(WARNING: Post contains video featuring censored nudity)
Tai Emery delivered a highlight reel uppercut knockout at BKFC Thailand this past weekend, but it was her post-fight celebration that got the combat sports world talking.
Emery stopped Rung-Arun Khunchai late in the first round with a vicious uppercut. When the fight was waved off, Emery hopped on the ropes and flashed the audience in attendance in the now viral clip, a moment that has garnered a lot of attention — mostly in a positive way.
“Yes. We have broken the internet,” Emery said to MMA Fighting. This is something new. “This is a new thing. My friends told me. 1 trending thing on Google, so that’s kind of nice to beat a Kardashian at something.
” I made the threat to Nick Chapman. I believe I also threw it at [my management] once, literally to be a brat. I was just trying to make people uncomfortable by being me and to get their reactions. When it came to, [and] every single person that really knows me, there’s a moment where they’re like, ‘Tai’s being Tai,’ and it’s bloody well paid off. It was all without any backlash.
“Everything is positive, positive, positive, which is why it’s been so bloody good because it wasn’t meant to make anyone feel some type of way negatively, but if that’s what they’re going to feel, than I think they need to have a look at themselves to see why that’s triggering them while someone is up there having a good time. There are probably some ladies out there who would have given their heart for free Bundy Rum back in Australia. But, c’mon. I just did a b
.
It was Emery’s first fight under the BKFC Thailand banner, and she also revealed to MMA Fighting that she also has a four-fight deal with BKFC in the United States.
Emery has competed as an amateur in mixed martial arts before transitioning to muay thai and then to the world of bare knuckle fighting. Additionally, Emery played in the Lingerie Football League and has had a successful run with OnlyFans — which is where Emery believes she may have been discovered by the promotion considering other big name fighters in the promotion take part in exclusive fan sites.
While the party has had a snowball effect Emery thinks that the highlight of the event is the time when people are able to see the flashes and go knockout.
“Honestly, it’s been one of the best things to happen,” Emery said. “I’ve always said that as long as you’re always truly just being yourself in every moment, nothing bad can come from it.
” I’m certain there were a lot people concerned that I would get backlash from Thailand [because] It’s illegal for women in Thailand to show their breasts but legal for men with fake breasts to allow them to display their chests. Being in a country that’s mostly Buddhist, there could’ve been a lot of backlash, but honestly, from every single country there’s been a lot of support.
“Of course, I think everyone would be talking about it, but I think a lot of people that are covering it are saying that this was a textbook uppercut followed by a crazy celebration, so I think I needed to boss out — boss out in technique, boss out every single second [of the fight] boss out when I walked off, and just boss out as I celebrated. That makes it more logical .”
With the platform that BKFC presents to the fighters, Emery feels like she has a big future in the sport and with the promotion.
In fact, the 35-year-old is letting fans — both old and new — know that she felt a bit shy and closed off for that moment in time, and that you haven’t seen anything yet.
” To be completely honest, BKFC feels like the right sport for me.” Emery stated. “I feel like [with] my personality, and have a look at what I pulled over the weekend, it’s only going to get worse. This is me. It’s not going to get any better, unfortunately. The more that I have the ability to do so, the less I will feel shy or introverted.
” If that is me being shy and introverted, things will get crazy. With BKFC, and my personality, they’ll support the things that I say, how I feel, and how I think [compared to] another combat sport where they probably don’t want that sort of behavior, or don’t want someone with the opinions that I like to hold. The call came and I haven’t looked back since.”
Emery hopes to be back later in the year to compete in another Thai event. She will then travel to the U.S. for her second contract. Emery gained a lot of new fans and followers since she was first introduced to the world this weekend.
For all of those new followers aboard the Tai Emery hype train, she has a message for all of you.
“Welcome to the s***show, my friends,” Emery said. Let’s have some fun. It is meant to be God-damn enjoyable. There’s always going to be t******, there’s always going to be violence, there’s always going to be something stupid to be said.
“But this is what I find exciting. We are grateful for your support. You all have taken it in the most positive way. And to see so many people [understand that] for the moment, it’s so nice to hear not that many people getting offended, and people just being liberated by it — which was the whole point of doing it.
” You’re ready for some entertainment. We’re going to be winning, losing, learning, in every moment, in every event, but I’m excited for everyone to be joining me on it.”
