Video: Muay Thai legends Buakaw and Saenchai throw down in epic sparring session

In Muay Thai there are few names that are spoken with as much reverence as Buakaw and Saenchai. Between them, those legends have over…

By: Tim Bissell | 3 years ago
Video: Muay Thai legends Buakaw and Saenchai throw down in epic sparring session
Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

In Muay Thai there are few names that are spoken with as much reverence as Buakaw and Saenchai. Between them, those legends have over 500 wins to their names and enough trophies and belts to fill Lumpinee Stadium.

Recently both men met at the Yokkao Training Center in Bangkok to throw down in a sparring session for the ages. Check out what happened below, with video from Beyond Kickboxing.

Both men might be past their prime, with Buakaw Banchamek now 38 and Saenchai turning 40 last year, but either legend still looks capable of wrecking most human beings on the planet.

Saenchai, a native of Mahsarakham, Thailand, has a record of 348-41-5. He has reigned as champion in the iconic Lumpinee Stadium five separate times, holding titles at super flyweight, bantamweight, super featherweight and lightweight. He’s also a multi-time King’s Cup Champion.

Despite being 40, Saenchai fought five times last year. He won every contest, extending his current win streak to 58 fights.

Buakaw (which means ‘White Lotus’) hails from Sombat Banchamek, Thailand and is famed for exposing international audiences to the art of Muay Thai. He did this with epic performances in K-1 that saw him win the K-1 World MAX Championship in 2004 and 2006.

His record stands at 239-24-12 (73 T/KOs). Buakaw hasn’t found since 2019, where he won three fights. Despite his achievements in the ring, Buakaw’s career is not without controversy.

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About the author
Tim Bissell
Tim Bissell

Tim Bissell is a writer, editor and deputy site manager for Bloody Elbow. He has covered combat sports since 2015. Tim covers news and events and has also written longform and investigative pieces. Among Tim's specialties are the intersections between crime and combat sports. Tim has also covered head trauma, concussions and CTE in great detail.

Tim is also BE's lead (only) sumo reporter. He blogs about that sport here and on his own substack, Sumo Stomp!

Email me at tim@bloodyelbow.com. Nice messages will get a response.

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