Having now watched the fights, I completely agree with Liam that it is very hard to score really accurately given the camera angles. However, in the Farid v Lam fight (50:45) the first round was a draw but then Lam dominated completely with one eight count giving a two point round.

I thought Julie’s fight was close. Although Germaine did tend to control the fight and force the pace to an extent she didn't win big in any way. The camera angles shown means that it is not always clear to see if some knees in particular scored, but that said it seemed far, far closer fight than the judges scored it. I would agree with Liam and Stephen 50: 48 (or even possibly even 50: 49 depending if some techniques landed or not when the camera angle didn't show the target clearly) but definitely not 50:45.

I realise it may seem pedantic to talk about what seems to the general public to be a small point difference given that everyone seems to agree on the result. However, the difference in scoring between the judge's scores and Liam, Stephen and my scoring, represents a big difference in application of scoring criteria that could easily result in completely different outcomes with only a few additional techniques landing. This is important to consider in future fights between the two (and in other future fights)should a fight between the two ever come to fruition again. If correct Muaythai scoring criteria was applied there would have been a very different outcome if Julie could have landed just a handful of additional clean scoring techniques (good body kicks delivered on balance or straight knees). However, it doesn’t seem that would have been the case with the ringside judges who gave every round to Germaine. I would be interested what techniques the judges actually thought scored. Although both are excellent fighters, there wasn’t a great deal of scoring in the fight really as both fighters looked cautious and tended to evade each other’s techniques. Very, very few scoring body kicks were landed, only some scoring knees (neither kneed very strongly and predominately used round knees) neither boxer scored with any leg kicks. Germaine did score with some good punches that had real effect but was only ever a few blows ahead at any time during the fight. I thought Germaine won the 4th but only just edged the last (or even drew depending if some blows that were not really clear from the footage landed or not). Other rounds were pretty even.

Generally the referee broke the fight correctly except for the last round when it appeared Julie was about to knee to Germaine’s head. At other times the referee correctly broke the fighters as they were on the ropes and not kneeing effectively.

I agree with Stephen and Liam that Julie could definitely win against Germaine but would have to change fight tactics a little, being a little more proactive and using stepping long left straight knee and backing her to the ropes before body kicking. While it is always easy as an armchair coach and never so easy in practice, I think Julie would have had more success with teeps had she stepped in immediately with a second teep after Germaine avoided the first, as she only stepped backwards in a straight line to evade.

All said and done, both girls are a great advent for female Muaythai. Well done to both, true athletes and great fighters.

The promoter should be commended to assembling a great card and putting on a great show but I think should consider the judging for future shows given the quality of fighters competing.

I will judge Clifton’s fight but it is very likely I will agree with Liam and Stephen.