Whereas Thailand is the religious and historic house of Muay Thai, it has really developed into a world sport that’s taught and fought the world over. Many foreign-born fighters, often known as Muay Farang, have risen to grow to be champions of the game and on this article, we’ve scoured the globe, appeared far and large, and throughout the many years to carry collectively a listing of the 20 greatest Muay Farang to have ever fought within the artwork of eight limbs. With out additional ado, right here is our listing (in no explicit order) of the highest 20 foreign-born Muay Thai fighters.
1) Liam Harrison
The UK-born famous person from Dangerous Firm Health club in Leeds is known within the Muay Thai world for his many entertaining fights in ONE Championship together with the ridiculous one-round struggle he had in opposition to the “Elbow Zombie”, Muangthai again in 2019.
Harrison is not any stranger to preventing high-level Thais. He’s defeated the dreaded Anuwat and confronted the well-known Saenchai 3 times in his profession. Over this time Harrison has gained 91 instances in his 118-fight profession. He’s additionally gained 7 World Titles within the course of, making him one of the vital profitable Muay Farangs within the historical past of the game.
2) Dany Invoice
The Cameroonian-born Muay Farang, Dany Invoice made waves in Thailand again within the Golden Period of Muay Thai, again when foreigners had been a uncommon oddity within the Bangkok Stadiums. Preventing out of the esteemed Jocky Health club in Bangkok, Invoice captured his first world title in a battle in opposition to Den Muang Surin in the course of the King’s Birthday celebration in 1993. It was a title he held for 7 years, going through the likes of Coban, Nokweed Devy, and Orono earlier than dropping the title to Sakmongkol Sithchukchok in 1999.
Invoice is revered for his lovely Muay Thai approach, particularly for his distinctive stability and artful sweeps. His talent and IQ led him to an unbelievable 115 wins from 126 fights, lots of which had been in opposition to the very best Thai stars of his period.
3) Daniel Rodriguez
Swiss-born, Daniel Rodriguez is a bona fide prodigy, having fought 43 instances, principally inside Thai stadiums, and capturing the 154lb Rajadamnern Title earlier than he was handed his first defeat.
Initially preventing out of Dado Health club in Zurich, Rodriguez captured the distinguished 154lb WBC European title earlier than touring to Thailand preventing first out of Sitchefboontham in Bangkok earlier than relocating to SinbiMuayThai in Phuket. Throughout his undefeated run at Rajadamnern, Rodriguez confronted and defeated Thai stars together with the likes of Rungrat, Thananchai, Santanfah, and Yodwicha (twice), resulting in him being ranked #1 within the WBC world rankings at his weight.
Aged solely 25, Rodriguez continues to be younger and crafting his legacy within the sport. He’s at the moment again in Switzerland, as soon as once more coaching out of Dado Health club whereas followers eagerly await his return to the ring.
4) John Wayne Parr
“The Gunslinger” is Australian Muay Thai royalty, and it is rather uncommon that the Muay Thai down-under is mentioned with out his epic trilogy in opposition to Yodsanklai Fairtex getting a point out. All through his illustrious profession, Parr gained 99 of his 135 fights skilled fights and captured 10 World Titles.
Parr’s profession began in Queensland the place a profitable run of fights led to him profitable a number of regional titles earlier than he moved to Thailand in 1996. Coaching underneath “The Lethal Kisser” Sangtiennoi in Bangkok, Parr lived the genuine fighter’s way of life, sleeping in a boxing ring beside the opposite fighters and studying to talk the language fluently. Throughout his time in Thailand, Parr gained the Kings Cup Event and captured the esteemed Finest Farang Fighter of the Yr award in 1997. On his return to Australia, he made a profitable profession preventing on the world’s largest promotions together with K1-Max, Bellator, and ONE Championship.
5) Jonathan Haggerty
The UK-born famous person, Jonathan “The Normal” Haggerty of the esteemed Knowlesy Academy, began his profession within the UK the place he captured the ISKA Tremendous Featherweight World Title earlier than being signed to ONE Championship.
After defeating the longer term champ, Joseph Lasiri in his opening bout on the promotion Haggerty captured the ONE Flyweight World Title following a five-round spectacle in opposition to reigning Muay Thai World Champion Sam-A Gaiyanghadao. His reign was short-lived, after dropping the belt to Rodtang, and failing to recapture it in a right away rematch, Haggerty moved as much as Bantamweight and has since been on a seven-fight unbeaten run, capturing one other ISKA World Title and turning into a two-sport ONE World Champion, ending Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O’s 10 battle win streak within the course of.
6) Damien Alamos
Many Muay Thai purists price Frenchman, Damien Alamos as one in every of, if not the very best, Muay Farang of all time when it comes to talent. Alamos moved to Thailand early in his profession, the place he spent the vast majority of his time preventing out of Singpatong Health club.
Alamos is a former WPMF and WMC World Champion and has fought the likes of Capitan Petchyindee, Thongchai Sitsongpeenong, Sittichai Sitsongpeenong, and Saenchai. He additionally held the 140lb Lumpinee Stadium Title in 2012 and made historical past as the primary foreigner to defend the belt, a feat he completed twice.
Alamos introduced his retirement from the game in 2014 however a return to the ring earlier this 12 months, culminating in a first-round knockout victory has many followers excited to see what the longer term holds for the French famous person.
7) Damien Trainor
Damien Trainor began his battle profession on the age of fourteen out of Ok-Star Legacy Health club in Birmingham, and three years later, at simply 17 he grew to become the #1 ranked bantamweight within the UK. On the age of 21, with a number of European titles round his waist, Trainor relocated to the motherland of Muay Thai the place he fought repeatedly within the main stadiums. On his return to the UK, Trainor claimed each the WMC MAD and IKF World Titles, and with fights in opposition to the likes of Andy Howson, Rungravee Sasiprapa, and Paul Spinks, he has gone down as probably the greatest Muay Farangs of all time.
8) Ramon Dekkers
When fighters in gyms the world over start discussing the very best Muay Farang of all time, “The Diamond” Ramon Dekkers is all the time talked about. Actually, Dekkers is regarded so extremely on this planet of Muay Thai that in 2013 he was granted The Royal Award from the Thai Royal Household for his providers to the game.
Over the course of his profession, Dekkers amassed 224 fights with 186 wins while amassing 8 World Titles. Regardless of this, Dekkers was hardly ever acknowledged for his accolades. Followers usually tend to point out his fast-paced and relentless battle type and the superhuman work ethic that made him a reputation within the Thai stadiums at a time when the coaching and dwelling situations in Bangkok had been notoriously powerful.
9) Youssef Boughanem
The Morrocan-Belgian martial artist, Youssef Boughanem, is essentially the most embellished Nak Muay of all time. He has extra titles than we might probably embody on this listing however his crowning achievement is holding the holy trinity of Thai Stadium titles, capturing the Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, and Omnoi 160lb titles at completely different instances.
In an illustrious profession that has already reached 220 fights, Boughanem has fought nearly each World and Thai stadium champion of the trendy period together with Chanajon PK. Saenchaigym, Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee, Saiyok Pumpanmuang, and the legend himself, Buakaw.
10) Cosmo Alexandre
Earlier than the beginning of his skilled MMA profession in 2011, Cosmo Alexandre had already fought and overwhelmed a few of the greatest Muay Thai champions of the trendy period. The Brazilian fighter began his profession in 2004 and in a profession that spanned 91 skilled fights, Cosmo confronted a few of the largest names within the middleweight division together with John Wayne Parr, Tum Madsua, Eugene Ekkelboom, and Yodsanklai Fairtex.
11) Jean-Charles Skarbowsky
Regardless of by no means holding a World Title, French Welterweight Jean-Charles Skarbowsky continues to be lauded as probably the greatest farangs to have ever fought within the artwork of eight limbs. The extraordinarily technical Skarbowsky is greatest recognized for his devastating punching energy and his fighter’s spirit. He had an amazing work ethic which helped him earn him victories over multi-Rajadamnern Stadium Champion Robert Kaennorasing and Lumpinee Stadium Champion Orono Por Muang Ubon. Nevertheless, the crowning achievements within the Frenchman’s 101 battle profession should be the distinguished Sportswriter’s Fighter Of The Yr Award which he gained in 2000, and the 2 instances that he was ranked primary in Rajadamnern Stadium in 2003-2006.
12) Ognjen Matter
Serbian-American, Ognjen Matter was a Lion Battle and MTGP World Champion earlier than he moved to Bangkok, becoming a member of the well-known PKSaenchaiGym the place he captured the distinguished Omnoi Stadium Light-weight Title in 2022.
Matter might have a scattered file, with many losses amongst his notable wins however with the likes of Saemapetch Fairtex, Petchmorakot, and Saenchai in his again catalog of opponents, you’ll be able to’t doubt that he has held his personal amongst the very best fighters that the game has to supply.
13) Yohan Lidon
Twin sport champion, Yohan Lidon held a number of Kickboxing and Muay Thai World titles all through his 146-fight profession. Lidon began his profession in 1998 and after profitable his first skilled title in 2005 he was quickly a daily function on promotions throughout Europe and Australia. In contrast to lots of the Farangs on this listing, Lidon didn’t transfer to Thailand for a lot of lengthy durations however that didn’t cease him from going through a few of the greatest Thai champions of the period together with a number of stadium and world champions Lamsongkram Chuwattana, Naruepol Fairtex, and Yodsanklai Fairtex. Lidon has additionally confronted a few of the most prolific Muay Farangs of his period together with Steven Wakeling, Steve Moxon, Cosmo Alexandre, and John Wayne Parr.
14) Rafi Bohic
A number of World and Lumpinee stadium champion Rafi Bohic began his martial arts at 17. Impressed by the success of Damien Alamos, Bohic relocated to the well-known Singpatong gymnasium in Phuket. Now a Thailand native, the vast majority of Bohic’s bouts have taken place in Thai stadiums the place he has confronted nearly each massive title who has fought between tremendous light-weight and welterweight, together with Pakorn, Avatar, and Pongsiri, the latter of whom he defeated to seize his first 147lb Lumpinee title in 2017.
Bohic continues to be lively and over his final 4 fights he has strapped on the 4oz gloves to compete on ONE: Friday Fights going through the likes of Yod IQ and Kulabdam underneath the worldwide ruleset.
15) Iman Barlow
With 107 fights and solely 6 defeats credited to her title, “The Fairly Killer,” Iman Barlow is one in every of Muay Thai’s most profitable fighters. The UK Born star made her skilled debut at 16 years of age and in 2009, only a 12 months after her first skilled bout she gained the WKA Bantamweight World Title. Over the following 14 years, Iman captured the WBC, WPMF, Lion Battle, and Enfusion World Titles, the latter of which she defended 6 instances.
Iman’s type has been described as the proper mixture of approach, cardio, and aggression. It’s a deadly mixture of attributes that she has used to defeat the likes of Yolanda Shmidt, Ekatarina Vandaryeva, and present WBC Featherweight World Champion, Hannah Brady.
16) Caley Reece
Pioneer of feminine Muay Thai, Australia’s personal Caley Reece was a dominant champion, dropping solely 5 instances in her 60-fight skilled profession. Coaching out of the well-known Riddler’s Health club within the remoted metropolis of Perth, Western Australia, Reece captured the WPMF Featherweight World Title on her skilled debut in 2009. She would go on to win one other 4 World Titles in her profession, together with the Lion Battle Featherweight World Title in a bout in opposition to Tiffany Van Soest in 2014.
17) Fabio Pinca
Former 5-time World Champion and Rajadamnern 147lb Champion Fabio Pinca has fought and overwhelmed a few of the greatest Thais and Farangs of the trendy period, capturing wins over the likes of Youseff Boughanem, Sudsakorn, Rungrat, and Mehdi Zatout all through his 128-fight profession. While lots of his fights had been held in France and Thai Stadiums, the Italian-French martial artist is really a world star, having fought repeatedly throughout Europe, China, and the USA. Whereas he’s recognized primarily for his profitable Muay Thai profession, Pinca was additionally a profitable Kickboxer who competed on Glory and captured a number of European Titles within the sport.
18) Chadd Collins
Australian Nak Muay and Kickboxer, Chadd “The Shark” Collins rose to stardom in 2017 when he defeated trendy Muay Thai legend, Seksan over 5 rounds at Rajadamnern Stadium. Following this he virtually made historical past, turning into the primary Australian to battle for a Bangkok Stadium Title, going through reigning 147lb Rajadamnern stadium champion, Sakmongkol Sor. Sommai in August. A devastating left elbow within the third spherical gained Collins the battle, however sadly, a shock change of competitors weight on the morning of the battle meant that he was ineligible for the title.
Undeterred, Collins has grow to be one of the vital dominant strikers on the planet, switching between the 2 rulesets repeatedly with ease. Now preventing out of Strikeforce Health club in Queensland, Collins is a unified WMC And WBC Welterweight World Muay Thai champion who repeatedly fights in Tokyo the place he additionally holds the RISE Tremendous Light-weight Kickboxing World Title.
19) Nathan Corbett
Higher often known as “Carnage,” Australia’s prodigal Muay Thai star was so dominant within the 2000’s period that he even made our listing as one of many Greatest Headhunters of all time. In 65 fights, Corbett was solely defeated on 5 events and amassed 44 knockouts, most of which got here from his aggressive and devastating elbow strategies.
Preventing between Cruiserweight and Heavyweight, Corbett defeated a few of the greatest farangs on this planet together with Steve McKinnon, Thor Hoopman, and Tyrone Spong (in a battle that was later labeled as a no-contest). Carnage captured 11 World Titles all through his profession and now continues his legacy educating the artwork of 8 limbs in the USA.
20) Janet Todd
American, Janet Todd is greatest recognized to followers as the present ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Champion however for many of her profession, she has primarily fought Muay Thai. Over the course of her 51-fight profession, she repeatedly medalled on the prestigious IFMA championships and held a number of Beginner titles earlier than being signed to ONE Championship the place she has confronted a few of the largest stars of the promotions feminine roster. Todd misplaced her first problem for the ONE Atomweight Muay Thai Title when she confronted Stamp Fairtex on her promotional debut in February 2019. She discovered retribution when the pair rematched for the Kickboxing title within the following 12 months. At the latest ONE Battle Evening 20 occasion on March 8, 2024, Todd stepped into the ring for her final match in opposition to Phetjeeja Lukjaoporongtom, the place she put her ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title on the road. Regardless of a valiant effort, Todd was defeated by unanimous resolution. Nevertheless, her outstanding profession stays a supply of inspiration. With an incredible legacy in martial arts, Todd has determined to retire, leaving the game on a excessive word after an unforgettable run.
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