These fighters have put in the training to excel at Muay Thai
There’s been many fighting styles that have been utilized successfully in the UFC since its inception in 1993. After all, that’s why the combat sport it involves is known as mixed martial arts, because it’s a real melting pot of fighting styles from all around the globe. Just some of the most notable are the striking power of boxing, the grappling of wrestling, and the takedowns of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Another of the mainstays is muay Thai, which is referred to as the ‘art of eight limbs’, and that’s not because it’s only practiced by octopuses. It uses fists, elbows, knees and shins to inflict devastating damage on an opponent. Despite being known in its birthplace, Thailand, for hundreds of years, the martial art only really gained recognition in the Western world in the late 1980’s. This was mainly thanks to movies like 1989’s Kickboxer, which starred ‘The Muscles from Brussels’, Jean-Claude Van Damme.
It’s been used in the octagon by some truly incredible competitors down the years, so let’s have a look at our top picks for the greatest muay Thai fighters in UFC history.
Jose Aldo
The first name that is conjured up when fight fans think of UFC and muay Thai has to be Jose Aldo, as this man from Manaus absolutely dominated the featherweight division for over a decade. He was born in 1986, and despite his first love being soccer, he quickly learnt to brawl on the streets of his city. What with being from its home country, he soon embraced the previously mentioned Brazilian jiu-jitsu, moving to Rio De Janeiro to continue his training.
Aldo quickly climbed through the ranks, and building on the foundations of his jiu-jitsu expertise, began to branch out into other fighting styles. He soon became a master at muay Thai, and when he entered the UFC in 2011, his destructive leg kicks unleashed hell for an insane amount of time. He became the first ever UFC Featherweight Champion, and then managed to defend the belt an incredible 7 times, before he finally retired in early 2022.
It was this tenacity in the octagon that easily makes him one of the most feared MMA fighters of all-time, and undisputedly one of the finest examples of muay Thai’s success in the UFC.
Donald Cerrone
Affectionately known as the ‘Cowboy’, the now retired Donald Cerrone certainly seemed as American as apple pie whenever he was outside the octagon. He wore big Stetson cowboy hats, and even had an early career as a professional bull-rider. However, when he stepped into the octagon come fight time, his style was pure muay Thai, with his dangerous knees putting down many foes.
Cerrone began training in the martial art at the age of twenty, and was evidently a really quick learner, as it didn’t take long for him to turn pro. His first UFC bout came in 2011, at Fight Night 126, where he defeated Paul Kelly with a sublime rear naked choke submission. He then went on to have an incredible career in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, where he captured a massive 23 wins.
It’s because of exciting fighters like Cerrone that UFC has become a big draw for viewers around the world, including eager bettors. That’s even true in the home of muay Thai, as websites like Asia Bet provide all the best sports betting sites for Thai citizens, known as พนันกีฬาออนไลน์. Each selection offers the top online bookmakers for people in the region, where they can bet on MMA, and a whole raft of other sports. There’s also a handy guide explaining how to navigate the online gambling world safely, including information on VPNs if needed.
Darren Till
This Liverpool lad has been training in muay Thai since he was 12 years old, and with him now nearing his 30th birthday, he’s put the time in to make himself a talent worthy of featuring on this list. Darren Till had a tough upbringing, and he jetted across the world to train in Brazil, and to get him away from the many harmful distractions that were blighting him back home.
Till joined the UFC in 2015, and made his debut at Fight Night 67, which was held in Goiania, Brazil. Fighting in the welterweight division, he got the knockout against Wendell Oliveira with a vicious elbow. After that he went on an undefeated streak, until he first tasted defeat against Tyron Woodley in 2018.
Since then, Till has fought at several UFC events, and has impressed massively with his rampant muay Thai skills, with his sharp elbows being particularly deadly to his opponents.