Saiyok Pumpanmuang (born October 23, 1983), formerly known as Saiyoknoi Sakchainarong (ไทรโยคน้อย ศักดิ์ชัยณรงค์), is a Thai welterweight kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium 154 lbs champion, Thailand 147 lbs champion, WMC 140 lbs champion and Rajadamnern Stadium 140 lbs champion. Saiyok rose to fame during his time with Thai Fight, participating in the inaugural Thai Fight Kard Chuek tournament in 2013 and winning the 2014 Thai Fight 72.5kg Tournament.

Biography and career

Saiyok Pumpanmuang was born as Sakdaa Niamhom on October 22, 1983, in lower northern Thailand in Phitsanulok, the capital of Phitsanulok Province. He began boxing at the age of 11 in the Sor Riendek camp.

Career

Muay Thai

Known as Saiyoknoi Sakchainarong during early years of his career, he rose to fame by winning three stadium titles including one from the prestigious Rajadamnern Stadium. Saiyok was considered in Thailand one of the most promising fighters in the heavier weight classes, however he fell from grace after losing his belts to Singmanee Sor Srisompong, in a controversial match seen by the thai media as fraud. After the fight, promoters shied away from the disgraced fighter, forcing him to find another job and earn living as fruit merchant. He was taken in by a promoter at Lumpinee Stadium, Lieutenant General Sukkhatat Pumphanmuang, who decided to help Saiyok on his return to the sport. Saiyok, took Lumpinee promoter’s last name as part of his new ring alias, and on March 7, 2008, at Lumpinee he won the vacant welterweight title of Thailand by second-round KO over Singsiri Por Sirichai. On January 9, 2010 at the Society of Journalists annual awards show in Bangkok, Saiyok was awarded the Muaythai Ambassador of the Year award. He faced Fabio Pinca at THAI FIGHT Extreme 2012: France on September 19, 2012, in Lyon, France, and won via decision after three rounds. He fought Dylan Salvador in Roschtigrabe, Switzerland, on October 20, 2012, and lost by TKO after he could not continue due to a knee injury at the end of round one. He outpointed Thiago Texeira at THAI FIGHT Extreme 2013: Muay Thai Day in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on February 23, 2013. Saiyok was set to fight Chike Lindsay at Muaythai Superfight on May 13, 2013, but the bout was scrapped. Saiyok will coach a team of farangs against a rival team trained by Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee on the reality television series Thai Fight Kard Chuek, to be shown over between July and August 2013 on Thailand's Channel 3. The two coaches will face off in December 2013. He knocked out Mickaël Piscitello with a second-round elbow at THAI FIGHT Extreme 2013: Bangkok in Bangkok on June 29, 2013. He KO'd Muhammad Nsubuga in round two at THAI FIGHT Extreme 2013: Pattani in Pattani, Thailand on September 22, 2013. He beat Seyedisa Alamdarnezam by an extension round decision in a non-tournament match at the Thai Fight Semi-Finals in Bangkok, Thailand on November 30, 2013. On December 22, 2013, he faced Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee at the 2013 Thai Fight Final for the inaugural Thai Fight 70 kg Kard Chuek Championship. He lost the fight by extension fourth-round decision. Saiyok competed in his second Thai Fight tournament when he was entered into the Thai Fight 72.5 kg Championship. He defeated Alka Matewa in the semi-finals on November 22, 2014. On December 21, 2014, he defeated French phenom Antoine Pinto to become the inaugural Thai Fight 72.5 kg King's Cup Tournament Champion.

Lethwei

On July 22, 2018, Saiyok faced Lethwei star Tun Tun Min, former Openweight Lethwei World Champion, under traditional Lethwei rules KO to win in Yangon, Myanmar. Both fighters showed immense heart, but left fans slightly disappointed since it ended in a draw because there was no knockout.

Titles and accomplishments

Kickboxing

Muay Thai

Boxing

Awards

Fight record

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Fight was for the Kunlun Fight 75kg Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the World Muay Thai Organization (WMO) Muay Thai -72.5 kg. World title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Won Thai Fight 72.5 kg Tournament ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins MASA Junior Middleweight World Muaythai title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins WMC 4 Men Tournament title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the Lumpinee Stadium Super-welterweight (154 lb) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the inaugural Lumpinee Stadium Super-welterweight (154 lb) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins vacant Champion of Thailand Welterweight (147 lb) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Loses Rajadamnern Stadium and WMC Super Lightweight (140 lb) titles. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Retains his Rajadamnern and WMC Super-lightweight (140 lb) titles. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends WMC Super-lightweight (140 lb) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins WMC Super-lightweight (140 lb) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the Omnoi Stadium 140 lbs title.

Lethwei record

Boxing record

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins WBC Asia Silver Welterweight title (147 lbs).