Dany Bill:The Prodigy
For generations, combat sports has produced legendary fighters. Outstanding athletes that made a name for themselves and inspired people around the globe to take up their own martial art.
Muay Thai has had tremendous fighters, especially during its famous ‘Golden Era’, when dozens of fantastic nakmuays gave us fights for the ages. The sport became very popular in 2 particular places in Europe, France and The Netherlands, which gave us a generation of amazing fighters. Some of them were capable of competing with the very best Thais.
France has produced quite a lot of great nak muay since the sport was first brought into the country in the late 70s. Lots of them fought the very best fighters Thailand has to offer. Most of those who were successful in these encounters were able to impose a physical battle, and out muscle the superior fighters. One of them though, was able to outclass them technically. He was actually so good, that the tables were turned in his fights, and it was the Thai fighters that were looking to force the fight into a brawl.
Natural Born Fighter
Prodigy : (/ˈprɒdɪdʒi/)
A young person with exceptional qualities or abilities
Dany Bill—like UFC's powerhouse Francis N'gannou—was born in Cameroon, Africa. He and his family relocated to France when he was a toddler, where he grew up in the Parisian suburbs.
Aged 13, Dany started to take full-contact classes and play football, until he saw the legendary Krongsak beat Rob Kaman on TV and immediately fall in love with the sport of Muay Thai. Luckily for him, the best French gym was located in his hometown. The Nemrod Gym was home to some of the best french fighters at the time, and was known to use the ‘Femur’ (technical) style of fighting.
Dany became extremely good very quickly, like he was a natural. Five years after he began training, Dany picked up his first major title, the French championship. Three years later he made a name for himself and shocked Thailand, beating the feared Den Muangsurin to win a world title, the first European fighter to achieve it in Thaïland. He went on to keep that belt for seven years straight, before losing it to the legendary wrecking machine Sakmongkol Sitchuchoke.
From 1993 to 1999, Dany fought all over the world against the very best fighters on the planet, beating legends such as Orono Por Muangubon, Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj, Ramon Dekkers, Kenichi Ogata, Jo Prestia and others. He suffered losses to top killers like Sakmongkol, and very controversially to both Nokweed Davy and the terrifying puncher Coban Lookchomaiseetong.
Femur Extraordinaire
The "FIMEU" or "FEMUR" style of fighting, which combines a high level of skill with extreme intelligence, is the most crowd pleasing style in Thailand. Through countless fights, Thai femur fighters proved to be too skilled for the foreign fighters to beat at their own game. What made Dany Bil so unique amongst the other great Farangs (foreigners, regardless of race or nationality, although ‘Farang Dam’ is used for Black foreigners) is the way he fought. Dany was incredibly talented, skilled, and was gifted with preternatural timing that rendered his opponents absolutely helpless at times. He was basically born a femur nak muay, and that allowed him to make Thai fighters look like foreigners when he fought them. His opponents were forced to bring the fight into war territory to be able to beat him, and to adjust.
The fact that he spent a lot of time in Thailand also helped, sharpening his tools in one of the best camps ever (the legendary Jocky Gym) under an all time great trainer, Pipa. There, he would learn on a daily basis from legends such as the wonderful Silapathai Jocky gym, Robert Kaennorasing and Somrak Khamsing. He also trained with fellow french legends Jean-Charles Skarbowsky and Stéphane Nikiéma, and witnessed the arrival of another young prodigy in Saenchai Sor Kingstar.
Like all Muay Femurs, Dany was insanely good at reading an opponent's game, and offering the right answer for every move. Being always one step ahead allowed him to smoothly counter his opponents at will, and in devastating fashion. If Dany found himself in the same exchange twice, be sure that the second time around he would react with something different that would catch his opponent off guard.
Dany fires a spinning back elbow. Sak blocks it and immediately wants to returns the favor. Dany—anticipating he would—pivots to his left while grabbing, turns him against the ropes and throws a high kick for good measure. Incredible. Notice how Sak isn’t fazed for a guy who just got tricked and ducks the high kick. This is high level stand-up!
Here Dany initiates the exchange with a right hook while Sak tries to counter it with a left elbow, then throws a right middlekick. Dany catches it and counters with a right hand and a left kick but Sak had anticipated it and caught it to trip Dany down
Dany pressures Sakmongkol exactly the same way, and initiate the exchange again by firing a high kick. Sakmongkol feints a left middle kick and returns fire with a right middle kick. Dany—fully aware—grabs the kick and this time instead of firing back with a right kick (like most would do as it’s the more natural counter) he assumed that Sak would block or catch again, he instead throws a left high kick that Sak never saw coming.
Dany jabs Ramon Dekkers, who jabs right back, but Dany takes a step back to create distance. Ramon tries to feint and enter with a left hook but Dany anticipates, pivots to his left while grabbing Ramon, fires a knee to the midsection then a jab to resume distance and prevent Ramon to counter.
The King of Sweeps
One of Dany's best weapons was his sweeping game. Again, his anticipating powers were the key. He was able to predict his opponent’s next move, and take advantage of him being off balance. To put it simply : he would sweep his opponents in every way possible, and most of the times in ways they really didn't expect.
Dany attacks with a left hook to the body which prompts an immediate response by Nongmoon, with a middlekick. The Thaï then wants to regain control of the exchanges by attacking with another middlekick that Dany seemed to have anticipated an hour before, and sweeps him by kicking his opposite leg.
Against the fearsome Coban. No caption needed.
Panomrunlek attacks with a Khao Trong (direct knee), that Dany grabs. Then another one that Dany blocks. That’s already way too much information given to a smart fighter like Dany, who anticipates the 3rd one and sweeps Panomrunlek.
I really could go all day with these, as Dany relied heavily on the sweeps to keep his opponents guessing. For the uninitiated, sweeping or throwing an opponent whilst remaining upright yourself is a big scorer in Muay Thai. Dany Bill was not just an excellent technician, but this approach leans towards a match-winning strategy.
One of a Kind
Foreign fighters such as Ramon Dekkers or John Wayne Parr to name only a few are highly regarded as “Farang” nakmuays who made their mark, as they should. But it’s really fair to say that Dany Bill was in a league of his own in the history, so much he mastered the art of Muay Thai. This here is just a glimpse of his greatness.
He was mesmerizing, the kind of fighter that makes you go on a binge watch as soon as you find out about him. The kind of fighter that makes you fall in love with a sport, and change your life forever. This is how important Dany is to a generation of fighters, trainers and fans in France, and in the world. Fortunately, a lot of his fights are available, and if you call yourself a fight fan, then I’m sure you’ll enjoy every single one minute of it. Dany Bill is a true legend, and was indeed, a true prodigy.
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Friend and occasional contributor to The Fight Site Lucas Bourdon has created many handy and comprehensive playlists for kickboxing and Muay Thai. Dany Bill is no exception, and you can view that playlist here (which features a whopping 33 Dany Bill fight videos)