“I’m very confident that our safety regulations are among the best in the world. Can I predict that there’ll be no more injuries or issues in the future?I can’t say 100 per cent, no… risk-minimisation is key,” declared Thailand-based ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong back in 2016, highlighting how his fight promotion is better than others in terms of safety protocols.

Critics marveled that, despite Muay Thai’s reputation as a brutal “art of eight limbs,” ONE has managed to avoid serious injuries, carving out a reputation as one of the safest combat sports. Yet, in a recent exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, a rising Muay Thai star has exposed a crack in ONE Championship’s  ‘no risk’ claim.

ONE Championship’s Muay Thai gloves exposed by Selina Flores

Muay Thai is no longer confined to its traditional home in Thailand, as American fighters are increasingly leaving their mark on the sport. One such rising star is Selina Flores, who earlier this month captured the spotlight at ONE Fight Night 36 with a commanding performance against Irish competitor Marie McManamon. The 27-year-old American handed McManamon her second loss in the promotion, signaling her arrival on the global stage. Following the event, Flores sat down with EssentiallySports’ Andrew Whitelaw for an exclusive interview. When asked, “How did you feel in there?” She described her ONE debut as “good.”

Yet, Selina Flores went on to discuss the challenges posed by the gloves:“There was definitely an adjustment for the small gloves. Obviously, I’ve been training and working on it for a while now, actually since almost the beginning of the year. So, I felt comfortable with the amount, but just the difference between training gloves and fight gloves is very small.” Flores also alleged that her Irish opponent landed several “eye pokes” during the fight.

When Whitelaw pressed her about the gloves’ impact in terms of the “gravity” of strikes to the face, Selina Flores admitted it felt like “hitting a piece of metal.” Discussing the limitations of ONE Championship’s gloves, Flores explained: “There’s not much padding there, so it makes a big difference. And defensively, you can’t use padding on your arms and legs. There’s nothing like that with these small gloves, so you definitely don’t want a guard that’s too loose. But you have to have a bit more active defense, otherwise, you take the full impact of the body weight.”

The difference between boxing, Muay Thai, and ONE Championship gloves is stark. Boxing gloves feature thick knuckle padding and longer wrist support, making them unsuitable for grappling or clinches. Traditional Muay Thai gloves resemble boxing gloves but are more rounded with shorter wrists, allowing fighters flexibility for clinching and catching strikes. In contrast, ONE Championship gloves are like MMA gloves, with fully exposed fingers, which was evident during her ONE debut.

Flores doubles down on dominating American Muay Thai

In the American combat sports landscape, MMA and boxing have long dominated the fans’ attention, while kickboxing and BJJ have operated more quietly in the background. Gradually, other martial arts, including Muay Thai, are beginning to stake their claim. It’s no longer a hidden skill set, as UFC fighters like Khalil Rountree Jr. and Rafael Fiziev showcase strong Muay Thai backgrounds that clearly influence their performance in the cage.

Over the years, organizations like USA Muay Thai and WBC Muay Thai USA have actively promoted the sport, helping pave the way for American fighters such as Eddie Abasolo and Luke Lessei. Now, Vista, California native Selina Flores is turning heads, rising from the regional circuit to compete on the international stage. During her interview with Andrew Whitelaw, he asked her, “Can you talk to us about the US scene?”

Without missing a beat, Flores replied, “Absolutely,” highlighting the growing presence of Muay Thai in America. She noted, “I think America is definitely growing,” citing major tournaments like FMI and WBC as proof of the sport’s expanding footprint. She added, “Yeah, I’d love to hold a torch here, and I know there are some other great Americans who fight for ONE, and I’d love to be a part of that. I think I’m something special; I think I have that ‘it’ factor, and I can kind of push Americans upwards and onwards, as well as continue to grow as a fighter and just be the best I can be here.”

As Muay Thai steadily gains traction in the U.S., the question remains: could the sport receive the same level of attention and support as BJJ did when UFC CEO Dana White got involved with Mickey Musumeci? Could someone like Selina Flores become a leading figure in bringing Muay Thai into the American mainstream?