Premier Youth Comp Team Brings Home Gold and Silver from the TBA Muay Thai World Expo 🥇🥈🥈
The Premier Fight and Fitness competition team made their mark at this year’s TBA Muay Thai World Expo in Des Moines, Iowa, one of the biggest and most competitive Muay Thai tournaments in North America.
Led by Coach Jeremy and Coach Selina, the team showed incredible resilience throughout the weekend, not only in the ring but also in what they overcame to get there. Each athlete faced challenges leading up to the event, but their dedication, focus, and teamwork carried them through.
Premier finished 3-2 overall, going 2-0 on Saturday and 1-2 on finals day, bringing home one gold medal and two silvers back to San Diego. Every round was a hard-fought battle that demanded mental toughness, composure, and heart, and the team delivered.
“These are the experiences that level us up,” said Coach Jeremy. “Nothing was given to them. Every single round was earned.”
Nicholas Lalap-Sutton – TBA C-Class Jr 122 lb Champion 🏆
Building off a strong win on Saturday, Nicholas Lalap-Sutton picked up right where he left off with solid kicks and a dominant clinch game, earning a unanimous decision victory in the finals to become the new TBA C-Class Jr 122 lb Champion. This marks Nicholas’s second national title, a huge accomplishment for one of Premier’s most consistent and disciplined young athletes.
Ryder Teng – TBA Silver Medalist 🥈
Ryder Teng dropped a decision in the finals after an incredible fight that had the crowd on their feet. He won the first round, got edged out in the second, and showed tremendous toughness in the third after taking some heavy knees and a clean shot that earned an eight count. Ryder recovered, finished strong, and showed just how far he has come since USMTO earlier this year. At only 15 years old, the progress he’s made is outstanding, and he returns home with a well-earned silver medal.
Bella Lalap-Sutton – TBA Silver Medalist 🥈
Bella Lalap-Sutton battled her way through two tough fights over the weekend. She started strong with a hard-fought semifinal win in a rematch from USMTO last year, where she previously dropped a decision. In the finals, Bella faced Ava once again in a rematch from April and came up just short in a split decision loss after another back-and-forth war. Six quality rounds of experience in one weekend and another silver medal make this a valuable step forward in Bella’s growth as a fighter.
The weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the support system behind the athletes. Coach Selina played a major role in preparing the kids throughout camp and guiding them all weekend. A special thank you also goes to Michelle, who stepped up to take care of all the kids during the trip, and to everyone who supported the team behind the scenes.
The entire Premier community followed along, many watching the live stream and cheering the team on from home. “It truly takes a village, and we’re grateful for ours,” Coach Jeremy said.
The TBA World Expo was more than just a tournament. It was another step forward in Premier’s mission to build disciplined, respectful, and confident athletes both in and out of the ring.
On to the next.
