Buakaw: The Pride of Thailand

Buakaw Por Pramuk
Muay Thai Record: 358-46-5
Date of Birth: 5-8-1982
Place of Birth: Surin Province, Thailand
Residence: Por Pramuk, Thailand
Height: 5′ 8″ - 174 cm
Weight: 150 lbs - 69 kg
Camp: Por Pramuk
www.muaythaiporpramuk.com

2007 K-1 World MAX Finalist
2006 K-1 World MAX champion
2006 WMC Middleweight World champion
2005 S-1 Super-Welterweight World champion
2005 K-1 World MAX Finalist
2004 K-1 World MAX champion
2003 KOMA GP Lightweight Champion
2002 Toyota Muay Thai marathon tournament 140 lb. class winner
Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight 2nd place
Omnoi Stadium Lightweight Champion
2001 Muay Thai Authority of Thailand Featherweight Champion
Omnoi Stadium Featherweight Champion

Born in the jungles of Thailand as Sombat Banchamek, the fighter known as Buakaw Por Pramuk is one of the top Thai boxers in the world. Buakaw, who is of the Khmer ethnicity, is the first fighter to win the K-1 World Max title twice, in 2004 and 2006.

Buakaw defeated the 2003 K-1 World Max champion, Masato, for his first K-1 World Max championship in 2004, but then lost to Masato in the quarter finals of the K-1 World Max Tournament in 2007. Masato went on to be the second fighter to win the K-1 World Max title twice, the first being Buakaw. Buakaw lost to Dutch shoot-fighter Andy Souwer in the final round of the K-1 World Max Tournament in 2005 and then defeated Souwer the following year for his second K-1 World Max championship in 2006.

Prior to his highly regarded K-1 career, Buakaw was a celebrated and renowned fighter in the Muay Thai boxing circuit in Thailand, having won the Toyota Marathon 140 lb. and ranked #2 in Thailand, due to a loss to Samkor. Previously, Buakaw had won the Omnoi Stadium title in both the featherweight and lightweight weight classes.

Buakaw is notorious for ruthlessly tearing through his opponents without seeming to suffer any pain from any punishment he absorbs along the way. His shin kicks and front kicks are deadly and his clinch and knees are a level above most of the competition he faces in K-1. Combine all that with some quick but heavy hands, and you have one of the most dangerous martial artists of modern times.

Buakaw has one of the most impressive highlight clips of any Muay Thai fighter, anywhere. Check it out: