The Australian embassy in Phnom Penh has granted visas to seven Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters and coaches, confirming that the first ever event featuring the Kingdom’s traditional martial art will go ahead on Australian soil.

The Melbourne event is being promoted by the Kun Khmer Super Fight Club, in partnership with Australian event management firm Best of the Best.

The club’s Nou Pov said the five Cambodian fighters selected for the sport’s Australian debut are Pich Sambath, Pich Bunsith, Lon Panha, Amarin Phuthong and Koeum Sovankhy. They will be accompanied by coaches Ei Phouthang and Pich Sophan, as well as Cambodian-Brazilian boxer Thiago Teixeira, along with several members of the club.

Flights have been booked for October 30.

The matches are set to take place on November 5 at the Malvern Town Hall in Melbourne, with 500 tickets on sale to curious Australian fight fans.

Of the seven bouts scheduled for the night, five will feature Cambodian boxers.

Amarin Phuthong will face off with Australian fighter Clinton Corke, the holder of a Rise MMA belt in the 66kg weight class, while Lon Panha will take on Australian Cian Lougheed in the 65kg category.

Pich Sambath will be matched against Thai boxer Tum Kitti Patkam in the 60kg category. Pich Bunsith and Koeum Sovankhy will both take on Australian pugilists in international friendlies – Bunsith meeting Moo Do in the 55.5kg class, and Sovankhy against Fahed Hardar in the 55kg.

Pov explained that as the first Kun Khmer night in Australia, the event is a huge step in the sport’s international development. If the competition is successful, the Kun Khmer Super Fight Club intends to promote such fights more widely across the big cities of Australia.

“This competition marks a big step up for Kun Khmer, a new step for the promotion of the sport. If it goes well, we intend to organise a programme in Sydney,” he said.