| 2019 in WLC | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| First date | February 22, 2019 |
| Last date | October 4, 2019 |
| Events | |
| Total events | 4 |
| Fights | |
| Total fights | 35 |
The year 2019 is the 3rd year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WLC 7: Mighty Warriors | February 22, 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium |  Mandalay, Myanmar | |
| 2 | WLC 8: Karen Spirit | May 5, 2019 | Chit Tu Myaing Park | Hpa-an, Kayin State | |
| 3 | WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs | August 2, 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | Mandalay, Myanmar | |
| 4 | WLC 10: Fearless Tigers | October 4, 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | Mandalay, Myanmar |
| WLC 7: Mighty Warriors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | World Lethwei Championship | |||
| Date | February 22, 2019 | |||
| Venue | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | |||
| City | Mandalay, Myanmar | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
WLC 7: Mighty Warriors was a Lethwei event held by World Lethwei Championship on February 22, 2019 at the Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium in Mandalay, Myanmar's 2nd largest city. [1]
The event was the first in Lethwei history to be broadcast internationally on UFC Fight Pass. [2] Newly signed to the WLC, [3] Vietnamese ONE Championship fighter Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất [4] made his debut and defeated Cambodia's fighting star Pich Mtes Khmang [5] who was at his second Lethwei appearance. [6] The co-main event featured Myanmar fighter Shwe Yar Mann who had an incredible year 2018 where he went undefeated in 10 fights. [7] He took on Ukrainian Sasha Moisa who also had an amazing year winning two multi-men tournaments in Thailand. [8] In the main event, the recently crowned Light Welterweight Myanmar National Champion Saw Htoo Aung faced Portugal's Antonio Faria for a chance to trade his silver belt for an opportunity at the gold belt. Faria had already won two fights in World Lethwei Championship and was moving up a weight class for this bout. [9] The event crowned the first Light Welterweight World Lethwei Champion when Faria won by 2nd-round knockout over Saw Htoo Aung. [10]
| WLC 7: Mighty Warriors | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg |  Antonio Faria | def. | Saw Htoo Aung | TKO (Retirement) | 3 | 2:00 | For the Light Welterweight World Lethwei Championship |
| Light Middleweight 71 kg |  Sasha Moisa | def. | Shwe Yar Mann | KO (Punches) | 3 | 1:40 | |
| Welterweight 67 kg | Yan Naing Tun | def. | Saw Ba Oo | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg |  Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất | def. |  Pich Mtes Khmang | KO (Head Kick and Punch) | 1 | 2:13 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Htoo Nay Thu | def. | Daung Phyu | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Saw Min Min | def. | Saw Darwait | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Tun Min Naing | def. | Saw Thar Nge | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| WLC 8: Karen Spirit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | World Lethwei Championship | |||
| Date | May 5, 2019 | |||
| Venue | Chit Tu Myaing Park | |||
| City | Hpa-an, Myanmar | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
WLC 8: Karen Spirit was a Lethwei event held by World Lethwei Championship on May 5, 2019 at the Chit Tu Myaing Park in Hpa-an, Myanmar. [7]
The event was the first major Lethwei event held in Kayin State [11] The Kayin State is the epicentre for Lethwei culture. The sport is practiced in all of Myanmar, but it is held in higher regard among the Kayin, one of the 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar. The WLC brought the modern Lethwei rules for the first time to the State. [12] In the main event, Mite Yine returned to action against Cambodia's Morn Samet who stepped up as a late replacement for Shahmarzade Amil. [12] Myanmar's National Champion Kyaw Zin Latt replaced Soe Lin Oo in the co-main event against the Muay Thai star from Germany, Burutlek Petchyindee Academy. Injuries had hounded the headline fighters at the event, which prompting a re-shuffle of the card. [13] Mite Yine who is a native son of Kayin, [14] won the gold at 2013 SEA Games and won the coveted Lethwei Golden Belt twice. [15] The sole women's match was between ethnic Karen Naw Phaw Law Eh and Vietnam's Huynh Ha Huu Hieu. Naw Phaw Law Eh also known as 'Eh Eh' previously won gold medals SEA Games in judo and a bronze in a regional wrestling competition. [13] Thway Thit Aung faced Tiger Muaythai's David McCarthy from Ireland. Mite Yine won by split decision. [16]
| WLC 8: Karen Spirit | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight 57 kg | Mite Yine | def. | Morn Samet | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Welterweight 67 kg |  Burutlek Petchyindee Academy | def. | Kyaw Zin Latt | KO (Punch) | 1 | 2:23 | |
| Welterweight 67 kg | Thway Thit Aung | def. |  David McCarthy | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Saw Min Min | def. | Aung Aung Htoo | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| W.Light Flyweight 48 kg | Huynh Ha Huu Hieu | def. | Eh Eh | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Thway Thit Maung | def. | Aung Hein | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Hein Tun Aung | def. | Than Zaw | KO (Headbutt) | 4 | 1:23 | |
| Welterweight 67 kg | Ba Hein | def. | Min Htet Kyaw | KO (Kick to the Body) | 3 | 2:43 | |
| WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | World Lethwei Championship | |||
| Date | August 2, 2019 | |||
| Venue | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | |||
| City | Mandalay, Myanmar | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs was a Lethwei event held on August 2, 2019 at the Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium in Mandalay, Myanmar. [18]
In March 2019, the WLC announced that it had signed undefeated Lethwei world champion Dave Leduc to an exclusive contract. [19] [20] [21] For Leduc's debut, the promotion signed former TUF competitor and UFC welterweight Seth Baczynski. [22] [23] Baczynski felt confident leading up to the fight because he had more fighting experience than Leduc. [24] The bout was for the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship. [25] In the co-main event, incumbent Light Middleweight World Lethwei Champion Artur Saladiak [26] faced Ukrainian Champion Sasha Moisa. [27] Moisa became the rightful challenger to the title after the strong statement he made in his Lethwei debut knocking out Myanmar star Shwe Yar Man at WLC 7. During the fight, Moisa swarmed Saladiak with precise right hands and dropped Saladiak on several occasions, winning the Light Middleweight title in a unanimous decision victory. The event also featured France's Souris Manfredi and Eh Yanut from Cambodia [28] and Manfredi became the first winner in the newly created women's division by defeated against Eh Yanut. [29] In the main event, Dave Leduc landed a solid elbow which exploded Bacynski's left ear. [30] He then knocked out Baczynski with punches to win the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship. [31]
| WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Cruiserweight 84 kg |  Dave Leduc | def. |  Seth Baczynski | TKO (4 Knockdown Rule) | 2 | 2:04 | For the Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship |
| Light Middleweight 71 kg | Sasha Moisa | def. |  Artur Saladiak | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | For the Light Middleweight World Lethwei Championship |
| W.Bantamweight 54 kg |  Souris Manfredi | def. | Eh Yanut | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất | def. |  Izat Zaki | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Hein Tun Aung | def. | Linn Htet Aung | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Bantamweight 54 kg | Aung Paing | def. | Paing Thet Aung | Decision (Unanimous) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| Welterweight 67 kg | Saw Lin Lin | def. | Saw El Kaluu | Decision (Split) | 4 | 3:00 | |
| WLC 10: Fearless Tigers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | World Lethwei Championship | |||
| Date | October 4, 2019 | |||
| Venue | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | |||
| City | Mandalay, Myanmar | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
WLC 10: Fearless Tigers was a Lethwei event held on October 4, 2019 in Mandalay, Myanmar. [33]
This event was done in partnership with the Mandalay-based Lethwei promotion Great Tiger Group, who promoted five bouts after the live international broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. [34] The main event for the international broadcast featured Lethwei World's 2019 breakthrough fighter Thway Thit Win Hlaing [35] against Thai-German Muaythai champion Burutlek Petchyindee Academy, both previously undefeated in World Lethwei Championship. [36] Thway Thit Win Hlaing has been on a winning streak by defeating Saw Ba Oo, Shwe Yar Mann and Shan Ko in the first three WLC events, before taking a brief hiatus. Burutlek Petchyindee Academy made an instant impact in the world of lethwei when he knocked out former light welterweight champion Kyaw Zin Latt with one punch in his debut. That impressive performance has won him a date against Thway Thit Win Hlaing. [37] In the co-main event, Nicola Barke was making her Lethwei debut against Bianka Balajt from Hungary which she won by unanimous decision. [38] In the main event, Thway Thit Win Hlaing landed an overhand right to knockout Burutlek Petchyindee Academy [39] to continue his undefeated streak. [40]
| WLC 10: Fearless Tigers | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Middleweight 71 kg | Phyan Thwe | def. | Shwe Yar Mann | Knockout | 4 | Lethwei Challenge Fight (Not on international broadcast) | |
| Welterweight 67 kg | Tha Pyay Nyo | def. | Yan Naing Tun | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | Lethwei Challenge Fight (Not on international broadcast) |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Ye Thway Ne | def. | Saw Min Min | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | Lethwei Challenge Fight (Not on international broadcast) |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Lwan Chai | def. | Htoo Nay Thu | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | Lethwei Challenge Fight (Not on international broadcast) |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Kyaw Swar Win | def. | Pat Kyaw Lin Naing | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | Lethwei Challenge Fight (Not on international broadcast) |
| Light Middleweight 71 kg | Thway Thit Win Hlaing | def. | Burutlek Petchyindee Academy | Knockout | 2 | 2:21 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Nicola Barke | def. |  Bianka Balajti | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 57 kg | Mite Yine | def. | Nguyen Thanh Trung | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Elite Peakday | def. | Shuklaine Min | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Thway Thit Maung | def. |  Omar Elouers | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Lightweight 60 kg | Auk Chin Lay | def. | Hein Tun Aung | Decision (Split) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Light Welterweight 63.5 kg | Saw Kaung Htet | def. | Saw Min Naing | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Bantamweight 54 kg | Soe Win Than | def. | Thein Soe | Knockout | 1 | 0:31 | Preliminary fight. Not on international broadcast. |
Lethwei or Burmese boxing is a full contact combat sport from Myanmar that uses stand-up striking including headbutts. Lethwei is considered to be one of the most brutal martial arts in the world, as the sport is practiced bareknuckle with only tape and gauze while fighters are allowed to strike with their fists, elbows, knees, and feet, and the use of headbutts is also permitted. Disallowed in most combat sports, headbutts are important weapons in a Lethwei fighter's arsenal, giving Lethwei its name of the "Art of nine limbs". This, combined with its bareknuckle nature, gave Lethwei a reputation for being one of the bloodiest and most violent martial arts. A vast majority of Lethwei fighters originate from the Karen ethnicity.
Robin Black is a Canadian combat analyst and sports commentator. He formerly competed in mixed martial arts and former glam rock musician. Robin Black has commentated for most major combat sports organizations in the world such as UFC, Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, Brave Combat Federation, Karate Combat, World Lethwei Championship in Myanmar and ACB in Russia.
Seth Baczynski is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional since 2006, Baczynski has formerly competed for the UFC, and was a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz and The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption. He has also fought for top promotions such as the International Fight League, Tachi Palace Fights, World Lethwei Championship, and the Legacy Fighting Alliance.
Mandalar Thiri Stadium is a multi-use stadium, located in Mandalay, Myanmar. It located east of the Mingalar Mandalay. Its address is between 68th and 73rd, between 102A rd and 107 rd, beside of the Mandalay Football Academy. The stadium hosted the women's football tournament in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games and is also the home of Yadanarbon F.C. It has become one of the landmarks of Mandalay, Myanmar.
Tun Tun Min is a Burmese Lethwei fighter of Mon descent. He is the former openweight Lethwei World Champion. He is the youngest fighter to ever win the Lethwei Golden Belt, obtaining the title at age 21, and is notable for fighting foreign challengers from outside Myanmar.
Dave Leduc is a Canadian Lethwei fighter and the current openweight Lethwei World Champion undefeated under traditional rules. Leduc gained widespread notoriety by winning his fight in the controversial Prison Fight. In 2016, he travelled to Myanmar to achieve his dream of fighting Burmese bareknuckle boxing, considered the world's most brutal sport. Leduc challenged and defeated Tun Tun Min who was then recognized as the best in the world and became the first non-Burmese to win the Lethwei Golden Belt title. The same year, he married Moldovan writer and model Irina Terehova in a nationally televised traditional Burmese wedding ceremony in Yangon with approximately 30 million viewers in Myanmar.
World Lethwei Championship is a Lethwei promotion based in Yangon, Myanmar. The promotion brought to the millennia-old Burmese martial of Lethwei to UFC Fight Pass and showcased it to the world. The WLC events combined the historic traditions of Lethwei with modern entertainment.
Too Too, also spelled Htoo Htoo, is a Burmese Lethwei fighter and who competes in the World Lethwei Championship. He is former the WLC Middleweight World champion and is undefeated under traditional Lethwei rules, holding the 75 kg Lethwei Golden Belt since 2015. He also competed in the only Lethwei superfight at Kunlun Fight 25 in Slovakia.
Mite Yine is a Burmese Lethwei fighter who competes in the World Lethwei Championship's Featherweight division. He is a former Lethwei Golden Belt champion, having won the title in 2015 and 2016.
The year 2017 is the 1st year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
The year 2018 is the 2nd year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
Thein Pyu Stadium is a Lethwei stadium located in Yangon, Myanmar. It is the most notorious Lethwei stadium in all of Myanmar and counts over 5,200-seats. It's the venue choice for most national and international level Lethwei events. The Stadium is operated by the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation. In 2018, the stadium was host of The biggest fight in Lethwei history opposing Dave Leduc vs. Tun Tun Min.
Naimjon Tuhtaboyev is an Uzbek Lethwei and Muay Thai fighter who currently competes in the World Lethwei Championship (WLC), where he is the reigning WLC Middleweight World champion.
Sasha Moisa is a Ukrainian Muay Thai and Lethwei fighter currently signed to ONE Championship and World Lethwei Championship. He is the current WMC Super welterweight World Champion in Muaythai and WLC Light Middleweight World Champion in Lethwei.
Artur Saładiak is a Polish Muay Thai kickboxer and Lethwei fighter. He who competed in Glory and World Lethwei Championship where he is the former WLC Light Middleweight World Champion.
Soe Lin Oo is a Burmese Lethwei fighter currently competing in the Welterweight division of the World Lethwei Championship. He is the former Lethwei Golden Belt 60 kg Champion.
Cyrus Washington is an American kickboxer, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Lethwei fighter. He is former WKA, WMF, WKBF and PK-1 Muay Thai World Champion, as well as former WBC Muaythai USA Champion, WMC and Lumpinee Stadium title contender. In 2012, he competed in the Emmy nominated Thailand VS Challenger TV Series. Washington received worldwide attention for being one of the first successful foreigners to compete in Lethwei in Myanmar.
Wan Chai is a retired Burmese Lethwei fighter and former Openweight Lethwei World Champion in 1998 and 1999.
Tway Ma Shaung is a retired Burmese lethwei fighter considered by many to be the best of his generation and a legend in the sport, his fighting style characterised by his resilience and virtuosity. He was revered for taking on larger and heavier opponents and praised for his commitment to working the body instead of the head.
Thway Thit Win Hlaing is a Burmese Lethwei fighter. He is the 2016 and 2018 Golden Belt Champion and was one of the most successful fighters in World Lethwei Championship. He is currently considered the national champion and successor of Tun Tun Min. He is known for his unassuming approach and patience and relies on counters rather than straight offense.