Austin Dunning Gonzalez Media TV interview on his Muay Thai debut

In the Austin Dunning Gonzalez Media TV interview, amateur fighter Austin Dunning told Jose G he wants a knockout in his Muay Thai Madness 23 debut in The Bronx, New York. He also explained why losses in his first two MMA fights sent him back to work on his ground game, and why bullying, self-doubt and the chance for a birthday fight have made this bout personal.

How is Austin Dunning preparing for his Muay Thai debut?

Austin Dunning said the move from MMA and kickboxing to Muay Thai has not been a difficult transition. He was training when he spoke with Jose G and felt ready for Muay Thai Madness 23, but said he is still learning which combinations best fit the rules while relying on his boxing and striking.

His experience in MMA already includes kicks and elbows, while kickboxing has given him more practice throwing kicks. For Dunning, the adjustment is less about learning to strike for the first time than about choosing the right combinations for this bout. He wants to use the boxing he knows well without moving away from what the Muay Thai fight requires.

Dunning spoke from the ring at his training space. He described training a lot ahead of the debut and said he felt good physically and mentally. Although this is a new ruleset for him in competition, he did not present it as a break from the work he has already done in other combat sports.

Why is Austin Dunning working on his ground game after two MMA losses?

Austin Dunning said he lost his first two MMA fights and took lessons from both. His main conclusion was that he needs to improve his ground game: he expects opponents in MMA to try to bring him down rather than stay at striking range against his height and reach.

Lessons from his first two MMA fights

Dunning said those early opponents held higher belts. He did not claim the losses were easy to accept, but framed them as a reason to identify a weakness rather than stop fighting. His attention now is on becoming better prepared when an MMA opponent changes where the fight takes place.

At six feet six inches tall, Dunning said he towers over many fighters in his division. He believes that makes standing exchanges difficult for shorter opponents who must get past his reach. In his view, that gives them a reason to look for a takedown, even when he would rather use his striking.

Ground work alongside a Muay Thai debut

The Muay Thai bout gives Dunning a chance to compete while he continues to address that MMA problem. He said his focus for now is the upcoming fight, not a declared date for an MMA return. When the time comes to compete in MMA again, he wants the ground work he is doing to count.

What did Austin Dunning say about bullying and self-doubt?

Austin Dunning said his Muay Thai debut is a way to prove something to himself after an upbringing that included bullying and other troubles. He has questioned why he keeps fighting and knows some people have told him to stop, but said he wants to show that he will not let those doubts decide what he does.

Dunning described moments when he wondered why he was still pursuing combat sports. Those questions followed the setbacks in his MMA fights, but he did not describe the Muay Thai debut as an attempt to answer critics alone. He connected it to how he sees himself after being bullied when he was younger.

Speaking about why he intends to keep going, Dunning put the point plainly:

I got a point to prove

That point, he said, is primarily personal. He wants to enter the fight and do the job in front of him, rather than accept the view that his early MMA losses should end his efforts. The bout is an opportunity to test that decision in competition.

What does Austin Dunning expect at Muay Thai Madness 23?

Austin Dunning wants his first win at Muay Thai Madness 23 and is looking for a knockout in his Muay Thai debut. He also said he expects his hand to be raised if the fight lasts to a decision. That is his prediction, not a result: he was speaking ahead of the scheduled bout in The Bronx.

He did not give a detailed account of how he intends to finish his opponent. Instead, Dunning kept returning to the job he wants to do and the chance to show that he is still competing. His stated preference is a knockout, but he did not make winning dependent on getting one.

The event was discussed as an October 3 fight in The Bronx, New York. For Dunning, it is also his first chance to seek a win under Muay Thai rules after the two MMA defeats he described. He said he feels ready, while leaving the outcome to what happens when he fights.

How did Austin Dunning connect with coach Jackson?

Austin Dunning said coach Jackson found him on TikTok and invited him to train nearby. Jackson's training space is on his property, about 10 minutes from Dunning, and has a ring and bags. Dunning values the setup because it gives them what they need to prepare for the fight.

Jackson's invitation through TikTok

Jackson's invitation surprised Dunning because he was so close by. During the interview, Dunning pointed out the ropes behind him and explained that he was already in the ring. He also described the coach as retired and interested in training fighters.

The ring and equipment on Jackson's property

Dunning described the space as a shed on Jackson's property, but stressed that it contains useful equipment rather than treating its size as a limitation. He mentioned a heavy bag and the ring as parts of a setup suited to the training they are doing. Being able to work there nearby has made it a practical place for his preparation.

Why did Austin Dunning want this fight near his birthday?

Austin Dunning said he had wanted a birthday fight, and that was one reason he took the Muay Thai Madness 23 bout. His birthday is on the 14th. He wants to enjoy competing, but his immediate goal remains a win, preferably by knockout, before he decides how far to take a Muay Thai run.

When Jose G raised the possibility of spending time training Muay Thai elsewhere, Dunning did not make a commitment. His answer was to see how this first fight goes. That keeps the debut, rather than a longer-term plan, at the center of what he is working toward.

The birthday connection gives the bout another meaning for him without changing his approach to the result. Dunning said he wants to have fun, yet he also spoke clearly about looking for a win. He is treating the fight as both an experience he has wanted and a test of the striking he has been preparing to show.

Who is Austin Dunning?

Austin Dunning, also known as AjTheKidd, is an amateur fighter in MMA, Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. His fighter profile lists 570 Boxing Club and Phantom Fight Team. He is making his Muay Thai debut at Muay Thai Madness 23 after competing in MMA.