Drew Gigax Eyes WBC North American Title at Coalition Muay Thai

Drew Gigax is set to headline Coalition Muay Thai’s Sept. 19 event in Houston, where he’ll fight Pawel Zawistowski for the WBC North American title. Fighting out of KBC Garage in St. Louis, Gigax is embracing the moment — one that he’s been chasing for years.

“Fighting for the WBC is insane. It’s been a dream of mine. That’s the green and gold belt — the one everybody wants,” Gigax said. “We’re training hard for this one, changing a lot of things, taking our stuff to new levels.”

The main event marks a major step for the Missouri-based striker, who has focused exclusively on kickboxing and Muay Thai since walking away from early MMA aspirations.

“Some of the ground stuff, wasn’t a fan of it. But the striking — I just fell in love with it,” he said.

Gigax has fought under traditional Muay Thai and kickboxing rules for over a decade. After bypassing MMA, he competed in jiu-jitsu tournaments before committing fully to stand-up combat sports.

“I think there’s something about hitting somebody that gets me going more than grappling,” Gigax said.

His opponent, Pawel Zawistowski, is no slouch — a seasoned veteran with experience on big stages. Still, Gigax plans to meet him in the center of the ring.

“I’m coming forward. I’m heavy with the combinations and I’m looking to exchange,” he said. “I think our styles clash. It’s going to make for a great fight.”

Gigax trains under coach Quinton O’Brien, alongside fighters from multiple weight classes, which gives him a variety of looks during fight camp. As the bout nears, he’s turned to opponent-specific strategies.

“We watch a lot of film. We train year-round, so we stay in shape,” he said. “When it gets close to the fight, we’re crossing our t’s, dotting our i’s, and making sure we’re ready for the night.”

The Coalition Muay Thai card features 19 bouts, including five title fights. Gigax sees the stacked lineup as a testament to Muay Thai’s growing presence in the U.S.

“If you look 10 years ago, most cards were MMA-focused, with maybe some Muay Thai fights,” he said. “Now we’re seeing promotions strictly doing stand-up. I think it’s definitely growing.”

He credits events like Coalition for giving American strikers a proper platform.

“I’ve never seen a stand-up only card where there’s a boring fight,” he said. “Every fight is going to be a banger.”

When he’s not in the gym, Gigax is focused on family. With two kids at home, balancing fatherhood and fight life is central to his routine.

“If I’m not training or fighting, I’m at home with the kids,” he said. “They’re young. I’m trying to be a present father and a good role model.”

His children have started dabbling in martial arts too, with his son training in jiu-jitsu and striking.

“I’m not going to force anything on them, but if they want it, I’ll be there to guide them,” Gigax said.

Looking ahead, Gigax wants his name known across combat sports.

“My goal is to be a world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing,” he said. “I want to fight the best of the best. I want people to hear ‘Drew’ and say, ‘Yeah, that dude can fight.’”

He thanked his coach, team, wife, and sponsors — HKUSA, Bow Point, UV, Adept Design — for helping him prepare.

The Sept. 19 card promises a full night of action, and Gigax wants fans to show up or tune in.

“You’re going to see some of the best fights you’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “Not just regionally — even compared to the big ones on TV.”