From my observations I would say that some of the rules do seem to be like guidelines and seem to be open to interpretation as opposed to being absolute.Watching this fight with a view to what I believe and understand Muay Thai to be judged I gave it to Jackson as he was throwing and countering with the more difficult to perform technique in the last 2 rounds.No matter how many punches that french fella was throwing they were failing to knock Jackson out or stop him imposing his style and counter techniques.

I always thought that kicks and knees were deemed a little more difficult to perform when put against boxing so therefore were considered generally better techniques even if the effect of them wasn't as great?Im happy to be told Im wrong about this?! We've all seen many times that when Thai fighters know they are losing going in to the fifth they come out swinging trying to get the KO for the first minute or 2 of the round because they know they're behind on points and the only way to win is by KO so they come out punching and elbowing.If they fail to get the KO even if they've appeared to batter the opponant with fists and elbows that round, they always lose.The other alternative is when we see them knowing they are so far behind on points that they just dance around for the 5th as they know its already a done deal.

When I first went to Thailand a Thai trainer explaining in broken English said, punches easy to do so if punches have no power or cant knock you out or stop you then judges don't care (or words to that effect.)

That said there seem to be nuances even within a fight depending on techniques.At another fight with this same trainer, I commented on how good some guys teeps were, he kept stopping and pushing someone back with teeps all through the fight. The trainer turned to me and said, he got good teep but judges don't like, he not want to fight.The teeps were having a visible effect and were visibly moving the opponant back and stopping him a lot, but sure enough the teep guy lost.The trainer explained to me he was to defensive and was only using the teep to keep the opponant away therefore the judges didn't like it as it looked like he didn't want to fight.

I don't know how true it is to present day but Prathet was telling me recently that Lumpinee favours fighters that press forward agresively and with strong clinch where as Radjadamneon may favour more technical fimeur fighters?

So it seems to me that there does seem to be quite a lot of leeway in some of the interpretation of the rules and that often it depends on the fight and how each fight is perceived?