America’s top sports show comes to Asia

She is known as the stylish, eloquent host of AXN’s entertainment program ebuzz, dishing out the latest gossip and news on Hollywood and the recording industry.

Starting tonight at 9 and every Wednesday night thereafter, however, the other side of Jaymee Ong will be revealed as she topbills The Contender Asia with Stephan Fox, a Muay Thai boxing champion and VP of The World Muay Thai Council.

Jaymee is out there in the ringside and inside the training camp to prove that she’s more than just a pretty face. She can also make it to the cutthroat world of physical sports like Muay Thai and boxing.

This is in the way she knows best: Hosting.

“It’s very different from what I usually do as a host of ebuzz,” says Jaymee of her stint on The Contender Asia. “I’ve never hosted a reality show before. On the show, I’ll spend more days with the contestants and do sparring with them. The camera is not just in front of me.”

Getting up close and personal with 16 Muay Thai fighters and chronicling their every step and struggle to win the title are just two of the reasons why Jaymee never had second thoughts about accepting the job to host The Contender Asia. What really caught her interest is the opportunity to show her passion for Muay Thai.

“I practise the sport with my friends,” shares Jaymee, who has Chinese-Australian blood. “It’s good. I trained for months. I did it because I also wanted to understand the guys. I don’t want to go into something I’m not prepared with. I have to educate myself. My passion for the show is genuine.”

Is The Contender Asia a part of her career move for bigger TV projects in the future?

“I don’t map out my career or my life,” replies Jaymee. “That makes things interesting. I don’t plan what I’m doing now, where I’m living now. (With The Contender Asia) I’m just a huge fan of The Contender (US Version). I heard that there was a plan to make an Asian edition. I just wish I could be part of it. Then, I met the producers. I was just happy then that The Contender was coming in Asia.”

And the rest as they say is history. Jaymee is finally living her dream.

How did The Contender Asia come to being? It all started with Mark Burnett of the Survivor fame.

“We decided on Muay Thai because this is the Asian version,” says Burnett who has passion for unscripted drama and non-fiction stories. “While I was in Bangkok on recreation, I often watched the sport and enjoyed it. It’s a beautiful sport. Televiewers will see the results and I’m proud of The Contender Asia. For the show, we handpicked experts to decide on casting some of the world’s greatest kickboxing and Muay Thai champions.”

Designed after the twice Emmy nominated show The Contender, The Contender Asia has Muay Thai heavyweights who will skillfully use their hands, elbows and knees to attack and knock down opponents. The show will be shot in Singapore and the action happens right before the eyes of an exclusive audience.

Of the 16 aspirants, two are from Thailand and Canada, three from Australia and one each from Scotland, Singapore, Switzerland, Sweden, US, the Arab Emirates, UK, France and Spain. They are slugging it out for the total prize of $250,000.

“No. I don’t have any favorites yet,” says Jaymee. “It’s just sad to see someone going home. As a host, I could only wish the contenders to do well.”