Items19The creator’s order
  1. 1Apidej Sit-HirunApidej Sit-HirunStyle: the kicker. Apidej's right kick earned him the nickname "Mighty Kick" in the 1960s and 1970s, and stories of opponents' arms breaking when they blocked it are part of stadium lore. He is the reference point for every power kicker who followed, and later a respected trainer.0i
  2. 2Sagat PetchyindeeSagat PetchyindeeBorn 30 Nov 1957Style: the complete aggressor, with heavy punches as well as kicks. Sagat won Lumpinee and Rajadamnern titles in the 1970s and 1980s, fought abroad when that was still rare, and is widely regarded as the inspiration for the Street Fighter character of the same name. Worth watching to see how his…0
  3. 3Dieselnoi Chor ThanasukarnDieselnoi Chor ThanasukarnBorn 27 Dec 1961Style: muay khao, the knee fighter. Tall for his weight, Dieselnoi held the Lumpinee lightweight title in the early 1980s and was so dominant in the clinch that promoters struggled to find opponents willing to face him. His bouts are the cleanest demonstration of how a long frame and relentless…0i
  4. 4Samart PayakaroonSamart PayakaroonBorn 5 Dec 1962Style: muay femur, the thinking fighter. Samart's footwork, timing and calm made him perhaps the most celebrated Thai fighter of the 1980s, and he also won the WBC super bantamweight boxing title in 1986. If you want to understand why Thais prize technique over damage, start with his Lumpinee…0i
  5. 5Karuhat Sor.SupawanKaruhat Sor.SupawanBorn 22 May 1968Style: muay femur with a counter-striker's eye. Karuhat fought through the golden era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, beating heavier stars with timing and angles. Since retiring he has become a sought-after teacher, so his approach can be seen both in old footage and in the fighters he trains.0i
  6. 6Coban LookchaomaesaitongCoban LookchaomaesaitongBorn 4 Aug 1966Style: muay mat, the puncher. Coban's left hook made him one of the most feared knockout artists of the 1990s at a time when stadium scoring favoured kicks and knees. His fights show how a Thai fighter could build a career around hands without abandoning the rest of the art.0
  7. 7Namsaknoi YudthagarngamtornNamsaknoi YudthagarngamtornBorn 13 Oct 1979Style: the all-rounder. Namsaknoi held the Lumpinee lightweight title for several years around 2000 and was rarely in trouble, mixing teeps, knees and kicks without an obvious weakness. He is the answer when coaches are asked who had the most balanced game of the modern stadium era.0
  8. 8SaenchaiSaenchaiBorn 30 Jul 1980Style: the trickster. Saenchai's cartwheel kicks, catch-and-sweeps and switch stances made him the most entertaining fighter of his generation, and he won Lumpinee titles in several weight classes while routinely giving away weight. Behind the showmanship is exceptional defence: he is very hard to…0i
  9. 9Buakaw BanchamekBuakaw BanchamekBorn 8 May 1982Style: body kicks and cardio, adapted to international rules. Buakaw won the K-1 World MAX tournament in 2004 and 2006, proving a Thai kicker could thrive under rules that ban elbows and limit the clinch. He is the bridge between stadium Muay Thai and the global kickboxing audience.0i
  10. 10Yodsanklai FairtexYodsanklai FairtexBorn 1 Jul 1985Style: the southpaw left kick. Yodsanklai's open-side body kick is one of the most imitated weapons in the sport, and he carried it from Lumpinee into international events and ONE Championship. Watch for how he sets it up with the left hand feint.0