Carbon Gym Athletes Head to the 2026 Muay Thai Australia Elite National Championships

TL;DR: Seven Carbon Gym Geelong athletes are competing at the 2026 Muay Thai Australia Elite National Championships and Melbourne International Open, April 10, 11 and 12 at Melbourne Showgrounds. From 7-year-old first-timers to senior Nationals competitors, this is the biggest weekend our athletes have had on the national stage. Here’s who’s fighting, when, and how to watch.

This is a big weekend for our club.

Seven Carbon Gym athletes are stepping onto the national stage at the 2026 Muay Thai Australia Elite National Championships and Melbourne International Open. It’s one of the biggest amateur Muay Thai events in the country: three full days of competition at Melbourne Showgrounds, Flemington.

We’ve got kids as young as seven competing. We’ve got a senior Nationals fighter. We’ve got athletes across three separate days.

Whether you’re making the trip to Melbourne or watching from your couch in Geelong, here’s everything you need to know.

Who’s Representing Carbon Gym?

Seven of our own are heading to Melbourne this weekend. That alone says something about the standard of training happening at Carbon right now.

Here’s the full lineup, broken down by day.

Friday 10 April: Day 1, The Kids Lead the Way

Three Carbon athletes kick things off on Friday.

Sadie Maloney and Stevie Maloney are both competing in the Girl B Class (7-9 yrs / 40kg). Two sisters, same division, same day. That’s a special thing to watch.

Israel Tua rounds out the Friday lineup in the Boy B Class (7-9 yrs / 34kg).

These three are among the youngest competitors at the whole event. Kids fighting at this level at 7-9 years old are doing something most people won’t understand until they see it. It takes a lot of commitment, from the kids and from their families. Weigh-ins are at 7:30am, so Friday is an early start.

Cheer them on loud. They’ve earned it.

Saturday 11 April: Day 2, Nationals Day

Saturday is the big one.

Jacinta Maloney is competing in the Female A Class (Above 18 yrs / 75kg+) at the Elite National Championships. This is the Nationals.

This is the highest level of amateur Muay Thai competition in Australia. Only A Class fighters who’ve qualified can enter. Jacinta being on that list is a genuine achievement, and she’s going in to compete, not just participate.

Get behind her. She’s representing Geelong and she’s representing Carbon.

Sunday 12 April: Day 3, The Final Push

Three more athletes close out the weekend on Sunday.

Jimmy Cooper competes in the Boy A Class (10-11 yrs / 34kg). Competing at A class level means Jimmy has already built a real competition record. This kid is one to watch.

Ali Hussaini wraps up the weekend in the Male B Class (Above 18 yrs / 60kg). Ali’s been putting in the work and Sunday is his chance to show it on the biggest stage he’s competed on.

How to Watch

You’ve got two options.

Go to Melbourne. The event is at Melbourne Showgrounds, Boulevard Pavilion, Flemington. Entry is through Gate 5 on Langs Road. Tickets are available now at muaythainationals.com.au. If you’re going to be there for our athletes, let them know. There’s nothing like seeing a familiar face in the crowd.

Watch the livestream. Can’t make it to Melbourne? Every bout is being broadcast live at LiveCombatSports.com.au. Set a reminder, get the kids around the screen, and watch your gym family compete from home.

Understanding the Class Structure

If you’re new to watching Muay Thai competition, the class and division system can seem confusing. Here’s a quick breakdown so you know exactly what you’re watching.

Nationals is the highest tier. Fighters must be nominated by their state or territory association to compete. This is why Jacinta’s spot is such a big deal.

A Class (Elite Division) is for experienced fighters: seniors need 10 or more fights, juniors need 8 or more. Jimmy Cooper competing at A Class, means he’s already fought at least 8 times. That’s a serious young athlete.

B Class (Intermediate Level) covers seniors with 6-10 fights and juniors with 0-7 fights. This is where Sadie, Stevie, Israel, Dominic and Ali are competing. It’s not entry-level, there are real records and real experience behind these competitors.

C Class (Entry Level) is for seniors with 5 fights or less. None of our athletes are in this division.

All youth athletes are classified by age as of 10 April 2026, the first day of competition. Seniors are 18 and over. Youth categories cover ages 7 to 17. Weight divisions follow internationally recognised standards aligned with Muaythai Australia and IFMA classifications.

What to Know Before You Go

A few things worth knowing if you’re heading to Melbourne or following along:

Weigh-ins happen at 7:30am on each day of competition. Athletes only weigh in on the days they fight, so check the schedule for your day.

The format is tournament-style. Win and you progress. Lose and you’re out. Divisions with more than two competitors can mean multiple bouts across the weekend.

Juniors (7-15 years old) fight on one day only, with multiple bouts throughout that day. Youth competitors (16-17) fight across two days.

Full event info and tickets are at muaythainationals.com.au.

Get Behind Our Athletes

Seven people from this gym are putting themselves on the line this weekend. They’ve trained hard, they’ve made weight, and they’re going to compete at the highest level of amateur Muay Thai in Australia with our elite athlete training.

That deserves your support.

Follow along at LiveCombatSports.com.au, make the trip to Melbourne if you can, and when our athletes come home, whatever the result, let them know you’re proud of them.

That’s what this community is about. View our membership options and come train with us.

Want to find out more about training Muay Thai at Carbon Gym? Check out our Muay Thai program, view our class timetable, or book your first class free. We’d love to see you on the mats. 💚

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the 2026 Muay Thai Australia Elite National Championships being held?
The event is at Melbourne Showgrounds, Boulevard Pavilion, Flemington, Victoria. Entry is through Gate 5 on Langs Road. The event runs across three days: Friday 10, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2026.

How can I watch the event if I can’t attend in person?
The entire event is being livestreamed at LiveCombatSports.com.au. This covers all three days of competition. Tickets for in-person attendance are available at muaythainationals.com.au.

Which Carbon Gym athletes are competing and on which days?
On Friday (Day 1): Sadie Maloney, Stevie Maloney, and Israel Tua. On Saturday (Day 2): Jacinta Maloney in the Elite Nationals. On Sunday (Day 3): Jimmy Cooper, Dominic Tua, and Ali Hussaini.

What is the difference between A Class and B Class Muay Thai competitions?
B Class is intermediate level: seniors need 6-10 fights and juniors need 0-7 fights. A Class is elite: seniors need 10 or more fights and juniors need 8 or more. Above that is the Nationals tier, which requires nomination by a state or territory association. The Elite National Championships on Saturday are exclusively for Nationals-nominated A Class fighters.

Can my kids start training Muay Thai at Carbon Gym Geelong?
Yes. Carbon Gym runs Muay Thai classes for kids from age 8 and up on Saturday mornings, 9:00-9:45am. The first class is free. You can find more info or book your child’s first class here.