DOCTORES Muay Thai Swindon saw two of the gym’s fighters make a winning return to action after 16 months without competition recently.

In the resumption of the Roar combat league, Jake “Afro Thunder” Henwood and Aion “Yasuke” McCrae both emerged with victories from highly entertaining and competitive match ups.

Henwood was up first for Doctores in a C class Muay Thai contest that featured five 90-second rounds with no shin pads.

In a very tough fight against a competitor from the gym running the show, Henwood threw everything at his opponents from the get-go, delivering some crunching knees in the last two rounds to secure victory.

Reacting to his success, Henwood said: “It was unreal to get back in the ring. We usually have a longer fight camp, but we managed to squeeze a lot into four weeks.

“With lots of hard work and support from the other members of the gym and the coaches James, Nathan & Rich, I knew I was in good hands.

“Getting the win was a great feeling and achievement, especially coming from our little upcoming gym in Swindon.”

The second of Doctores’ two victories came through McCrae, who was fighting in an amateur-pro bout that featured five two-minute rounds with elbow pads.

McCrae began the fight with a jumping elbow to his opponent, keen to let the crowd know they were in for some pulsating entertainment.

A close battle ultimately resulted in the Swindon man being declared the winner.

McCrae said: “I let myself go during lockdown so getting the fight booked was what I needed to get myself back in shape and on the right path.

“As soon as the fight was announced I was questioning my decision to fight, but I’ve got a good team around me who are more like family. They believe in me even when others don’t.

“It felt amazing to get the win and see what I am capable of.”