Summary
Muay Thai’s growth in the United States has been a slow burn compared to countries like France, the UK, and Australia, but America has quietly produced a generation of world-class fighters who have earned respect on the biggest stages in the sport. This article profiles five of the best American Muay Thai fighters of all time — Ky Hollenbeck, Tiffany Van Soest, Miriam Nakamoto, Joe Schilling, and Kevin Ross — each of whom traveled the world to test themselves against elite competition and brought credibility to the American Muay Thai scene. As Muay Thai World Champion and Evolve MMA instructor Chaowalit Jocky Gym puts it, “The American fighters who reach the top are the ones who respect the traditions of Muay Thai and are willing to go to Thailand or anywhere in the world to prove themselves. That is what separates champions from people who just train.”
Key Takeaways
- Ky Hollenbeck was one of America’s first truly world-class Muay Thai athletes. His iron chin and explosive punching power carried him to victories over multiple world champions on the international stage.
- Tiffany Van Soest built one of the most complete skill sets in women’s Muay Thai. Her karate-rooted kicking game, electric hand speed, and unorthodox footwork made her a dominant force in Lion Fight and Glory.
- Miriam Nakamoto achieved an extraordinary amount in a short career. With a perfect 14-0 professional record and eight world titles — including a prestigious Queen’s Cup victory in Bangkok — she retired as one of the most decorated American fighters in history.
- Joe Schilling brought Muay Thai to mainstream attention through crossover appeal. A two-time national champion and WBC World Title holder, his viral knockouts in MMA introduced millions of fans to his stand-up pedigree.
- Kevin Ross is the most recognized American Muay Thai fighter competing today. His willingness to face top Thai opponents, combined with multiple world titles across promotions, has earned him deep respect in the global Muay Thai community.
The Best American Muay Thai Fighters
Muay Thai’s popularity exploded early in countries like France, the UK, and Australia, but the sport’s growth in the United States followed a different path. The infrastructure took longer to develop, the competition scene was smaller, and opportunities to fight at the highest level often required American fighters to leave the country entirely. Despite these obstacles, the United States has produced a number of genuinely world-class nak muays who have competed against — and beaten — the best fighters on the planet.
The recent surge in American interest in Muay Thai owes a significant debt to the athletes on this list. They traveled the world, fought on the biggest cards, and came home with the titles and the respect that put the American Muay Thai scene on the map. These are five of the best.
Ky Hollenbeck
Ky Hollenbeck bounced between different martial arts disciplines due to a lack of opportunities, and he was successful in whatever sport he competed in.
He was at his best in Muay Thai, where he stood out as one of his country’s first truly world-class athletes.
Once Hollenbeck got going, his relentless assault was difficult to stop. His opponents found it almost impossible to make a dent in his iron jaw, and when he finished walking through their best shots, he made them pay with his explosive punching power.
After excelling on the national circuit, and beating other top Americans like Cyrus Washington, he started to travel to prove himself against the best on the planet.
Victories against World Champions like Jordan Watson, Vuyisile Colossa, and Gregory Choplin proved he could mix it up with the global elite.
Tiffany Van Soest
There is no one in Muay Thai quite like Tiffany Van Soest.
“Time Bomb” has an extraordinary arsenal of Muay Thai kicks that goes back to her martial arts origins as a karate black belt.
Her hand speed is also electric, her knees are devastating, her elbows are punishing, and she can put opponents on the floor with some of the most spectacular sweeps and dumps around.
Plus, she comes at her rivals with a range of unorthodox angles thanks to her phenomenal Muay Thai footwork, which she credits to her history as a college-level soccer player.
At worst, she is the number two women’s pound-for-pound fighter in the world, thanks to her dominance in Lion Fight and Glory.
Miriam Nakamoto
Though Miriam Nakamoto didn’t have a long pro career, she squeezed more success into it than most athletes could even dream of.
“The Queen of Mean” only had 14 pro bouts, but she won them all and collected an unbelievable number of belts.
Nakamoto is recognized as an eight-time World Champion with honors, including three WBC Muaythai World Lightweight Titles, a WMC World Lightweight Championship, and a WPMF Light Welterweight World Title that she won at the prestigious Queen’s Cup in Bangkok.
Nakamoto retired from the ring in 2013 to focus on MMA, but not before she’d beaten the best in her division – including Angela Rivera-Parr and fellow WBC Muay Thai hall-of-famer, Julie Kitchen.
As you’d expect from someone who achieved so much, Nakamoto was brilliant in all areas of Muay Thai, but when she got up-close and personal, she really shone.
She was strong in the clinch and possessed an arsenal of knees and elbows that no one relished having to endure.
Joe Schilling
“Stitch ’em Up” Joe Schilling bounced between disciplines during his career, and shot to worldwide fame when his KO of Melvin Manhoef in the Bellator cage went viral.
However, many of the mixed martial arts fans who saw that did not realize his decorated history in stand-up martial arts – particularly in Muay Thai.
Schilling was a two-time national champion and beat two-time Rajadamnern Stadium king Kaoklai Kaennorsing to claim the WBC Muay Thai Interim Light Heavyweight World Title in his adopted home of Los Angeles in 2011.
He then traveled to Bangkok to face the dangerous Dutch-Armenian, Karapet Karapetyan, and retained the belt with a near-shutout.
Schilling was also known for his killer instinct, which brought him KOs in more than half of his victories.
Kevin Ross
“The Soul Assassin” Kevin Ross might be the most well-known American Muay Thai fighter competing today, and he’s got the skills that make him stand out as well as his signature appearance.
Having trained under the famous Master Toddy, he well-versed in a traditional Thai style with great kicks and fantastic sweeping ability.
But Ross has also adapted his style to use plenty of Western-style techniques – particularly with his hands. He’s arguably at his best when he’s putting punches together in combination and overwhelming his opponents.
“The Soul Assassin” is also admired for his heart and toughness, which seems to be rooted in his inspirational story of starting Muay Thai at the age of 23 after a battle with alcoholism.
Throughout his career, he has made his name by getting into grueling battles with some of the best around. He prides himself on testing himself against athletes that have exponentially more in-ring experience than him.
That led to bouts against top Thais like Sittisak Por Sirichai, Sagetdao Petpayathai, and Saenchai, which earned him a ton of respect.
Better yet, he claimed signature wins against Coke Chunhawat and Rajadamnern Stadium champion, Malaipet.
Plus, Ross has captured multiple titles, including WBC Muay Thai national and international belts, the Lion Fight World Title, and the Bellator Kickboxing World Championship.
Conclusion
The American Muay Thai scene may have developed later than its counterparts in Europe and Australia, but the fighters on this list have proven that the United States can produce world-class nak muays who compete at the highest level of the sport. What connects all five is a willingness to step outside the comfort of the domestic circuit and test themselves internationally — against Thai champions, European veterans, and the best fighters from every corner of the globe. That mentality is what built the credibility of American Muay Thai, and the next generation of American fighters owes a significant debt to the trail these five blazed.
“The mark of a true fighter is not how many titles they win at home — it is whether they are willing to go where the competition is hardest and fight there. These American fighters did that, and that is why the Muay Thai world respects them.” — Chaowalit Jocky Gym, Muay Thai World Champion & Instructor at Evolve MMA
Frequently Asked Questions About American Muay Thai Fighters
Q: Who is the most famous American Muay Thai fighter?
A: Kevin Ross is widely regarded as the most recognized American Muay Thai fighter currently competing. His multiple world titles, signature wins over Thai champions, and long career at the top of the sport have made him the face of American Muay Thai.
Q: Has any American fighter won a world title in Muay Thai?
A: Yes. Multiple American fighters have won world titles, including Joe Schilling (WBC Muay Thai Interim Light Heavyweight World Title), Miriam Nakamoto (eight world titles including three WBC and a WPMF title won at the Queen’s Cup in Bangkok), and Kevin Ross (Lion Fight World Title and Bellator Kickboxing World Championship, among others).
Q: Is Muay Thai growing in popularity in the United States?
A: Yes. While Muay Thai was slower to take off in America compared to countries like France, the UK, and Australia, the sport has experienced significant growth in recent years. The success of American fighters on international stages, the expansion of promotions featuring Muay Thai, and the sport’s popularity as a fitness discipline have all contributed to this rise.
Q: What makes American Muay Thai fighters different from Thai fighters?
A: American fighters often come to Muay Thai from other martial arts backgrounds — karate, boxing, wrestling, or MMA — which gives them hybrid skill sets. While Thai fighters typically grow up training Muay Thai from childhood, American fighters tend to start later and bring cross-disciplinary techniques that can make their styles unpredictable.
Q: Who is the most decorated female American Muay Thai fighter?
A: Miriam Nakamoto holds the strongest claim with an undefeated 14-0 professional record and eight world titles. Tiffany Van Soest is also among the most accomplished, having dominated both Lion Fight and Glory.
Q: Did any American Muay Thai fighter compete in Thai stadiums?
A: Joe Schilling traveled to Bangkok to defend his WBC title, and Kevin Ross fought multiple top Thai opponents throughout his career. Miriam Nakamoto won her WPMF title at the Queen’s Cup in Bangkok, one of the most prestigious events in the sport.
Q: Can you start Muay Thai later in life and still reach a high level?
A: Yes. Kevin Ross started Muay Thai at age 23 and went on to become one of the most accomplished American fighters in the sport’s history. Miriam Nakamoto and Caley Reece (from Australia) are other examples of fighters who started relatively late and achieved world-championship-level success.
Q: Where can I train Muay Thai with world-class instruction?
A: Evolve MMA in Singapore offers Muay Thai classes taught by multiple World Champion instructors. Training under elite coaches provides access to authentic techniques and methods used by fighters competing at the highest levels of the sport.
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