So I was going to do a post going over my stitches and everything, but even though so many people took pictures of the stitches getting put in I didn’t manage to get any. I wanted matching picture with my first hospital visit.

Instead there is a picture of me with one of my trainers. He is wearing a Boy Scout’s uniform because he is the leader for his son’s  group and he was heading there after class. I just thought it looked hilarious. Either way, in this picture you can see my nice eye patch and I still have my cornrows in!

There you can see what the stitched look like without a bandage on. 7 in total.

There you can see what it looked like during the fight when it first opened.

In later rounds my corner kept it well covered in vasoline.

There are two more of the pictures that I got a little later from one of my trainers photographer friend at the stadium.

Overall, I think that fight might be one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Stepping into a ring forces you to be in the moment like nothing else can. It was truly an incredible experience. Honestly, the adrenaline rush and the high you get from doing it makes it kind of addicting. I know I don’t want to do it professionally and sustain long term brain damage, but I can’t help wondering “what if.”

I am now moved on to Bangkok where I am working for an online learning startup doing some English videos. It’s only been two days since I left Chiang Mai, the church, and the gym and I miss it so much already. I want to continue training. There it was so easy to have purpose and push myself. I guess I just have to buckle down and make these English videos the best they can be.

While that fight is something I will never forget and it has created memories that will last forever, I still have this feeling that my involvement in fighting and combat sports isn’t quite over. Maybe I’ll just join a class when I get back home or maybe more. Who knows?