Gat Kong Fight In Sight Podcast interview: South Sudan and sobriety

The Gat Kong Fight In Sight Podcast interview with Timmy B covered his draw at Ish Fight Promotions’ Iron Eight Grand Prix, his childhood escape from South Sudan through Ethiopia to Canada, and the role fighting has played in his sobriety. Kong also spoke about an unexpected modeling career and where he hopes to fight next.

What did Gat Kong say about his Iron Eight Grand Prix fight with Adele?

Gat Kong described fighting Adele at the Iron Eight Grand Prix as a valuable experience against an opponent who could match him physically. The Ish Fight Promotions bout ended in a draw, and Kong said it was the first time someone in his weight class had fought with him in that way.

Kong focused on the problems Adele posed at close range. He knew he had to watch for his opponent’s sharp knees, and Adele managed to grab his head in a way Kong had not experienced before in a fight. Kong called it a good experience and said he was learning as it happened.

Timmy B had commentated the bout and identified it as the night’s only draw. Looking ahead, Kong said he would want to return for another Ish Fight Promotions event. He did not have another fight booked when they spoke.

The conversation also turned to his teammate Frankie, who Kong said had been due to appear in an eight-man tournament. Kong said Frankie had hurt his knee in an MMA fight the week before. He described his teammate as active across MMA and Muay Thai.

How did Gat Kong get into modeling?

Gat Kong began modeling after taking photographs with a friend while he was at university. A photographer contacted him through Instagram, and a portfolio led to more work. Kong said the opportunity grew unexpectedly into paid gigs and appearances in magazines, rather than coming from a plan to become a model.

At first, Kong was unsure whether to include modeling when presenting himself as a fighter because the two pursuits seemed separate. He came to see it as another part of himself worth showing. Being photographed and posting pictures publicly also pushed him beyond his comfort zone, much as fighting would in a different way.

When Timmy B jokingly asked whether modeling or fighting had brought him more attention, Kong said he was still new to fighting and suggested modeling might have done so. His more serious comparison was about what each pursuit demanded from him. He valued trying unfamiliar things, but said fighting required a kind of accountability he could not avoid.

What did Gat Kong say about fighting and sobriety?

Gat Kong said fighting helped him build discipline and stay sober. He expected to reach two years without drinking or using substances on the coming January 18, and he credited training with helping him feel more connected to himself, more level-headed and more emotionally stable.

For Kong, the discipline starts before a bout. He spoke about doing the rounds he knows he can do on the bag, paying attention to what he eats and refusing to skip work. Once a fighter enters the ring, he said, there is no way to hide the preparation that did or did not happen.

He contrasted that accountability with a risk he sees in modeling. Pictures and attention can affect how someone thinks about themselves if they are not in the right mindset, he said. Fighting, by contrast, has forced him to examine his habits and given him a structure that carries into the rest of his life.

How did Gat Kong immigrate from South Sudan to Canada?

Gat Kong said his family escaped violence in South Sudan when he was very young, reached a refugee camp in Ethiopia and later immigrated to Toronto, Ontario. His earliest memories include seeing his village burn as rebels approached. He said he remains grateful for the chance to live in Canada.

Escaping the village in South Sudan

Kong recalled being with family as they fled the village. He remembered fire around them and his younger brother being carried in a blanket. He also described taking cover under a blanket during the journey. Kong did not give a firm length for the trip; he was too young to remember how long it took.

From Ethiopia to Toronto

The family made its way to a refugee camp in Ethiopia before receiving permission to immigrate. Kong said America was among the possible destinations, but his family chose Toronto after advice from an uncle about a proposed destination in Missouri.

Kong emphasized that displacement and its effects are not his story alone. He said other people in his community had lived through similar experiences, and that sharing them can be difficult while people are still dealing with what happened. He wants those people to be heard.

Why does Gat Kong want young people to try fighting?

Gat Kong believes a gym can help young people in his community develop confidence and deal with difficult emotions. He connects that hope to his own experience: training has helped him manage fear, and he takes pride in entering the ring even though he knows the outcome is uncertain.

Kong said some young people he grew up around have struggled to imagine a future beyond what they experienced. He hopes seeing someone from their community fight might encourage them to try it too. He did not present training as a solution to everyone’s circumstances, but as something that has helped him.

He was equally direct about fear. Kong said he feels it before a fight and understands that he might lose or be embarrassed. He described stepping into the ring despite those possibilities as courage, a mindset he believes can carry into other parts of life. Explaining what that choice means to him, Kong said:

no matter the outcome, I'm so proud of myself for stepping in

Timmy B encouraged Kong to share his story more widely. Kong said he would continue speaking about it if he had a platform, while recognizing how hard it is to tell a story that belongs to many people in his community as well as to him.

When does Gat Kong want to fight again, and where does he hope to compete?

Gat Kong had no fight booked but hoped to return before the end of the year or early the next year. He estimated that he needed about 10 more fights before turning professional and named ONE Championship and Glory as promotions he would like to fight for.

More fights before turning professional

Kong noted that a tournament could help him accumulate bouts quickly, with the possibility of three fights in one event. He did not commit to a date for turning professional. His immediate answer was that he knew what he needed to do when he next stepped into the ring.

ONE Championship and a possible Fairtex partnership

Asked to make a case for ONE Championship, Kong pointed to the audience he believes he could bring and to the stories of other Sudanese fighters. He argued that they would be compelling competitors across weight classes.

Kong also mentioned Fairtex as a brand he might like to represent because he often wears its shorts. He said he had not approached the company. Alongside a possible sponsorship, he raised the idea of making his own gear.

Who is Gat Kong?

Gat Kong is a combat sports athlete from Toronto, Ontario, who specializes in Kun Khmer and Muay Thai. He is known for his striking ability, toughness, discipline and dedication to martial arts.