Blood Sports

Pre-bout warm up.

Blood and cigarettes.


Here, cock fighting is legal. Not only is it legal, it is practiced by the young and old, writers, music teachers, and anyone who can afford to raise chickens.

In fact, the Thai equivalent of ESPN broadcasts professional cockfighting contests with all the padded siding and pomp of most any MMA tournament in the US.

In this case, these roosters had never fought before. Apparently it was a trail run to see who is stronger, so that it can be trained and then contested on the Thai side of town for actual money.
I was surprised to learn how carefully owners of these birds care for them. Rounds actual last a bout 5-8 minuets, after which birds are snatched up, patted, bathed in water, blown on, ran around while being held by the tail feathers, and massaged.