‘So Surreal’ – How Liam Harrison Is Building A UK Muay Thai Movement With Hitman Fight League

British Muay Thai icon Liam “Hitman” Harrison is channeling the same intensity and passion that built his legendary career into something revolutionary.

Just two years ago, Harrison launched Hitman Fight League, and the promotion is already transforming the UK Muay Thai landscape.

One recent HFL event saw the 39-year-old make his successful return from a brief-lived retirement, much to the delight of a raucous UK crowd.

Another event featured a Road to ONE tournament final, with Harrison’s Bad Company Muay Thai teammate Fergus Smith claiming the victory to earn a contract with the world’s largest martial arts organization.

While it might be no surprise that “Hitman” has been able to leverage his star power to quickly build up the new promotion, he told onefc.com that the explosion of HFL has exceeded his expectations:

“It was amazing, especially for my last fight in the UK. Great for the crowd and for all the fighters on it. Obviously, being associated with ONE Championship has helped us tremendously.”

With thousands of passionate fans coming out in droves to witness the highest levels that UK Muay Thai has to offer, Harrison has been left stunned by the scale of HFL events so far.

After a lifetime of competing around the globe on many of the biggest stages for Muay Thai and martial arts, the veteran striker admitted that fighting once again in the UK – in his very own promotion – has felt like a dream come true:

“We had 3,500 people in attendance, and we could’ve had more. It’s still surreal to me. I don’t look at myself in that light, so I still find it amazing that others do. But saying that, I don’t think there’s any other fighter in the UK or in the history of UK Muay Thai who could do it other than me right now.

“To have that, it’s so surreal. It’s humbling, too. The fact that so many turned out for my last fight in the UK, that moment looking out to the crowd with live with me forever.”

Harrison has big goals for the HFL – goals that extend beyond just putting on exciting fights.

He hopes to elevate the UK Muay Thai scene to even greater heights and ultimately create more pathways for his compatriots to reach the global stage:

“I wanted to push UK Muay Thai into the stratosphere. I wanted more eyes on it and wanted to create better fighters, more opportunities, and eventually work with ONE.

“It was only two years ago in April that we launched this, so to do what we’ve done in two years with TV deals in Muay Thai, it’s unheard of. I do anything I put my mind to in order to make it the best.

“It’s not just me, though. I have a great team alongside me who all play their roles, and we are a dream team altogether. We are only just getting started, and we have much more to come in the future.”

Promoting The Next Generation

Well aware that his storied career will soon be coming to a close, Liam Harrison is shifting his focus to the next generation of UK striking talent.

To that end, Fergus Smith’s sterling performance at the Road to ONE tournament perfectly encapsulates Harrison’s mission to develop world-class talent.

According to “Hitman,” his young teammate has everything it takes to become a global superstar in ONE:

“Our kid Fergus, who won Road to ONE, he’s very, very good. He’ll make waves when he gets to ONE. He’s not just a fighter. He’s great on camera and a right little character. He’s tailor-made for what ONE wants, and I think he’ll go a long way.”

“Hitman” sees the HFL as a way to give back to the sport that made him a household name.

As ONE Championship continues to push “the art of eight limbs” to unprecedented levels, Harrison thinks the time is right to have UK talent at the top:

“Muay Thai has never been high-paying until recently, so if I can get them over to Thailand and on the big shows where they’re treated like superstars and I can still be part of that, that’s a great buzz for me – especially if they’re guys from my gym.

“Once I retire, my main goal will be giving back to the sport through the road I’ve helped pave along the way. This is how I’ll do it.”