20 Best Muay Thai Fighters Of The Modern Era You Must Know

Muay Thai is a sport of beautiful technique, devastating power, and incredible discipline. Fighters who personify these attributes while using their own personal brand of ringcraft to deliver exciting performances often become stars in the art of eight limbs.

In this article we are going to highlight 20 of the most prolific Muay Thai fighters who have characterized these key traits, delivering beautiful displays of Muay Thai throughout their careers, to become living legends in the sport.

With a global community of fighters and fans, many of whom fight under different promotions and are ranked under various governing bodies, it can be difficult to collate every fighter into a clear ranking list. That being said, the fighters included here have all fought opponents at the highest level consistently throughout their careers, becoming champions worthy of being ranked amongst the best of the modern era. So, without further introduction, and in no particular order, here are 20 of the best Muay Thai fighters of the modern era, who are sure to become legends in the years to come.

1) Rodtang Jitmuangnon

Rodtang started his Muay Thai journey at the age of seven in his home province of Phatthalung in Thailand and at fourteen, moved to Bangkok to fight out of the legendary Jitmuangnon Gym where he won over 250 fights while capturing two prestigious Omnoi Stadium Titles.

In 2018, his impressive, fast-paced style caught the attention of ONE Championship and in the following year, he claimed the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai Title against Jonathan Haggerty. He’s since fought on the promotion a total of 17 times and has only lost a single striking contest under the global ruleset.

2) Superlek Kiatmookao

“The Kicking Machine,” Superlek Kiatmoo9, is a multi-sport world champion, ranked pound-for-pound amongst the best in the world in both the Muay Thai and Kickboxing rankings.

Coming from legendary Thai stock, Superlek is the nephew to the legendary Singdam Kiatmookao and made a name for himself within the elite stadium circuit. He captured the Lumpinee Stadium title twice, in two different divisions in 2012-2013 whilst also being lauded as the prestigious Sports Authority Of Thailand Fighter Of The Year with his effective Muay Femur style.

In 2021, he was signed to ONE Championship where he defeated Daniel Puertas to capture the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title and most recently, he captured the promotion’s Bantamweight Muay Thai crown when he KO’d incumbent champion, Jonathan Haggerty 49 seconds into their highly anticipated fight.

3) Tawanchai PK Saenchai

25-year-old southpaw, Tawanchai PK Saenchai, had a meteoric rise to the pinnacle of Muay Thai. In 2017, at just 18 years old he became the undisputed Thailand champion and the following year he defeated the legendary Kulabdam three times with iconic performances that eventually won him the illustrious 2018 Lumpinee Stadium and Sports Authority Of Thailand Fighter Of The Year Awards.

Tawanchai’s crisp, clean, and versatile southpaw striking, coupled with his bone-breaking left kick has allowed him to defeat the likes of Saemapetch Fairtex and Petchmorakot Petchyindee. He’s also defended his ONE title three times resulting in him becoming ranked as the #2 pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter in the world according to The Nation.

4) Jonathan Haggerty

Englishman Jonathan Haggerty was already a 2-time ISKA World Champion and WBC International Champion when he was signed to ONE Championship in early 2019 but it was his victory over Sam-A Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title that made him a superstar in the world of Muay Thai.

After moving up to the Bantamweight division, he delivered a handful of spectacular performances where his tricky footwork, switch kicks, and devastating right hand secured him KO victories over some of the biggest stars on the ONE Championship roster. In his sensational run as a Bantamweight, Haggerty became a multi-sport Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion and though he recently lost his Muay Thai crown to Superlek, he is still rated as one of the best Muay Farangs of the modern era.

5) Superbon

Most of Superbon’s biggest accolades come from the world of Kickboxing where he stands as the 2016 Kunlun Championship Title, 2018 Enfusion Tournament Championship, and the ONE Featherweight Kickboxing champion but that doesn’t mean he isn’t one of the most proficient Nak Muays of this era.

Like his former stablemate Buakaw, Superbon uses a distinctly Thai-styled kickboxing approach of counter left kicks and teeps to outscore some of the biggest names in the punch-heavy sport. He’s even defeated the likes of Marat Grigorian and Giorgio Petrosyan with this impressive style.

Recently, a competitive fight against fellow Thai, Tawanchai for the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai title and an impressive first-round KO over Jo Nattawut has reminded fans that despite his success in the Kickboxing arena, Superbon is still a force to be reckoned with in the art of eight limbs and deserves be ranked amongst the best in the world.

6) Prajanchai PK Saenchai

As a veteran of over 400 professional fights, Prajanchai PK Saenchai has had plenty of time to hone his skills in the art of eight limbs. He is a two-division Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadium  WorldChampion who climbed to the top of Bangkok’s elite rankings with devastating strikes and masterful displays of defensive techniques.

In 2021, Prajanchai signed to ONE Championship where he defeated legendary Thai compatriot, Sam-A, to capture the ONE Strawweight World Title in his debut bout. Though he later lost the title to Joseph Lasiri, he regained championship status in their rematch before moving on to capture the ONE Kickboxing World Title, making him a champion, among the best in the world in two sports.

7) Anissa Meksen

Not only is French-Algerian combat sports superstar, Anissa Meksen, one of the best Muay Yings on the planet, but she’s also a champion in four separate striking disciplines, including boxing, kickboxing, and Savate.

She’s fought at the pinnacle of all four sports, but her biggest accolades come in the form of her Glory Kickboxing World Championship and the WPMF Muay Thai World Title, both of which have helped her stay in the top 2 of the world rankings since 2017.

Meksen’s fast-paced, high-volume brand of fighting has made her a fan favorite on ONE Championship where her forward pressure, devastating hand combinations, and chopping kicks have made her a tough challenge for any woman standing across from her in the ring.

8) Allycia Rodrigues

Fighting out of the world-famous Phuket Fight Club, Brazillian star Allycia Rodrigues has earned her spot as one of the most devastating female fighters on the planet with 33 victories from 39 professional fights.

After making a name for herself in the Thai stadiums, Rodrigues was signed to ONE Championship and was immediately challenged with the Herculean task of facing reigning Atomweight Muay Thai Champion, Stamp Fairtex, in her debut bout. She rose to the test, defeating the Thai phenomenon over five rounds to claim the crown and despite their best efforts, no one in the Atomweight division has been able to usurp the throne from her since she claimed it in 2020.

9) Nico Carillo

Nico  “King Of The North,” Carillo, is an imposing presence who has been lurking on the edges of the Bantamweight division for years. The twenty-five-year-old Scotsman started his Muay Thai journey at the age of 15 and quickly rose through the UK ranks, capturing the ISKA Interim 65kg World Title and WMO World Title in 2 separate divisions in less than a year with stellar performances.

Since being signed to ONE, he has gone undefeated in four fights, finishing all of his opponents, including former champion Nong-O, with devastating knockouts. This impressive run has resulted in a future fight against reigning Bantamweight Champion, Superlek, so one day soon the “King Of The North,” may also become king of the Muay Thai world.

10) Panpayak Jitmuangnon

With an impressive fight record of 248-43-6, very few would argue against “The Angel Warrior,” being rated among the best Nak Muays of the modern era.

Panpayak is one of the most successful fighters to ever compete in Bangkok’s elite stadium circuit. He won 4x Lumpinee Stadium and 2x Rajadamnern Stadium Titles in an exemplary 2012-2015 run. In this breakout period, he also became the only fighter in history to be awarded the Sports Authority Fighter Of The Year award 3-times.

After being defeated by Superlek on ONE in 2022, Panpayak took a two-year break from fighting but has recently announced a return to the ring, sparking hopes that a ONE title will soon be joining his impressive belt collection.

11) Daniel Rodrigues

With a near-immaculate record of 45 wins from 46 fights, Swiss-born Daniel Rodriguez isn’t just one of the best fighters of this generation, he’s one of the best Nak Muays of all time. After becoming both the Swiss and European WBC Muay Thai Champion, Rodriguez moved to the home of Muay Thai, Thailand, to face the biggest stars of the sport.

He has defeated living legends such as Yodwicha, Rungrat, Thananchai, and Santanfah Sitsongpeenong on his path to becoming the 2022 RWS World Series Champion and Rajadamnern Super Welterweight Champion.

12) Regian Eersel

Aggressive, Muay Bouk stylist, Regian Eersel has consistently fought at the pinnacle of both Muay Thai and Kickboxing to become a 3x LionFight Muay Thai, 3x ONE Muay Thai, and 5x ONE Kickboxing World Champion.

Eersel uses extreme cardio, and a high work rate mixed with unorthodox striking to defeat some of the biggest stars of the Lightweight division. In a career of 67 fights with 62 wins and 27 sensational KOs, Eersel has defeated some of the best strikers on the planet including Nicky Holzken and Sinsamut Klimnee to become one of the most revered stars in the history of the sport.

13) Chadd Collins

Australian multi-sport Kickboxer and Nak Muay, Chadd “The Shark” Collins is not only the RISE Super Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion, but he is also the only athlete in history to unify the WMC, WBC, and WMO Muay Thai World Titles, all of which he still holds.

Chadd has consistently faced the best fighters on the planet including the likes of Pakorn, Seksan, and Saenchai in his career of 84 professional fights and his fast footwork, heavy hands, and explosive kicks have propelled him to the top of the global Muay Thai rankings where he is currently #1 according to combat press.

14) Joe Ryan

20-year-old British Muay Thai phenomenon, Joe Ryan, made history last year when he became the first fighter from the UK to win a Rajadamnern Stadium Title.

This would have come as no surprise to fans who have followed the young man’s journey. In the two years leading up to this feat, Ryan captured the WBC European as well as the ISKA and WMO World Titles in an immaculate run of wins. Since winning the coveted Rajadamnern belt, Ryan defeated Thai star, Beckham, to win the WBC Middleweight World Title, making him a 3x-world champion just three years since making his professional debut.

15) Nuenglanlek Jitmuangnon

Fighting out of the world-famous Jitmuangnon Gym in Bangkok, Nuenglanlek is a stablemate to ONE superstars like Rodtang and Panpayak, but he is more than just a training partner for champions. Nuenglanlek has almost captured the trinity of Bangkok stadium belts by becoming the Omnoi 135lb and Lumpinee 130lb Champion with his smothering Muay Khao style.

Recently, the Thai star defeated former ONE World Champion, Capitan Petchyindee to become the interim Rajadamnern champion, meaning that one more win is all that separates him from collecting all three of Bangkok’s most prestigious accolades.

16) Kongthoranee Sor Sommai

Fans of ONE Friday Fights will be well acquainted with Kongthoranee Sor Sommai. The Thai-born Muay Mat has been one of the most consistent stars on the promotion and has fought on the prestigious Lumpinee card 10-times since 2023.

Prior to this, the explosive southpaw was a two-time Rajadamnern Stadium  World Champion and with 8 impressive wins since moving to ONE’s global ruleset, there is no doubt that this star will continue to rise over the years to come.

17) Yodwicha Por. Boonsit

Current interim Rajadamnern Champion, Yodwicha Por. Boonsit, has more belts to his name than we can list in this article. The pressure fighter, known for his strong and skilled Muay Thai clinch is a regular on the popular RWS promotion where his fast-paced style of fighting has allowed him to thrive in the three-round format. He has placed runner-up in the elite World Series Tournament three times and with wins over the likes of Daniel Rodriguez, Singdam Kiatmookao and Petchboonchu, no-one can deny that he is one of the best fighters on the planet right now.

18) Samingdet Nor. Anuwatgym

The southpaw prodigy from Nor. AnuwatGym in Thailand is an elite Muay Femur whose intelligent brand of counter fighting has seen him become a 2x Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion and WBC World Champion.

While he is known for his long-range kicking exchanges, his recent fights against Lamnamoonlek and Savvas Michael show that he is a rounded fighter who is comfortable on the front foot and trading from within the pocket as well.

19) Lamnamoonlek Tded99

The elite kicker from esteemed Tded99 gym in Bangkok has won the RWS World Series Tournament twice, in 2022 and 2023, and a recent victory over current Rajadamnern World Champion, Samingdet in a non-title bout just goes to prove that the sky is the limit for this Super Featherweight who is also WMC World Champion and ranked #1 in his division by the WMO.

20) Khunsueklek Boomdeksian

Khunsueklek started his career in Muay Thai at just 9 years old and after 20 impressive fights he was invited to train at Boomdeksian camp in Udon Thani in the north of Thailand. It wasn’t long before he was fighting in Bangkok’s elite stadiums and in 2022, at just 19-years of age he won his first belt, the Omnoi Stadium 118lb title.

Khunsueklek had a stellar run in the stadiums between 2019-2024, going undefeated in over 40 fights in the process of winning 2x Thailand titles and a Rajadamnern Stadium Belt. With only one loss on his record in over 5 years, there aren’t many opponents left to challenge the star in the 118lb division.

Watch And Learn

This article gives you the names of 20 of the most decorated and respected Muay Thai fighters on the planet right now. If you want to be the best you can be, learn from the best by taking a deep dive into the plethora of fight footage available on all of these champions so that you can emulate the styles and skills that have propelled them to the pinnacle of the sport.

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