The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TO SAY it was a successful Muay Thai debut for DC Pratt would be an understatement, as he dominated from the opening bell to take his first bout.

Pratt opened the Bangkok Fight Night Atlanta Grand Prix event in Atlanta, Georgia with a unanimous decision over Clint Blintzard in the 160-pound weight class.

One of the major MMA promotions in the state, Bangkok Fight Night features both professional and amateur MMA and Muay Thai bouts on its 11 fight card.

After taking up the sport just three years ago, Pratt said he was prepared to seize his opportunity despite the magnitude of the event.

“I wasn’t nervous heading into it. I was actually pretty composed and mentally prepared from my training so I was just geared up and ready to go. I was just so eager for my opportunity that the crowd or the stage wasn’t a big deal to me at the time I just knew I had a great opportunity and I had to take advantage,” he said.

“I went to it knowing that I was going to win. I’m always confident heading into a fight. It was just important that I stick to my gameplan and focus on my fight rather than on what he was bringing to the table. It was special because I wanted to make the Bahamas proud and I really wanted to win this fight for my dad (now deceased), who’s birthday was the next day, so I really wanted to win this one for him.”

Despite standing five inches shorter than Blintzard, Pratt said it was important in his fight strategy to be the aggressor in the bout from its outset.

“On the last day of training we found out that he was actually 6’ 3” and I was preparing to fight someone my height at about 5’10” so there were some minor adjustments, but I have a long reach so his height wasn’t able to be much of a factor,” he said. “I was able to set the pace from the opening bell and get out pretty quickly. That’s one thing my coaches stressed, to strike first and not wait on him to get out. I took control early with my boxing, and was able to clench and get some knees in to neutralise his height.”

Pratt, 22, has two Sanshou fights locally under his belt and another in Orlando this past July.

A student at Georgia Perimeter College, this bout was different from the others because it was his first time not only fighting in a fight of this magnitude but also the first time he participated in a proper training camp where he had strength and conditioning along with regular training and sparring, adding that “this was the most prepared and hardest I’ve ever worked for a fight.”

Inspired by the “Golden Knights” 4x400m gold medal performance at the London Olympics, Pratt has placed a lofty goal to cap his amateur career before he considers the professional ranks.

“I don’t want to rush into a professional career as yet because there are some things as an amateur I want to accomplish. My long shot goal is to make the Bahamas’ boxing team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio,” he said.

“I was so inspired by the ‘Golden Knights’ performance in London that I felt the need to chase that goal, not to make a complete shift to boxing but within the next few years to pursue the sport at a high level to qualify for the Olympic Games.”

Pratt is scheduled to fight again in November, however it remains to be seen whether it will be a local fight at home, or another edition of Bangkok FIght Night in Atlanta.

Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques.