Muay Thai Weight Classes: Explained

There are several different types of Muay Thai weight classes around the world. With so many international organizations, it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of all the varying Muay Thai weight classes.

Muay Thai organizations typically use different names for weight divisions and varying weights. It can be confusing to keep track of the Muay Thai Weight Classes in every organization around the globe.

What are the weight classes in Muay Thai? Here we have compiled all major Muay Thai organizations and their weight classes.

WBC Muay Thai Weight Classes

What are the Muay Thai weight classes in World Boxing Council (WBC)?

Male Divisions

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Heavyweight	91 kg+	200 lbs+
Cruiserweight	90.719 kg	200 lbs
Light Heavyweight	79.379 kg	175 lbs
Super Middleweight	76.204 kg	168 lbs
Middleweight	72.575 kg	160 lbs
Super Welterweight	69.853 kg	154 lbs
Welterweight	66.678 kg	147 lbs
Super Lightweight	63.503 kg	140 lbs
Lightweight	61.235 kg	135 lbs
Super Featherweight	58.967 kg	130 lbs
Featherweight	57.153 kg	126 lbs
Super Bantamweight	55.338 kg	122 lbs
Bantamweight	53.524 kg	118 lbs
Super Flyweight	52.163 kg	115 lbs
Flyweight	50.802 kg	112 lbs
Light Flyweight	48.988 kg	108 lbs
Minimumweight	47.627 kg	105 lbs

Female Divisions

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Super Lightweight	63.5 kg	140 lbs
Lightweight	61.235 kg	135 lbs
Super Featherweight	58.967 kg	130 lbs
Featherweight	57.153 kg	126 lbs
Super Bantamweight	55.338 kg	122 lbs
Bantamweight	53.524 kg	118 lbs
Super Flyweight	52.163 kg	115 lbs
Flyweight	50.802 kb	112 lbs
Light Flyweight	48.988 kb	108 lbs
Mini Flyweight	47.627 kg	105 lbs
Minimumweight	45.359 kg	100 lbs

ONE Championship Muay Thai Weight Classes

What are the Muay Thai weight classes in ONE Championship?

Male Divisions

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Lightweight	77.1 kg	170 lbs
Featherweight	70.3 kg	155 lbs
Bantamweight	65.8 kg	145 lbs
Flyweight	61.2 kg	135 lbs
Strawweight	56.7 kg	125 lbs

Female Divisions

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Strawweight	56.7 kg	125 lbs
Atomweight	52.2 kg	115 lbs

Rajademnern Stadium Muay Thai Weight Classes

What are the Muay Thai weight classes in Rajademnern Stadium?

Weight Class Name	Pounds	Kilograms
Middleweight	160 lbs	72.5 kg
Junior Middleweight	154 lbs	69.8 kg
Welterweight	147 lbs	66.7 kg
Super Lightweight	140 lbs	63.5 kg
Lightweight	135 lbs	61.2 kg
Super Featherweight	130 lbs	58.9 kg
Featherweight	126 lbs	57.1 kg
Super Bantamweight	122 lbs	55.3 kg
Bantamweight	118 lbs	53.5 kg
Super Flyweight	115 lbs	52.1 kg
Flyweight	112 lbs	50.8 kg
Light Flyweight	108 lbs	48.9 kg
Mini Flyweight	105 lbs	47.6 kg

Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai Weight Classes

What are the Muay Thai weight classes in Lumpinee Stadium?

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Heavyweight	+ 79.383 kg	+ 175 lbs
Junior Heavyweight	79.383 kg	175 lbs
Middleweight	72.578 kg	160 lbs
Junior Middleweight	70.764 kg	156 lbs
Welterweight	66.681 kg	147 lbs
Junior Welterweight	63.506 kg	140 lbs
Lightweight	61.238 kg	135 lbs
Junior Lightweight	58.971 kg	130 lbs
Featherweight	57.155 kg	126 lbs
Junior Featherweight	55.341 kg	122 lbs
Bantamweight	53.526 kg	118 lbs
Junior Bantamweight	52.166 kg	115 lbs
Flyweight	50.805 kg	112 lbs
Junior Flyweight	48.990 kg	108 lbs
Mini Flyweight	47.629 kg	105 lbs

World Muay Thai Council Weight Classes

What are the Muay Thai weight classes in World Muay Thai Council (WMC)?

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Super Heavy Weight	+ 95 kg	+ 209 lbs
Heavy Weight	95 kg	209 lbs
Cruiser Weight	86.18 kg	190 lbs
Super Light Heavy Weight	82.55 kg	182 lbs
Light Heavy Weight	79.38 kg	175 lbs
Super Middle Weight	76.2 kg	168 lbs
Middle Weight	72.58 kg	160 lbs
Super Welter Weight	69.85 kg	154 lbs
Welter Weight	66.68 kg	147 lbs
Super Light Weight	63.5 kg	140 lbs
Light Weight	61.24 kg	135 lbs
Super Feather  Weight	58.97 kg	130 lbs
Feather Weight	57.15 kg	126 lbs
Super Bantam Weight	55.34 kg	122 lbs
Bantam Weight	53.52 kg	118 lbs
Super Fly Weight	52.16 kg	115 lbs
Fly Weight	50.8 kg	112 lbs
Light Fly Weight	48.99 kg	108 lbs
Mini Fly Weight	47.62 kg	105 lbs

Muay Thai weight classes compared to other combat sports

For multiple organizations, Muay Thai weight classes can be found above. To compare to other combat sports such as boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, see below.

UFC & MMA Weight Classes

What are the UFC weight classes in MMA?

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Heavyweight	Max 120.2 kg	Max 265 lbs
Light Heavyweight	102.1 kg	205 lbs
Middleweight	83.9 kg	185 lbs
Welterweight	77.1 kg	170 lbs
Lightweight	70.3 kg	155 lbs
Men’s Featherweight	65.5 kg	145 lbs
Women’s Featherweight	65.8 kg	145 lbs
Men’s Bantamweight	61.2 kg	135 lbs
Women’s Bantamweight	61.2 kg	135 lbs
Men’s Flyweight	56.7 kg	125 lbs
Women’s Flyweight	56.7 kg	125 lbs
Women’s Strawweight	52.5 kg	115 lbs

GLORY Kickboxing Weight Classes

What are the weight classes in GLORY Kickboxing?

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Heavyweight	Unlimited	Unlimited
Light Heavyweight	95 kg	209.4 lbs
Middleweight	85 kg	187.4 lbs
Welterweight	77 kg	169.8 lbs
Lightweight	70 kg	154.3 lbs
Featherweight	65 kg	143.3 lbs
Women’s Super Bantamweight	55 kg	121.3 lbs

Boxing Weight Classes

What are the weight classes in boxing?

Weight Class Name	Kilograms	Pounds
Heavyweight	Unlimited	Unlimited
Cruiserweight	90.892 kg	200 lbs
Light Heavyweight	79.378 kg	175 lbs
Super Middleweight	76.378 kg	168 lbs
Middleweight	72.574 kg	160 lbs
Super Welterweight	69.85 kg	154 lbs
Welterweight	66.678 kg	147 lbs
Super Lightweight	63.503 kg	140 lbs
Lightweight	61.235 kg	135 lbs
Super Featherweight	58.967 kg	130 lbs
Featherweight	57.153 kg	126 lbs
Super Bantamweight	55.225 kg	122 lbs
Bantamweight	53.525 kg	118 lbs
Super Flyweight	52.163 kg	115 lbs
Flyweight	50.802 kg	112 lbs
Light Flyweight	48.988 kg	108 lbs
Minimumweight	47.627 kg	105 lbs

Olympic Wrestling Weight Classes

Men’s Freestyle Wrestling Weight Classes:
57 kg, 65 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg.

Greco-Roman Weight Classes:
60kg, 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, 97kg, 130kg.

Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Weight Classes:
50 kg, 53 kg, 57 kg, 62 kg, 68 kg, 76 kg.

Muay Thai Weight Classes History

For most of the history of Muay Thai, things such as a playing surface, gloves, and weight classes were not universal. Each region of Thailand would have its own form of Muay Thai along with its own rules. This historical period is called Muay Boran.

Traditionally Muay Thai would be fought in a circle at a temple during festivals. Nak Muays would have either cloth, rope, or nothing across their knuckles.

In the 1920s Muay Thai became formalized under Thai King Rama VI. During this period it earned its name Muay Thai, gloves, rings, rounds, and Muay Thai Weight Classes

Weight classes in boxing were introduced during the 1890s under Queensberry Rules. Then there were only eight base boxing weight classes. Over the next hundred years, they would add dozens more.

In the UFC and MMA, began in the 1990s with no weight classes and it would slowly add more over time.

Weight classes were introduced across all combat sports as a way so that undersized fighters would not be at a disadvantage. Weight classes are so that fighters can compete against opponents of their own size rather than be out-sized in an unfair fight.

Thai Weight Classes

Because most competitors in Thailand are on the smaller side, the best divisions for Muay Thai are between 108 to 135 lbs or 48.99 to 61.24 kg. These are the most prestigious Muay Thai weight classes.

The larger weight divisions are less competitive and typically dominated by farang (foreign fighters). As compared to boxing, MMA, and Kickboxing where the prestige is often concentrated in the heavyweight division.

Weight Cutting in Muay Thai

Just like in Olympic wrestling, boxing, MMA, or kickboxing, Muay Thai fighter will reach their target weight by way of harsh weight cuts. This involves a constant diet in their life. Weeks ahead of the fight a Nak Muay will cut out carbs. A day before weight ins fighters will cut out all food and water and begin sweating out excess water until the desired weight is achieved.

It is typically a careful balancing act to not drain a fighter too much but still have enough size to compete in a desired weight division. Fighters across all combat sports have a weight called the walking around weight, this is their natural weight if they were not fighting. If fighters competed at this walking weight they would be undersized. Fighters normally try to cut weight to get a size advantage over the competition.

Here are more details on weight cutting in combat sports and how it relates to Muay Thai weight classes:

Methods

1. Water Weight Reduction: This is the most common method, as water is easier to lose and regain than fat or muscle. This can be achieved through dehydration techniques, such as running in sauna suits, visiting saunas, or limiting water intake.
2. Dietary Changes: Fighters may reduce their intake of carbohydrates and sodium to shed water weight. Foods high in water content are also sometimes avoided.
3. Lowered Training Intensity: To prevent injury and cope with reduced energy levels during weight cutting, training intensity is usually reduced.

Objectives

1. Make Weight: The primary objective is to meet the required weight class, which enables the fighter to compete.
2. Rehydration: After the weigh-in, fighters aim to regain as much weight as possible to enter the fight at their optimal size and strength level.
3. Tactical Advantage: Though debatable, cutting weight theoretically allows fighters to compete in lower weight classes where they might have a size or strength advantage.

Risks and Controversies

1. Health Risks: Drastic weight cutting can cause electrolyte imbalance, acute kidney injury, or severe dehydration, which are potentially life-threatening conditions.
2. Performance Impact: Dehydration and rapid weight loss can reduce a fighter’s stamina, strength, and cognitive abilities, potentially affecting their performance negatively.
3. Fairness: Since almost everyone cuts weight, the perceived advantages are often negated, leading some to question the usefulness and ethics of the practice.
4. Regulatory Challenges: Combat sports organizations and regulatory bodies often struggle to balance the need for fair competition with the health risks posed by weight cutting.

Best Practices

1. Medical Supervision: It’s crucial for fighters, especially amateurs, to consult with healthcare providers and experienced trainers to ensure that weight cutting is done safely.
2. Gradual Weight Cutting: Instead of drastic, last-minute weight cuts, a more gradual approach over several weeks is generally safer and less likely to impact performance.
3. Hydration Tests: Some organizations have implemented hydration tests to ensure fighters aren’t severely dehydrated before they compete.
4. Alternative Weight Classes: Some fighters and coaches advocate for more weight classes or different kinds of weight-cutting regulations to minimize health risks.

However, if a fighter cuts too much they will drain themselves too much. For example, current ONE Championship Featherweight World Champion Tawanchai PK.Saenchai used to compete at bantamweight but found the cut far too brutal.

In an interview with ONE, he explained his weight-cutting issues at bantamweight. He explained:

“I had hard time losing weight to stay in bantamweight. I think I’ll be more natural in featherweight. I had to control my weight. I had to eat less in order not to gain weight. So, my energy drops, and I can’t perform weight training to improve natural muscle mass effectively. I think I’ll be more agile and my weapons will be even heavier.”

Tawanchai PK.Saenchai

Muay Thai Weight Classes Final Thoughts

Muay Thai weight classes are a complex landscape influenced by a myriad of factors—from the historical evolution of the sport to the physical demands and health risks placed on the fighters. As the sport grows globally, keeping track of the diverse weight classes across different organizations becomes increasingly important, both for fighters and fans.

As with other combat sports, weight classes aim to level the playing field, ensuring that fights are fair and competitive. However, the practice of weight-cutting remains a hot topic, calling into question the balance between fairness and health. As Muay Thai continues to evolve, so too will the discourse around Muay Thai weight classes and weight cutting, making it imperative for fighters, coaches, and regulators to stay informed and adaptable.