19 - Max Madorsky | Living in Thailand as a Professional Muay Thai Fighter

19 - Max Madorsky | Living in Thailand as a Professional Muay Thai Fighter Owen sits down with comedian and professional Muay Thai fighter Max Madorsky for a conversation about fighting, comedy, Thailand, and what happens when you spend most of your life training to throw the perfect kick. Max talks about growing up at nearly 300 pounds, getting bullied as a kid, and discovering Muay Thai at 14 after deciding he needed to learn how to defend himself. He shares how a promise with a friend headed to Iraq helped motivate him to lose weight, how competitive Pokémon somehow played a role in the journey, and how he eventually went from an overweight teenager in Idaho to fighting professionally in Thailand. Max breaks down the art of eight limbs, cutting massive amounts of weight before fights, the difference between Muay Thai and MMA, and why getting punched with a four-ounce glove is a very different experience from getting hit with a boxing glove. The conversation goes deeper into Max’s years living and fighting in Thailand, including winning two fights by knockout six days apart, getting offered the opportunity to stay as a sponsored fighter, being hit by a car, and opening a weed dispensary after an injury kept him out of the ring. Max talks about the injuries that eventually pushed him toward retirement, tearing his bicep just as he was getting healthy again, and why he’s now planning a return to fighting. He also calls out potential opponents, explains why American Muay Thai still has some catching up to do, and talks about his plans to return to Boise and help coach fighters. Owen and Max close things out by breaking down the surprising similarities between stand-up comedy and fighting: putting in deliberate reps, checking your ego, learning to fail in practice, and understanding that bombing at an open mic isn’t so bad when you’ve already been knocked out on national television. Follow, Like, and Subscribe: Instagram: o.g.lol TikTok: owengiffordlol YouTube: theowengiffordshow