Khaddour’s right eye.
McMaster landed several elbows throughout the fight.
It gave the Wickham’s fighter a leg up through rounds two and three, as Khaddour was wary of taking more damage to the cut, opening up opportunities for McMaster to seize the initiative.
“I was pretty happy with how I performed,” McMaster said.
“I definitely think in round three, I could have done more and pushed a bit more, but I think that's what comes with just beginning.
“I actually hadn't fought on that stage before, and it was different to fighting as an amateur.
“I was really happy with it, but there's always things to improve on.”
McMaster and Khaddour had previously fought twice in the amateurs, McMaster taking the first meeting before Khaddour fired back to take their second encounter.
After McMaster’s bout on the Roots 28 undercard event, fellow Wickham’s fighter Daniel Matthews took to the ring in the co-main event on the Rebellion 33 card, taking on Victorian number one Carter Lawrance in the 70kg weight-class.
Daniel Matthews tasted defeat for the first time in his professional career, downed by Victorian number one Carter Lawrance in the Kyabram fighters’ first five-round Muay Thai bout.
Going in with a 6-0 undefeated record, Matthews battled in his first five-round fight against the experienced Lawrance.
Matthews went the distance with Lawrance, but it was the veteran who prevailed on the scorecard, handing the Kyabram fighter his first pro defeat.
Rebellion’s next event will be in two months, on Saturday, May 24, with McMaster and Matthews among the local fighters looking to get back in the ring on that card.
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