5 Fast Facts About Muay Thai Champion Turned MMA Star Yodkaikaew
Yodkaikaew “Y2K” Fairtex will look to make it four wins in a row next Friday when he battles “Wolf Warrior” Hu Yong in a flyweight mixed martial arts contest.
The man from Fairtex will throw down with the Chinese debutant at the previously recorded ONE: FISTS OF FURY III, which airs from Singapore on 19 March.
Before the Muay Thai specialist turned mixed martial artist makes his fourth promotional appearance, we look at five things you might not know about “Y2K.”
#1 Muay Thai Champion
Before Yodkaikaew turned his efforts to mixed martial arts, the Pattaya, Thailand, resident stormed through the local Muay Thai scene.
And at MAX Muay Thai Stadium in August 2015, he won The Champion Muay Thai 65-kilogram Dat Chuek belt after defeating two men in one night.
Not bad for someone who once thought about giving up on Muay Thai. And good thing he didn’t because the sport allowed him to train with some all-time greats.
#2 Trained With A Muay Thai Legend
As a Fairtex Training Center fighter, Yodkaikaew trains alongside the likes of former two-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex, #1-ranked Muay Thai bantamweight contender Saemapetch Fairtex, and rising star Wondergirl Fairtex.
He also learned the discipline alongside a man whom most Muay Thai enthusiasts can only dream of sharing the ring with – “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex.
With a training partner like Yodsanklai, it’s no wonder where “Y2K” got his powerful left kicks.
Plus, Yodkaikaew even has some fancy footwork in other aspects of life.
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#3 Footwork Outside Of The Circle
Footwork is a skill every fighter must master, but Yodkaikaew takes it to a whole new level.
When he isn’t dancing around his opponents in the ring, he’s showing off his moves on TikTok and Instagram.
The Thai has been known to break out in dance at the most random times, and the video above shows just how skillful he is. And you know what they say about people who can dance – they’ve got a personality to match.
#4 Eccentric Hairstyle And Unique Vibes
We’ve seen Shannon “OneShin” Wiratchai walk to the Circle dressed as Aladdin. We’ve seen former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Petchdam “The Baby Shark” Petchyindee Academy head to the ring dressed as a shark.
And “Y2K,” with his eccentric hairstyles, definitely keeps his compatriots on their toes.
With a personality as big as his, it’s not surprising that some of that inner flare spills over into his outer style.
Still, there’s one man in Yodkaikaew’s life who’s always ready to keep him in check if he gets too big for his britches.
#5 Once Took A Body Shot From His Boss
Training Muay Thai is a serious matter – sometimes.
The Thais diligently work on their craft, and that also means finding ways to make it more enjoyable, even if it means absorbing a few body blows from the man who signs their checks.
That was the case for Yodkaikaew in February 2021. His boss, Prem Busarabavonwongs, wanted to test out a new pair of gloves, and he did by shoveling two stiff body shots into “Y2K’s” midsection.
Impressively, Yodkaikaew was able to walk it off – likely due to all that training with Yodsanklai.
Read more: 5 Incredible Knockouts From The Stars Of ONE: FISTS OF FURY III
