Rochester Muay Thai at the ISKA Eastern Nationals 2026
This past weekend, Rochester Muay Thai traveled to Newark to compete at the prestigious ISKA Eastern Nationals 2026, held from May 8th through May 10th. Representing the team were Eric Stanford and Sam Grant, both stepping onto one of the East Coast’s biggest amateur striking stages after weeks of preparation, discipline, and hard work.
Day One Results
Eric competed in both the Muay Thai and Kickboxing divisions and delivered a dominant performance throughout the day. He walked through every opponent he faced, earning stoppage victories in all of his matches via TKO. His composure, pressure, and finishing ability immediately made a statement early in the tournament.
Sam competed in the Kickboxing division and showed tremendous heart and determination. After a strong second round where momentum appeared to shift in his favor, the fight was ultimately stopped by the referee near the end of the third round due to his opponent’s relentless pressure and aggression. Despite the result, Sam demonstrated toughness, courage, and the willingness to test himself against high-level competition.
Day Two Results
Eric returned on day two looking fresh and focused. In his opening match, he earned a unanimous decision victory against a tough opponent. He followed that performance with another dominant showing, securing a TKO victory in his second Kickboxing bout and capturing the ISKA Kickboxing title.
In the final bout of the weekend, Eric faced an extremely skilled and durable opponent for the Muay Thai championship. He dropped his opponent in the first round with a sharp knee and continued to control the fight through rounds two and three with effective elbows, pressure, and ring control. After three hard rounds, Eric earned a unanimous decision victory and claimed the ISKA Muay Thai title.
A Remarkable Performance
Eric’s performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of outstanding. He completed the weekend with multiple TKO victories, two championship belts, and without suffering any significant injuries.
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Eric has only been training for two years. His success is a direct reflection of discipline, consistency, work ethic, and dedication to the process. He represents what can be accomplished through focused training and commitment to growth inside and outside the gym.
We are proud of both Eric and Sam for representing Rochester Muay Thai with heart, professionalism, and courage.
Join the Rochester Muay Thai family in congratulating Eric on an incredible accomplishment as he now prepares for his next challenge: facing the current FCP Kickboxing Champion next week.