Wan Chai
The openweight champion who stopped a UFC veteran
- Born
- January 24, 1972, Kawt Nwe village, Kawkareik Township, Kayin State, Myanmar
- Nationality
Myanmar- Height
- 165 cm (5′5″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Thailand-schooled finisher
- Weight
- Openweight
- Active
- 1989–2012
- Status
- Retired · age 54
The record
Per Wikipedia's infobox; its fight table covers only part of his 1989–2012 career. record
The story
an Chai, born Saw Han Thein in Kayin State in 1972, learned the trade under Myawaddy U Than Shwe and gained experience fighting in Thailand before he became a name at home. He won the first edition of the Golden Belt Championship, the tournament the national federation launched in 1996. On 1 April 1998 he knocked out openweight champion Shwe Du Wun in the third round to take the title, then lost it the next year to Shan Lay Thway after catching malaria shortly before the fight. In 2001, at the first Yangon card against American professionals, he stopped UFC veteran Doug Evans in the first round with a knee from the clinch. His record is listed as 69 wins, 3 losses and 8 draws. As a coach he has trained Thway Thit Win Hlaing.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- Openweight Lethwei Golden Belt (1998–1999)
- Inaugural Golden Belt Championship winner
- Challenge fight belt vs Doug Evans (2001)
Defining fights
- 1997WINvs Aung Aung Tun (KO 4, won inaugural Golden Belt Championship)
- 1998WINvs Shwe Du Wun (KO 3, won openweight title)
- 1999LOSSvs Shan Lay Thway (TKO 1, lost openweight title)
- 2001WINvs Doug Evans (TKO 1, first Myanmar vs USA card)
From the clinch, pull the head down and drive straight knees into the midsection; a clean body knee at close range can end a fight in the first round.
c. 2014–2023
