Paving the Way: Women in Combat Sports & the Future of Muay Thai

At The Fight Collective, Southpaw Stitches founder Jess took the stage to reflect on how far women have come in combat sports— from searching for female fighters online to headlining events. But progress doesn’t happen in isolation. True equal play means showing up, supporting, and creating spaces for everyone in the ring.

With the next era of combat sports on the horizon, this conversation isn’t just about the present—it’s about the future we’re all shaping, together. Read Jess’s full speech below.

"Thank you, everybody, for coming.

When we started this idea, we manifested it back in September. This isn’t about us—this is about the future, and also about the women who have paved the way for us and for the sport of Muay Thai.

Fifteen years ago, when I started, there weren’t spaces like this. Let alone access to information about women fighters—I had to actively search for them, watching clips on YouTube just to learn about those who came before us.

But now, we’re in a time where women are the co-main event. Where women are the main event.

We want to create a space where we recognize that men are not the standard in combat sports. Men are not the standard in sports, period.

When we create spaces that highlight and uplift women, it doesn’t mean it’s women-only or for women-only. True equal play isn’t possible if not everyone is there to support and recognize it.

This is for the future of the sport, too. With the International Olympic Committee recognizing Muay Thai as a potential Olympic sport, we are all part of making that happen—whether it’s eight years from now or twelve years from now. "