Yodthanong Photirat (born born, July 1, 1985), known professionally as Yodsanklai Fairtex, is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is a former WBC Muay Thai World Super welterweight champion at 154 lbs, and a two-time Lumpinee Stadium champion in the 112 and 147 lb weight classes. He is also the first champion of The Contender Asia. He was nicknamed "The Boxing Computer" by Thai sports newspapers as a testament to his perfect fighting technique.

Background

Yodthanong Photirat was born in the Nong Bua Lamphu Province in Northeastern Thailand, the hotbed of Muay Thai. He was introduced to the sport by his older brother Yodkangwan and started practicing when he was eight years old after watching his brothers' fights. He had his first fight at a temple fair in Ban Na Dee, his hometown, and received a fight fee of 20 ฿.

Career

Before joining Fairtex in 2005, Yodsanklai fought for three camps: Saknipaporn, Sit-Khru-Od and Petchyindee. In August 2005, fighting under the name of Yodsanklai Petchyindee (ยอดแสนไกล เพชรยินดี), he won one of the most prestigious Muay Thai titles, the Lumpinee Stadium belt, by knocking out Runglaew. He became the 154 pound WBC Muay Thai World Champion by defeating Australian John Wayne Parr on December 10, 2005, in Gold Coast, Australia. In 2005, he won the Champion of Thailand (154 lb) title. On June 30, 2006, Yodsanklai made his K-1 Max debut at Superfight at the K-1 World MAX 2006 World Championship Final held in Yokohama, Japan. He won against Kamal el Amrani by three round unanimous decision. Yodsanklai defended his WBC title on November 11, 2006, against Mark Vogel in Wuppertal, Germany, winning the fight by first round elbow knockout. On November 29, 2007, Yodsanklai had a non-title contest at the "France vs Thailand" event held in Paris, France, against the Frenchmen Farid Villaume. Yodsanklai won the fight by third round referee stoppage TKO. He fought former stablemate Kem Sitsongpeenong at Muay Thai Combat Mania: Pattaya in Pattaya, Thailand, on December 30, 2012, at a weight of 71 kg/156 lb, with same-day weigh-ins. Despite having not made such a low weight in a number of years, Yod came in at the limit in visibly better shape than in most of his recent fights and KO'd Kem with an elbow in round three. Yod knocked out Gregory Choplin in round three at Lion Fight 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada, US, on January 25, 2013. He defeated Yohan Lidon by unanimous decision in a rematch at Warriors Night in Levallois, France, on March 2, 2013. On April 19, 2013, Yodsanklai TKO'd Naimjon Tuhtaboyev in round two at Thai Fight in Pattaya. In June 2013, it was initially reported that Yodsanklai would fight Antoine Pinto at Thai Fight in Bangkok. However, his opponent was later switched to Kazbek Zubarov. He won via TKO at the end of round one when Zubarov suffered an injury. Yod defeated Chike Lindsay for the inaugural Lion Fight Middleweight (-70 kg/154 lb) Championship at Lion Fight 10 in Las Vegas on July 26, 2013. Lindsay started well, but Yodsanklai took over in round two and began to cut the American up before taking the unanimous decision. It was reported that Yod would fight Raphaël Llodra at the WBC World Muay Thai Millennium Championship in Saint-Pierre, Réunion, on September 7, 2013. However, he turned the fight down for monetary reasons. Instead, he knocked out Vladimir Konsky with a first round elbow in the quarter-finals of the 2013 edition of Thai Fight's -70 kg/154 lb tournament in Thailand on October 23, 2013. Then in semifinals, he defeated Samy Sana on November 30, 2013, and advanced to the final. He would go on to knock out Expedito Valin and win the tournament. Yod was set to fight at Hero Legends in Jinan, China, on December 3, 2014 but withdrew for undisclosed reasons. He was also briefly expected to fight in the main event of Lion Fight 13 in Las Vegas on February 7, 2014, but quickly withdrew. He returned to the ring and beat Keo Rumchong by second-round KO at Thai Fight: Hua Hin 2014 in Hua Hin, Thailand, on February 22, 2014. On May 1, 2017, Combat Press ranked Yodsanklai the #4 lightweight in the world. On February 3, 2018, Yodsanklai returned to the ring, scoring a unanimous decision against German Enriko Kehl at Wu Lin Feng in Shenzhen, China.

ONE Championship

Yodsanklai then signed for ONE Championship. In his debut, he defeated Chris Ngimbi via unanimous decision. In his second bout with the promotion, he knocked out Luis Regis in the first round. At ONE Championship: A New Era on March 31, 2019, Yodsanklai defeated Andy Souwer by second-round technical knockout. He was then entered in to the ONE Super Series Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix, alongside the likes of Giorgio Petrosyan, Andy Souwer, and Petchmorrakot Petchyindee Academy. He would lose to Samy Sana by unanimous decision in Grand Prix Quarter-Finals at ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon. On October 23, 2019, it was announced that Yodsanklai was scheduled to face World Lethwei Championship champion Sasha Moisa at ONE Championship: Age Of Dragons, his opponent was changed to Jamal Yusupov. In an upset, Yodsanklai lost to Yusupov, who'd taken the fight on short notice, by second-round knockout. This marked Yodsanklai's first knockout loss since 2005. On June 28, 2020, it was announced that Yodsanklai would challenge Phetmorakot Petchyindee Academy for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE Championship: No Surrender on July 31, 2020. Despite showing an improved performance from his last two fights, Yodsanklai was unable to win the title and lost to Phetmorakot by split decision.

Second retirement

On March 1, 2021, Yodsanklai announced his second retirement on social media.

Titles and accomplishments

Fight record

! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the ONE Muay Thai Featherweight title. ! style="background:white" colspan=8 | Kickboxing Featherweight Grand-Prix Quarter-Finals. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualified to Kunlun Fight 2017 70kg World Max Tournament Final 16. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Qualified to Kunlun Fight 2015 70kg World MAX Tournament Final 8. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 2014 THAI FIGHT Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the Lion Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 2013 THAI FIGHT Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the Lion Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the 2011 Toyota Vigo Marathon Middleweight (160 lbs) Tournament Final. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the WMC/S1 Kings Cup Challenge Tournament Final. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |For the WKA World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant WPMF World Super Middleweight (168 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the Boxe-Thai Guinea 8-Man Tournament Champion. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the WMC The Contender Asia Season I and WMC World Middleweight Champion (160 lbs). ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 2008 KO World Series Auckland Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Defends the WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the WPMF World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant WBC Muaythai World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant Thailand (PAT) Super Welterweight (154 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight (147 lbs) title. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the Toyota Marathon Featherweight (126 lbs) Tournament. ! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the vacant Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight (105 lbs) title.

Amateur record

! style=background:white colspan=9 |Wins the 2010 World Combat Games -75 kg/165 lb Muay Thai Silver Medal.