Sam-A Gaiyanghadao

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao (Thai: สามเอ ไก่ย่างห้าดาว; born October 13, 1983) is a Muay Thai fighter from Thailand currently signed to ONE Championship, where he is the reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion and ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Champion. He is currently training and teaching in the prestigious Evolve MMA gym in Singapore.[2] As of 1 August 2020, he is ranked the #6 strawweight in the world by Combat Press.[3]

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao
BornWacharit Chuabram
(1983-10-13) October 13, 1983
Buriram, Thailand
Native nameสามเอ ไก่ย่างห้าดาวยิม
Other namesAAA
NationalityThai
Height168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight56.0 kg (123 lb; 8 st 11 lb)
DivisionStrawweight (125 lbs)
Flyweight (135 lbs)
Bantamweight
StyleMuay Thai
Fighting out ofBangkok, Thailand
TeamEvolve MMA
Petchyindee Academy
TrainerPuthai Pinsinchai [1]
Years active1992–present
Professional boxing record
Total1
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses0
By knockout0
Draws0
No contests0
Kickboxing record
Total426
Wins370
Losses47
Draws9
last updated on: July 12, 2013

Sam-A is known for competing in the first Muay Thai match in ONE Championship. He is a former ONE Muay Thai Flyweight World Champion (being the first to hold the title), in addition to being a former four-division Thailand Champion and two-division Lumpinee Stadium Champion. His other Muay Thai accolades include being named Lumpinee Fighter of the Year and Sport Writers Friends Fighter of the Year, winning both awards in 2011. He is regarded as one of the best Muay Thai fighters in the world, and known for his strong defense and counter offense.

Biography

Early career

Sam-a began fighting at age 9 after following the career of his uncle and watching Muay Thai on TV. Within a few years he had already had a couple hundred fights and was fighting nearly every week. At 15 he moved to Bangkok and began training at the Petchyindee Muay Thai academy.[4]

Stadium Success

By the turn of the century Sam-A was fighting at both Lumpinee boxing stadium and Rajadamnern boxing stadium. He won his first stadium title in 2004 when he beat Petch T. Bangsean for the super flyweight championship of Lumpinee. Soon after he won the Thailand championship at the same weight.

2008

By 2008 he was one of the biggest stars in Muay Thai and was frequently headlining major shows. At the beginning of the year he beat Petchboonchu FA Group for the vacant Thailand bantamweight title, and shortly after beat him again by a stoppage from an accumulation of kicks. Following a loss to Captainkane Narupai, Sam-A would stop top-tier fighters, Jenrop Sakhomsin, Penek Sitnumnoi, and Rungruanglek Lukprabart all in a row. He closed the year out by capturing the Lumpinee championship with a win over Detnarong Wor. Sangprapai.

2009 - 2010

Sam-a continued his great run of fighting in 2009 by starring in a classic rivalry with fan favorite, Pornsanae Sitmonchai. Within a 12-month period the two would go on to fight 5 times, with Sam-A winning 4 of those. His single loss would come in 2010 from a controversial knockdown called late in the fight. In this time, he emerged as a "Yodmuay" (super fighter) and became one of the few fighters in Thailand who were making 100,000 baht per fight. In 2010 he split wins over another rival, Rungruanglek Lukprabart. Towards the end of 2010, he would move up to 126 pounds and challenge top fighter Nong-O Sit Or at Lumpinee Stadium. Soon after, he would stay up in weight and again lose to a bigger fighter, Singtongnoi Por.Telakun. The size difference proved to be too much for Sam-A.

2011 - 2012

In 2011, he came back down to his natural weight and surpassed his 2008 year by going 8-0-1 and winning the Lumpinee Fighter of the Year award. His fight with reigning Fighter of the Year Kongsak Sitboonmee was amongst the biggest and most anticipated of the year. The fight was very close at the end and was ruled a draw. Soon after Sam-A's promoter told him he would buy him a new Toyota pickup truck if he won five straight fights. Sure enough he did, and Sam-A was awarded with a new Toyota pickup valued at over $50,000 after a dominant decision win over Tingtong Chor. Koyahu-Isuzu.[5] In 2011, he changed his name from Sam-A Thor. Ratonakiat to Sam-A Gaiyanghadaogym. Despite having "gym" in the name, it is nothing more than a sponsor, with "Gaiyanghadao" literally meaning "5-star grilled chicken". For his first fight of 2012, he defeated Rungruanglek Lukprapbart by unanimous decision, and in doing so may have finished a long rivalry between the two with a 4–3 record head-to-head. The only other fighter he has fought 7 times was Yodsaenklai Fairtex.

On May 4, Sam-A fought Penake Sitnumnoi at Lumpinee Stadium with the winner expected to receive the prestigious Fighter of the Year award. Penake dropped Sam-A with an elbow in the fourth round and won by unanimous decision.[6] During the fight, Sam-A suffered a thigh injury which caused him to stop training Muay Thai and turn to boxing instead.

Professional boxing

On July 12, 2012, Sam-A had his first career professional boxing match. He fought Christian Abila and won by 4th-round TKO.

He made his Muay Thai comeback on August 6 and defeated Tong by unanimous decision at Lumpinee Stadium.

He was scheduled to rematch Penake Sitnumnoi on October 4, 2012 at Lumpinee but the fight was postponed when Penake suffered a shoulder injury.[7][8]

He beat Petpanomrung Wor Sungprapai by decision at Lumpinee Stadium on November 2, 2012.[9]

2013 - 2014

Sam-A rematched Pokaew Fonjaenchonburi on February 7, 2013 and the pair fought to a draw.[10]

He beat Yokwitaya Petsimean on points at Lumpinee Stadium on May 10, 2013.[11][12]

He TKO'd Phet Utong Or. Kwanmuang in round two at Lumpinee Stadium on June 7, 2013.[13]

Sam-a beat Superlek Wor Sangrapai on points to win the vacant Thailand super bantamweight title at Lumpinee Stadium on July 12, 2013. [14]

On October 21, 2014, Sam-A defeated Andrew Doyle by fourth-round KO to win the WBC World 60 kg Title [15]

2016

On July 29, 2016, Sam-A fought Japanese kickboxer, Yuya Kono in Japan. He stopped Kono in the third round with an elbow knockout.

Sam-A retired from fighting following the fight and moved to Singapore where he joined Evolve MMA as a Muay Thai instructor.[4]

ONE Championship

Sam-A signed with ONE Championship when the promotion unveiled their new all-striking format: the ONE Super Series.

2018

On January 26, 2018, he faced Joseph Lasiri at ONE Championship: Global Superheroes in the promotion's first-ever Muay Thai contest, defeating the Italian via second-round TKO.[16]

He followed that up with a KO victory over Sergio Wielzen on May 18, 2018 to claim ONE's inaugural ONE Super Series Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE Championship: Unstoppable Dreams.[17]

2019

In his first title defense on May 4, 2019, he lost the title in upset fashion to England's Jonathan Haggerty by unanimous decision at ONE Championship: For Honor.[18]

Following his title loss, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao moved down to strawweight and eventually made his return to ONE Championship on October 13, 2019 at Tokyo. He faced Darren Rolland in Part 1 of ONE Championship: Century, where he knocked out the Frenchman in the second round.[19]

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao then faced Wang Junguang for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Championship at ONE Championship: Mark Of Greatness on December 6, 2019.[20] Sam-A defeated Wang Junguang by unanimous decision to become the first ONE Kickboxing Strawweight World Champion, as well as the second two-sport World Champion in ONE Championship.[21]

2020

Next, Sam-A was looking to win a second title as he faced Rocky Ogden for the inaugural ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE Championship: King of the Jungle on February 28, 2020.[22] After dominating the entire fight, Sam-A would go on to win by unanimous decision and become the first ONE Muay Thai Strawweight World Champion, becoming ONE Championship's second two-sport world champion in the process.[23]

Sam-A was then scheduled to make his first defense of the ONE Strawweight Muay Thai World Championship against Josh Tonna, who was coming off a two straight wins. The two faced at ONE Championship: Reign of Dynasties on October 9, 2020. Coming into the fight as a huge favorite, Sam-A defeated Tonna via second-round TKO after delivering three knockdowns to retain the title.[24]

Personal life

Sam-A and his wife have two daughters and they live in Buriram, Thailand.[25]

Titles and accomplishments

Muay Thai

  • Lumpinee Stadium
    • 2004 Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight Champion (52 kg / 115 lb)
    • 2008 Lumpinee Stadium Bantamweight Champion (55 kg / 122 lb) (4 Defenses)
    • 2011 Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year
  • Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT)
    • Thailand Super Flyweight Champion (52 kg / 115 lb)
    • Thailand Bantamweight Champion (53.5 kg / 118 lb)
    • Thailand Super Bantamweight Champion (55 kg / 122 lb)
    • Thailand Featherweight Champion (57 kg / 126 lb)
  • Toyota Marathon Muay Thai
    • 2015 Toyota Marathon Tournament Featherweight Champion (57 kg / 126 lb)

Kickboxing

Muay Thai record

Professional Muay Thai Record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

Professional boxing record

Professional Boxing Record

Legend:   Win   Loss   Draw/No contest   Notes

References

  1. "Náhodný vtip - černý humor". muayrec.com.
  2. "Sam-A Gaiyanghadao - Evolve MMA Singapore | Asia's #1 Mixed Martial Arts Gym". Evolve MMA Singapore. 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  3. https://combatpress.com/2020/08/combat-press-kickboxing-rankings-august-2020/
  4. "Get In The Ring: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao". Muay Thai Citizen. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  5. LiverKick - LiverKick
  6. Dave Walsh. "LiverKick - LiverKick". liverkick.com.
  7. Dave Walsh. "LiverKick - LiverKick". liverkick.com.
  8. "Peneak's fight with Sam-a postponed again but Damien Alamos still set to fight Diesellek this Friday". combat-asia.com.
  9. Dave Walsh. "LiverKick - LiverKick". liverkick.com.
  10. Dave Walsh. "LiverKick - LiverKick". liverkick.com.
  11. Fight Sport Asia. "Saenchai vs. Yodwicha Lumpinee Supershow: Full Card Released". Fight Sport Asia.
  12. Fight Sport Asia. "A New Legend is Born: Yodwicha Defeats Saenchai". Fight Sport Asia.
  13. Fight Sport Asia. "MASSIVE June 7 Lumpinee Super Show: Full Results and Videos". Fight Sport Asia.
  14. "Controversy reigns at Lumpinee as Kongsak and Sam-a awarded debatable decision victories". combat-asia.com.
  15. "Video: Sam-A Kaiyanghadaogym vs Andrew Doyle – WBC World 60kg Title – Hong Kong – 21 Ottobre 2014". Muay Farang.
  16. "Sam-A Gaiyanghadao stops Joseph Lasiri in ONE's first-ever Muay Thai bout". AsiaOne. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  17. "Sam-A Gaiyanghadao Claims Another World Title With Crushing KO | ONE Championship". www.onefc.com. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  18. "Jonathan Haggerty Dethrones Sam-A In Incredible Muay Thai World Title Battle". www.onefc.com. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  19. "Sam-A's Second-Round Knockout And More Results From The ONE: CENTURY PART I Prelims". www.onefc.com. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  20. "Sam-A Gaiyanghadao vs Wang Junguang at 'ONE: Mark of Greatness' in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia". Conan Daily. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  21. "Sam-A Wins Second ONE Super Series World Championship". www.onefc.com. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  22. "Stamp Fairtex To Defend ONE Atomweight Kickboxing Crown Against Janet Todd in Singapore". Fight Game Asia. 2020-01-17. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  23. "Sam-A Outclasses Ogden To Win Another World Title". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  24. "Sam-A Retains ONE Strawweight World Title With TKO Of Josh Tonna". ONE Championship - The Home Of Martial Arts. 2020-10-10. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  25. Rob Cox (October 8, 2020). "Sam-A Gaiyanghadao says he is more comfortable at strawweight". asianmma.com.
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