Muay Thai originated in Thailand, and not surprisingly, many of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world are Thai. Nevertheless, a few international Muay Thai boxers possess the skills and abilities to have surpassed the homegrown Thai talent.
Past and current fighters have contributed to Muay Thai’s popularity and success, making what it’s become today. They’ve become heroes of a generation and a source of inspiration and admiration for many.
We’ve listed here the 10 best Muay Thai fighters from across the world. We discuss their achievements, background and techniques. If you’re getting started with Muay Thai, we recommend you watch some footage of each of them in combat. Doing so means you can analyze their styles and perhaps apply some of them to your training and style.
#1. Buakaw Banchamek
His Background
Also called ‘The White Lotus’ or ‘The Black Gold,’ Buakaw started his career at the age of eight, in northern Thailand. His first fighter name was Damtamin Kiat-anan.
In 2002, at 20 years of age, he won his first belt at the Omnoi Stadium Lightweight Championship. In 2013, he went back to school and graduated with a Masters of Science degree.
His Career
Buakaw might be one of the most well-known fighters both in Thailand and internationally. Among his 238 victories, he won 72 of them by knockout.
He was well-known for his mighty leg kicks. His video hitting a banana tree is part of his legacy and had over 6 million views:
Buakaw also fought in MMA and kickboxing competitions. He even became a professional soccer player and played in a Thai football club called RBAC. FC.
In 2017, to honor King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death, this legendary fighter was ordained as a monk and is still competing in 2019.
Key Information
|
Period |
Current |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
274 |
|
Total Wins |
238 |
#2. Samart Payakaroon
His Background
Payakaroon is often called the ‘Muhammed Ali’ of Muay Thai. He started his training at seven years old, after being introduced to the sport by his brother. They both learned from the same teacher — the legendary Yodthong Senanan.
His Career
In 1978, he competed at the Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. His fast teeps and creative technique led him to become, four times in two years, Champion at the Lumpinee Stadium.
Samart won 30 of his wins by knocking down his opponents. Even during Muay Thai’s golden age — in the ’80s and ’90s — his unpredictable moves made him a strong contestant.
Exceptionally gifted with his hands and punches, he started a parallel boxing career. Not only that, but he also found time to add singing and acting into his life, while pursuing his Muay Thai career. He released several albums, among which ‘On Som,’ ‘Nam Plik Pla Too’ and ‘Kao Ao Eng’ became his most popular songs. He acted in movies such as ‘A Fighter’s Blues,’ ‘Fureur,’ ‘The Legend of Suriyothai’ and ‘The Bodyguard.’
After hanging up his fighting career, Samart moved on to teaching Muay Thai in Thailand.
Key Information
|
Period |
Past |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
150 |
|
Total Wins |
130 |
#3. Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn
His Background
Dieselnoi — or ‘Little Diesel’ — started his career very early. At the age of eight, he had already joined Chor Thanasukarn gym. Seven years later, he joined his first professional competition. To honor his gym, he started training carrying his gym’s name: ‘Chor Thanasukarn.’
Dieselnoi was unusually taller — 6’2” — than most other muay Thai fighters, taking advantage of this height difference. He fought internationally, including in Japan and the United States.
His Career
Named ‘The Sky Piercing Knee Kicker,’ Dieselnoi was well known for throwing one of the most effective legs’ strikes and knees. Out of his 114 fights, he won 40 by knockout.
In 1981, he won the Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight Championship. For the following four years, he was undefeated. With no one available and willing to fight in his weight division, he ended his career in 1985.
After ending his vocation, Dieselnoi temporarily became a monk. He remains today, as one of the pillars of Muay Thai boxing.
Key Information
|
Period |
Past |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight Champion (1981 to 1985) |
|
Total Fights |
114 |
|
Total Wins |
110 |
#4. Yodsanklai Fairtex
His Background
Also called the ‘Boxing Computer’ or the ‘Hero,’ Yodsanklai Fairtex is from northeast Thailand, where muay Thai is highly popular. He started his training at eight years old, after watching his older brother’s fights.
His Career
Throughout his career, Yodsanklai — or “Yod” — has perfected his muay Thai technique, which he later became famous for. Highly skilled, he won the Lumpinee World Championship twice and knocked-out his opponents 78 times.
Training at the Fairtex gym, he was the first Champion of the TV reality show: The Contender Asia. Yod fought both in Japan and France, winning both competitions.
His hard work paid off. Until today, Yodsanklai has won 201 fights — 78 of them by knock-out — over 277 fights.
Key Information
|
Period |
Present |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
274 |
|
Total Wins |
199 |
#5. Saenchai PkSaenchaimuaythaigym
His Background
Born in 1980, Saenchai is another fighter who started his training early — at eight years old. He also received inspiration from his older brother and won his first combat after only one week of training.
At 14 years old, he moved to Bangkok to continue his learning. Three years later — in 1997 — he became the Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight Champion.
His Career
Saenchai is one of the few muay Thai fighters who won the Lumpinee Championship in four weight categories — see our table below. He is known to challenge heavier opponents and has only been defeated twice when the weights were equal.
Although shorter than most muay Thai champions — at 5’4” — his speedy attacks made him a muay Thai superstar. Despite his older age, Saenchai still competes in 2019 and fights in the Yokkao Gym in Bangkok.
Key Information
|
Period |
Present |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
335 |
|
Total Wins |
285 |
#6. John Wayne Parr
His Background
If you had the impression that all muay Thai fighters have to be from Thailand, here is some diversity. John Wayne is from Queensland, Australia.
John Wayne started training in taekwondo when he was only 11 years old. After moving from gym to gym and country to country, he finally settled back to Australia. He trained with Blair Moore, the first muay Thai promoter in Australia at the time.
His Career
At the age of 17, he won his first professional competition. Three years later, he moved to Thailand to train with the renowned muay Thai fighter, Sangtiennoi.
In 1999, he made his way home to Australia and opened a training center under the name of Boonchu Gym. He continued competing, winning both the WKBF K-1 Middleweight World Championship in 2011 and the WKA World Middleweight Oriental Champion in 2013.
Until August 2019, Wayne has won 46 competitions by knockout, losing only 33 times. Also named JWP or ‘The Gunslinger,’ he received this name after making gun motions before every fight.
Key Information
|
Period |
Current |
|
Nationality |
Australian |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
132 |
|
Total Wins |
99 |
#7. Ramon Dekkers
His Background
Born in 1969, Ramon Dekkers started training in judo for six months at the age of 12, before starting boxing. Fast track a few years, and Dekkers was introduced to muay Thai.
In 1985, he won his first fight with a knockout. Weighing only 120 pounds, he looked rather frail but turned out to be much stronger than he appeared. After a successful career, he passed away from a heart attack in 2013, at the age of 43.
His Career
Dekker was well known to win fights by knockouts — 95 of his fights won in this manner. Some even named him the ‘Best foreigner to fight in Thailand,’
It’s mainly after 1990 that Dekker became famous internationally. His toughest opponent, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, knocked him down during their first fight. After this day, the ‘Dekker-Coban fight’ has become one of the most notorious ones, praised by fans around the world.
Key Information
|
Period |
Past |
|
Nationality |
Dutch |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
223 |
|
Total Wins |
186 |
#8. Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn
His Background
Namsaknoi was born in a town located in the south of Thailand. Out of seven siblings, he was the youngest.
Muay Thai was already running in the family. He gained inspiration from his brother by watching his muay Thai fights. His uncle, Namsak, was also a well-known fighter in southern Thailand. You’ve guessed it; this is where his name ‘Namsaknoi’ originates.
He started practicing at eight years of age, contributing to the household’s financial needs. In 1992, he moved to Bangkok to continue his training.
His Career
Namsaknoi wasn’t named ‘The Emperor’ blindly. He has the highest number of winning fights in our list. Over his career and 300 fights, he only lost 15 of them. Throughout this impressive record, he fought against some of the toughest muay Thai fighters, including Saenchei.
His quarrel with his gym ‘Por Pramuk’ over his winnings led him to retirement. He then focused on coaching and teaching at Evolve MMA.
Key Information
|
Period |
Past |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
300 |
|
Total Wins |
280 |
#9. Pornsanae Sitmonchai
His Background
Pornsanae initiated his training at home, before joining the Sitmonchai gym. After competing at the Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadiums in 2000, his aggressive fighting style and low kicks formed his reputation.
His Career
Rather short — at 5’5” high — he mostly competed in the featherweight category. Despite his height, he won 56 of his 162 wins by knockout.
His most popular fight might be against Pakorn PKSaenchaimuaythaigym. The fight led to loads of uploaded online videos, which is still available today. He also competed internationally, including in Ireland and France.
Just like many other Muay Thai fighters, he trained at Evolve MMA before going back to the Sitmonchai gym.
Key Information
|
Period |
Present |
|
Nationality |
Thai |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
224 |
|
Total Wins |
162 |
#10. Liam Harrison
His Background
From Leeds, United Kingdom, Liam started to train at The Bad Company gym. By 2004, he became one of the top fighters in his weight category.
His Career
Harrison won the W.A.K.O. low-kick kickboxing title in Italy before starting competing in Thailand in 2005.
He won his first fight in Thailand in the Patong Stadium, against the Russian Dzhabar Askerov, who was much heavier than him. In 2006, he became the champion of six other competitions in Thailand (see the table below for more information on this). The following year, Harrison was named the ‘Top Foreign Fighter of the Year’ by Muay Siam magazine.
Key Information
|
Period |
Present |
|
Nationality |
British |
|
Main Achievements |
|
|
Total Fights |
112 |
|
Total Wins |
86 |
Yesterday’s Heroes Make Tomorrow’s Champions
Anyone can learn from our top 10 best Muay Thai fighters. They have all contributed and still take part in what Muay Thai is today. The legacy of these fighters is immense. They inspire and drive the younger generations.
Although the sport and rules may have slightly evolved over the years, heroes of the past remain legendary. Many of them still train and coach Muay Thai today, passing on their expert knowledge and insights.