Welcome to Thailand.
He couldn't be any... He couldn't be any calmer.
I never seen a fighter that calm in my life.
Seventeen years old.
Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing,
is referred to as "the art of the eight limbs."
Two fists, two elbows, two knees and two legs.
I'm just so amazed at how relaxed they all are.
All of them, just hanging out. Bunch of kids.
And that's really it. He's gonna get rubbed down.
He's ready. I mean, he's not nervous.
I'm nervous.
I mean, it's like he was in the gym the other day.
It's the same thing. Same thing.
So this is your room?
Yes? This is your bed? Yes.
The champion sleeps on the big bed.
And every day up at five a.m.?
Run?
- He woke up at five a.m. - Yeah.
He run, train and eat and then off to school.
Off to school, huh? How long does he go to school for?
Around 4:30, he's back here.
- He's back to train again. - Yeah.
When he's done fighting, when he's finished,
what does he want to do?
Okay. Now he's studying arts and Chinese,
so after everything is done, he might want to go
to teach boxing in China.
Teach boxing in China. That's fantastic. Yes.
Boxers in Thailand start young. Very young.
They fight frequently and are finished by a relatively young age.
By 24 or 25 years old, most fighters have been in over 200 bouts.
I've been back here in this scene often,
I've never seen a fighter so calm and he's 17 years old,
and he's got 200 fights.
If we were in Madison Square Garden and this was a boxing match, I mean...
Normally, guys are a little bit nervous.
A little bit. You know, you can feel the energy.
It's as if they're going to the playground.
Muay Thai became popular internationally when Thai boxers began winning regularly
in mixed martial arts tournaments around the world.
And unlike Western boxing, where individual rounds are totaled up
to determine the winner,
points in Muay Thai are accumulated over the course of the fight.
So you don't need to win three of five rounds to be victorious.
Muay Thai is a relentless style of fighting.
And the training involved,
It's not easy.
Good man!
That's good. Good man! That's good!
That's two. Good man!
That's it. Two!
Two! That's good.
Up there! That's good! That's good! That's good! That's good!
Okay, gimme a hug.
So what I just did for...
I mean, three minutes...
In order for these guys to fight the way they fight,
Muay Thai fighters always come forward.
Always forward.
In order to be able to do that,
the conditioning that these guys have to go through is amazing.
Next to their actual opponent,
the weight cut is the fighter's most dreaded nemesis.
Dropping the necessary pounds in order to make the match requirements
for a fight is never an easy undertaking.
Weight cuts typically involve a lot of hours and even more sweat.
A high pain threshold comes in handy, too,
because all the conditioning in the world won't make a damn bit of difference,
if you don't make weight.
You know, the great thing about this, too, is that weight cut,
whether you're in Nebraska or weight cut if you're in Thailand,
or weight cut if you're in China is a weight cut.
And it ain't fun!
It ain't fun.
When you were fighting, did you have to lose weight?
- Yeah. Lose weight, yeah. - You did?
Lose weight and eat food. Many food and near fighting,
- it's food and exercise. - Right.
You cut the weight. Just like every fighter.
Kru Dam, champion many times over.
You know, he's one of these guys, too, that it's just an honor to be here,
to be in his presence, never mind training with him. We're gonna move around a bit.
So, for anybody who doesn't know me, which is everybody,
I am the anti-Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern
in the sense that I'm not daring with food.
So when I go to the market, I get a little afraid.
This guy is a legitimate bad-ass.
- Thank you. Thank you so much. - So spicy.
That's a very smelly fruit. What's that called?
- It's durian. Yeah. - Durian?
I don't know how they eat it, because it smells like my father's feet.
Okay.
I would never, I would never, ever eat that in a million years.
Go ahead, eat it.
Yeah, what do we have there?
See, that's tough for me to see.
Like, what you do with that? Soup?
- Soup, yeah. - Soup.
- Ratfish head soup. Awesome. - Mm-hmm.
Left elbow! Left!
Intestines? Yeah? Intestines.
Kidneys and livers and hearts. Yeah.
It's all here. It's one-stop shopping. You get it all.
Every internal organ you want, it's here, pretty much.
Tell me, when you were a boy, when you were a little boy, growing up,
what did you eat a lot of?
- Pizza. - Pizza?
- Yeah. Yeah! - Pizza?
It's not very funny. Let's go. You go first.
- Okay, okay. - Stamp your feet. Stamp your feet.
- Just... Just up here? - Go like this.
Oh! There he is. There he is. He's back.
He's back! I'm not having it. I'm not going that way.
We're going that way. Nope. Nope. We're going that way.
That's enough. Two rats is my limit.
- End of show. - Oh!
- Let's go this way, guys. - This way. This way.
No, we'll go this way.
- Taxi. - I can't do rats. Can't do rats.
Yes! I beat the champion!
Oh, you win!
There's a new sheriff in town. I think we know who that is.
Inseepayong, like so many fighters in Thailand,
hails from the Chiang Mai District in Northern Thailand.
It's common for parents to send their kids away to fight schools
in order to support the family.
Although fights are frequent and routine,
they are never without high stakes for these young men.
Enough losses and they'll no longer be able to fight for the school.
And with no fights,
no income.
He's still young. He's only 17 or 18 years old.
But he has so many fights, around 200 bouts.
He's very strong. I think he's even stronger than others.
He has powerful body and mind. He doesn't give up easily.
Well, I started boxing in fourth grade.
I haven't stopped for the past seven years.
My parents are poor and are outsiders.
I have four siblings, all boys.
Three are boxers and one stays at home.
I went into boxing because
I didn't want my parents to have to make extra money for me or pay for my school.
I wanted to earn my own money.
These young kids fight because they have very few options.
You know, that's what... that's where fighting was born.
I mean, that's where the great fighters come out of, poverty situations.
In America, I mean, boxers, the greatest boxers, originally,
they weren't middle class rich kids.
They were kids who fought for their lives, they were kids who fought for food.
They were kids who fought for community, for family.
And I know, to the outside world, it seems like it's a violent thing
for young children to fight, but in fact, we're gonna see this time and time again.
There's been a bad image of Thais and Muay Thai
in recent years, to a certain extent, with the young kids
and people kinda saying, "Oh, they're forced to fight to make money," but...
I mean, to be honest with you, I'm not defending it in any way,
but I've never actually seen any kids that were forced to do it.
You wouldn't be seeing...
It's too tough, you know? If they wanna do it, they'll do it.
And it is a very, very tough life.
You know, if you don't really want it,
- there's no way you're gonna make it. - There's no middle ground. Yeah.
For a commission on a boxer's earnings,
the gym owners are responsible for the fighter's schooling and training.
The older boys of the school are responsible
for just about everything else.
Thai boxing makes me what I am today.
Without it, I would be no one.
I started boxing seriously when I was in sixth grade.
I've been here since the school opened.
In our free time, we come here and feed the fish,
or if we don't have food, we eat them.
Mostly, we eat here because this is where we cook.
Here's a place for dish washing after cooking.
We train in total for about five hours a day.
We live here like brothers.
Hello, guys!
Show us your guitar skills.
It's harmony among brothers,
when they're free, they just play guitar and sing along.
Teacher! Has our fight started?
Smile to the camera.
Here is Master Pong.
He used to be a famous boxer.
When there's a match, we watch it here together and talk about it.
Thailand is no different than many other countries around the world.
Where there's a fight, you'll find gambling.
Even though gambling is generally illegal in Thailand,
it's an accepted part of the Muay Thai fight game.
Side bets and payouts from the gamblers themselves actually help supplement
the purse of the participants,
from the promoter on down to the fighters.
The gambling keeps the sport popular,
drives the attendance at the stadiums,
and some things, like the fighters' weights,
are handicapped to keep the gamblers' interest piqued.
The weights are adjusted every fight.
Say, like...
these two fought before last time, and it was fought at 130-130.
Red won fairly easy.
All right, we'll fight again, but blue got weighed in heavier, you know.
And they'll make it like that, so they can make the fights close.
And then, these guys see it again, and go, "Oh, that'll be a close fight. Yeah!
Well, you know, we wanna come see that one."
And everything here, ambassador,
it's like he's from the promoter's gym.
So it's a very strong gym.
And they've probably got a bit more credibility with the crowd,
so he's gotta do that little bit more to win.
- 'Cause of the reputation of his gym. - Right.
- So there's all these variables - Yeah.
- that really play into... Yeah. - So many different variables.
Not necessarily always a meritocracy.
No.
I can see them feed off of the energy of that crowd.
When blue was landing them, he was getting a big roar.
- You know, it gives them a lift. - Oh, yeah.
If you're tired or you're edging closer and then the crowd get behind you.
Gamblers are in constant contact with the fighter's corner,
letting them know that there's money to be made,
if the fighter can come through on a bet.
It's very much about the gamblers.
You wouldn't have the atmosphere without the gamblers.
Exactly right.
And without the atmosphere, you wouldn't have the entertainment,
you wouldn't have the fight.
They probably wouldn't fight as hard as they do.
So, 50,000 baht tip if he can turn it around.
In the corner, there, they tell him, "Look, 50,000 if you win! Come on!"
Seeing that now? Forward, forward, forward.
So, he's giving him 50,000 baht if he can pull it off.
Pull this in, we got five,
and when they clench their fist, that's 10,000.
Ten thousand, so 50,000. Wow!
It does make it exciting.
I mean, it's like going to the track.
They call it achitya.
- It's like an injection of medicine. - Right, yeah.
But it's just, like, a medicine that makes you fight that much harder.
He said 200 fights!
His face is unmarked.
You know, he's...
Lemme see. No. You look good.
Yeah.
- Oh. - Yeah.
In fights, I would use my arms to block elbows like this…
Yeah. Yeah.
…and this. You see what I'm doing?
Always. Yep.
Side to side. Yep, yep. Smart.
But there is one place, right here,
where I got my ears split by an elbow strike.
A little bit of cauliflower. I have a little bit of cauliflower.
Yeah, from here. Always here. Yeah.
And no, no broken nose.
Never. My nose is still intact.
Eight ounce? Eight?
Sorry.
- Eight ounce gloves? Eight? Eight ounce. - Oh, yeah.
They better be eight ounce.
- Six. Yes. - Six? Six ounce.
How are you?
- Huh? - How are you?
How am I?
How are you?
He wants to know how am I.
Even though Muay Thai is the country's national sport,
the rise of soccer and other less dangerous pastimes
have hurt the popularity of Thai boxing as a profession.
Instead, the sport has become predominantly a way for poorer kids
to improve their families' economic situation.
That said, Muay Thai gyms still remain popular as a way to stay in shape,
and there are still plenty of places to get into a Muay Thai fight.
I don't study.
I only train by watching YouTube to learn a bit from professionals.
I'm a programmer. Programmer.
In Thailand, Muay Thai is like a common thing. You grow up,
from three, four, five years, you see Muay Thai on TV.
Everybody knows some Muay Thai.
They know about this move, this move, this boxer.
So it is a pretty big deal in Thailand, Muay Thai.
Fight Club is for person who want to fight, want to prove yourself.
So exciting. And so Thailand.
Oh.
There's no other place where they finish the fight and say,
"Thank you" or "Sorry" like we do, or even asking, "Are you okay?"
when we're in the ring.
Of course we can be friends.
It really, really gives you an appreciation
for what these real professionals go through.
Ooh!
My man is a superstar!
Hell no, Kru Dam.
Bombs, bombs.
It...
It's kind of illegal, but you come here, you get to lose your power,
you have to let it out, and you feel good after that.
We fight not to kill each other.
We don't want to beat another person, but we want to beat ourselves.
It doesn't matter whom you fight with,
because you fight with yourself every time.
What it lacks in style,
it makes up for in aggression and art,
and at the end, these guys are still hugging each other,
and they're walking off together with much respect and a smile on their face.
It's all about respect at the end of the day.
After the fight, we hug. We go celebrate.
We drink together. We smoke together sometimes.
Muay Thai and fighting is just part of the fabric of this culture.
I just keep getting more and more surprised by how amazing this country
and the culture of fighting is.
Fight Club Thailand. Fight Club Thailand.
Fighting to make friends and getting a bit of exercise is a far cry
from the bright lights and glory
of fighting in the country's renowned stadiums.
But there are very few fighters who have reached the level of national hero.
Buakaw, Buakaw king.
Buakaw.
Buakaw is for me is the best right now.
Buakaw. Buakaw. You know Buakaw?
- Yes. - Yes, everybody knows Buakaw.
In the long and storied history of Muay Thai,
there has been no greater champion and no greater ambassador of the sport
than Buakaw.
Rising from extreme rural poverty to become Muay Thai's most famous fighter
and a living legend,
Buakaw is the embodiment of Muay Thai itself.
I mean, he's Elvis Presley and...
Tom Brady and Mick Jagger and Muhammad Ali
all wrapped up into one.
It's a dream come true for me because this guy's...
the best of the best.
I'm humbled just even being here. Yeah.
I'm...
I'm a bit anxious.
Hey!
Whoa!
One lap.
I got it. I got it.
One lap.
Huh?
One lap.
One lap. Okay.
Oh.
Same Muay Thai. Good. Same Thailand.
Well, I don't think that I'm a celebrity or anything.
But I do think I'm a boxer, and I can still fight.
I like to have fun by having friendly conversations with people.
Fighting needs to be fun and enjoyable.
This. This.
That. Yeah, that.
Better!
I've watched many Buakaw fights. Many, many, many.
Over a hundred.
Who was his toughest opponent?
The toughest?
The toughest opponent.
Toughest...
Well, each of them is tough in a different way.
It's hard to say who was the toughest. No one was the toughest.
It's up to ourselves whether we are ready to fight or not.
It's up to our preparation for each fight, how well we can do.
If we can compete with ourselves.
It's not too difficult to compete with others.
Knee.
No, no, no. It's a knee.
Yes.
Good, good.
Does he prepare? Because many MMA fighters and boxers prepare
for each individual fighter based on style.
Does he just fight his style, or does he prepare individually?
Actually, training means that you train yourself first
before focusing on your opponent.
When you're ready and strong enough, then you look at your opponent.
See what their weaknesses are and how they fight. That's it.
Will you please tell him I have the deepest respect
that one man can have for another man, and I appreciate his time
and him letting us come in here.
Buakaw's nearly 240 victories will likely never be eclipsed.
And the sport may never again see another fighter like him.
For a kid like Inseepayong,
Buakaw is simply a god.
Well, I think we are pretty well prepared.
We will try our best to win the fight.
But it depends on the abilities of the opponent as well.
We cannot expect the result with 100% certainty.
I'm going to give it my all and not be afraid of the small things.
I'll fight and do everything to win.
Here we go, here we go.
I feel like I've been training him.
I feel like I've been training him for six months.
In Muay Thai, it can be tough to determine who's winning and who's losing.
Most fights start slow, with fighters basically taking the first round off
in order to feel out their opponents,
and some say to give gamblers a chance to set odds for their initial bets.
But it seemed from where I was standing, Inseepayong is off to a fast start
and was landing some good, clean shots.
Yes! Yes!
Hey, hey, hey! Don't jump away when he punches.
The total is 20,000 baht now.
Don't jump away when he punches you. Stay over his shoulder.
Hey! Stay over his shoulder and then strike him.
Punch him and then kick him.
Nice!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Don't jump. Don't use your elbow and don't jump.
Don't lose your temper.
You're hotheaded.
Now it is 100,000 baht! One-hundred-thousand.
Hey! Don't jump.
Stand firm. Stand firm and don't step back.
Hook. Punch his stomach. Hook and kick.
Left jab, left jab.
Yes!
You got it!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Yes!
Knees.
Took too many knees.
It's an amazing, crazy sport, man.
I think he was winning the fight...
and he took a bunch of knees. It was just too much, too much.
Where money is involved and fortunes are won and lost,
compassion itself is a curse.
And the brutality of this sport seldom ends in the ring.
You tried too hard to bring him down. He didn't fall. But you did.
You're a wayward one. You acted so arrogantly.
When you knew you couldn't beat him, you just laid down.
Anyone can see that, moron. Don't say that he's too big for you.
You've fought bigger guys before.
When you knew you couldn't beat him, you just quit.
You were like, "If you want it, then take it. I give up."
I told you that we had a fight on the 29th,
but you only cared about riding your motorbike and spending money.
You're a fake. I knew you'd be like this. You're a piece of shit.
You've never made money before.
This is what you act like this when you can earn for yourself, huh?
How can you say you're fit?
You were in the ring for three rounds, and I can't even see a drop of sweat on you.
Is he good? Okay? He's okay?
Champion. Champion. Champion.
You're the champion.