Fabio Pinca

Fabio Pinca (born June 14, 1984) is an Italian-French Muay Thai kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Pinca is currently signed to ONE Championship. In 2010, Pinca became the first winner of the annual Thai Fight tournament.

Biography

Fabio Pinca was born on 14 June 1984. Pinca resides in Lyon, France and trains at Gym boxing St Fons in Saint-Fons, Lyon. His trainer is Nasser Kacem.

Fabio began training in Muaythai at the age of 15. He discovered Muaythai while watching a video tape from Thailand. Boxers who inspired Pinca were Ramon Dekkers, Dany Bill, Saimai and Farid Villaume. By learning about a club near his home, he found the Boxing Gym St-Fons who already had good boxers.

He began training in Muay Thai in Saint-Fons. Following his first match, he continued his development at the same club, citing the quality of the local sparring partners and the coaching staff as reasons for his tenure there.

Fabio Pinca has a job as an educational facilitator in his city with a flexible schedule which allows him to focus on his athletic career.

In March 2014, Fabio Pinca became an event organiser and created his own promotion called STRIKE FIGHT. The first event will held in his native city Lyon in France on June 27, 2014.

Career

Fabio Pinca fought in Muaythai and kickboxing, but his preference is for Muaythai because he is passionate about the sport and Thai culture. He likes to use his elbows and knees.

In 2004 he was French Muay Thai Champion Class B and wins World Muaythai Championships bronze medal. In 2005 he reached the finals of French Muay Thai Championship Class A. In 2006 he became WPKC European Kickboxing Champion. In 2008 he won the Fighting Day 8 Thai Boxing 4 Men tournament in Italy and he became WBC Intercontinental Muay Thai Lightweight Champion. In 2009 he became WBC World Muay Thai Champion and in 2010 he won the Isuzu Thai Fight -67kg Tournament, defeating Youssef Boughanem in the tournament final.

Pinca has experience that belies his young age having fought Attachai, Bovy, Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee and the legendary Saenchai Sor Kingstar.

He faced Saiyok Pumpanmuang at Thai Fight: Lyon on September 19, 2012 in Lyon, France and lost via decision after three rounds.

Pinca fought Dutch-Turkish kickboxer Tayfun Ozcan at Time Fight 2 in Tours, France, on October 6, 2012. He battered his opponent with knee strikes from the Thai clinch and forced a stop to the bout in round three after breaking Ozcan's arm.

He faced Alessandro Campagna in a tournament reserve bout at Glory 3: Rome - 2012 Middleweight Slam Final 8 on November 3, 2012 in Rome, Italy, and lost via unanimous decision. He was docked a point in the third round for excessive clinching which is banned under kickboxing rules.

He bested Yakdam on points at La Nuit des Titans in Tours, France, on February 2, 2013.

A rematch between Fabio Pinca and Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong went down at Best of Siam 3 in Paris, France, on February 14, 2013 but he was unable to take his revenge as he lost a unanimous decision.

He fought Saenchai for the second time on 21 January 2012 at 'Yokkao Extreme' and won a controversial decision. Pinca struggled early on against Saenchai despite having a 12kg weight advantage and took out his frustration with a headbutt on his opponent that went unpunished.

Pinca competed in the four man tournament at MAX Muay Thai 2 in Pattaya, Thailand on June 29, 2013. He caused an upset by outpointing Diesellek Aoodonmuang in the semi-finals but was then on the receiving end of one when he lost a decision to Victor Nagbe in the final.

He beat Malaipet Sasiprapa by unanimous decision for the inaugural Lion Fight Welterweight Championship at Lion Fight 12 in Las Vegas on November 1, 2013.

He was set to fight Buakaw Banchamek for the vacant WMC World Junior Middleweight (-69.9kg/154lb) Championship Monte Carlo Fighting Masters 2014 in Monte Carlo, Monaco on June 14, 2014 but withdrew after being injured in his bout with Thongchai Sitsongpeenong and was replaced by Djime Coulibaly.

Pinca challenged Rajadamnern Stadium 67kg champion Manaowan Sitsongpeenong for his title on February 23, 2017 on the Best of Siam show taking place at the legendary Thai stadium. He won to take the biggest accolade of his Muay Thai career.

Pinca made his ONE Championship debut at ONE Championship: Heroes of Honor on April 20, 2018. He faced Nong-O Gaiyanghadao under ONE Super Series Muay Thai rules, losing by unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts

Fabio Pinca was originally scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut against fellow Muay Thai fighter Sagetdao Petpayathai at ONE Championship: Kingdom of Heroes on October 6, 2018. However, their fight was later pulled from the card.

He finally made his MMA debut at ONE Championship: No Surrender 3 on August 21, 2020. He lost to Shannon Wiratchai by split decision.

Titles and achievements

Professional

• Rajadamnern Stadium 2017 Rajadamnern Stadium Champion -67Kg
• International Sport Karate Association 2016 ISKA World Welterweight Muay Thai Champion
• Kombat League 2015 Kombat League World Champion MT -67kg
• Lion Fight 2013 Lion Fight Welterweight Championship
• MAX Muay Thai 2013 MAX Muay Thai 2 Tournament runner-up
• WBC Muaythai 2012 WBC World Muaythai Welterweight Champion (147lbs/66.678kg) 2009 WBC World Muaythai Super Lightweight Champion (140lbs/63.503kg) 2008 W.B.C. Intercontinental Muay Thai Lightweight Champion
• THAI FIGHT 2011 THAI FIGHT Tournament runner up (-67kg) 2010 THAI FIGHT Tournament Champion (-67kg)
• Nuit des Champions 2008 Nuit des Champions Muaythai belt
• Fighting Day 8 2008 Fighting Day 8 Thai Boxing 4 Men Tournament Champion (-64.500kg)
• World Professional Kickboxing Council 2006 WPKC European Kickboxing Champion
• Fédération française de kick boxing 2005 French Muay Thai Vice Champion Class A (-63.500kg)

Amateur

• 2004 World Muay Thai Championships, Bangkok Thailand (-63.500kg) 2004 French Muay Thai Champion Class B (-60kg) 2002 Junior French Muay Thai Champion
• Awards: 2010 Muaythaitv Best Nakmuay of the Year

Mixed martial arts record

Muay Thai and kickboxing record

See also

• List of male kickboxers

External links

• 2011-08-16 at theWayback Machine