World Lethwei Championship
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World Lethwei Championship (also known as WLC) was a Lethwei promotion based in Yangon, Myanmar by World Lethwei Federation. The promotion brought the millennia-old Burmese martial of Lethwei to UFC Fight Pass and showcased it to the world. The WLC events combined the historic traditions of Lethwei with modern entertainment.
History
Formation
The success of ONE Championship's mixed martial arts events in Myanmar caught the eye of Zaykabar Company Vice-Chairman Zay Thiha, who decided to bring world-class Lethwei events the world. The businessman started Lekkha Moun Co in 2015 and the World Lethwei Championship was officially founded in August 2017 by Zay Thiha and investors, as a subsidiary of Lekkha Moun Co.
Inaugural event
In 2017, WLC signed Myanmar's top Lethwei fighters Tun Tun Min & Too Too. The first WLC event, titled WLC 1: The Great Beginning, was held on 3 March 2017 at Mingalardon Event Zone in Mingaladon Township, Yangon, Myanmar.
Signing Dave Leduc
In March 2019, the promotion announced that it had signed Lethwei superstar Dave Leduc to an exclusive contract. The exclusive contract would make it impossible for him to defend his various titles from other promotions. Leduc held a press conference at the Karaweik Palace in Yangon to announce that he was vacating three of his four Lethwei world titles and joining the promotion.
For Leduc's promotional debut at WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs, the WLC signed former UFC welterweight Seth Baczynski. Leduc knocked out Baczynski with punches to win the inaugural WLC Cruiserweight Championship. The event received a significant viewership success on UFC Fight Pass and won multiple awards in Asia such as the 2019 Best Sport Program at The Asian Academy Awards. Leduc received a $50,000 bonus for his performance and marketing efforts.
International expansion
In October 2019, while on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Dave Leduc announced that the organization had plans to host an historical event in the United States. At the pre-fight press conference for WLC 11: Battlebones, WLC executive director Sein Phyo Hlaing revealed plans to expand globally in 2020, beginning with Cambodia, Thailand, Japan and the United States. As the promotion expands internationally, it plans to sign even more free-agents with recognizable names to compete in Lethwei.
ONE Championship partnership
In October 2016, the WLC became one of ONE Championship’s partners at the occasion ONE: State of Warriors in Yangon, Myanmar. WLC Chairman Zay Thiha was inspired after witnessing the success ONE Championship in Myanmar which held total of three events in Yangon in 2015 and 2016. These events are said to be the inspiration behind WLC’s creation.
“ONE Championship proved that a world-class martial arts event can thrive in the country, and we believe we can replicate that with the national martial art of Lethwei,” "We believe we can elevate the sport and showcase Myanmar as a world-class sporting nation.” said Zay Thiha.
In 2017, the promotion showed interest in co-promoting events in order to expand globally and there was rumours the organization could co-promote with the US-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). However, the WLC officially entered into a partnership to share fighters with the mixed martial arts promotion ONE Championship. Both parties agreed on sending athletes to fight in each other's organization.
On June 30, 2017, in a collaboration between ONE and WLC, the organizations held a Lethwei dark match at ONE Championship: Light of a Nation, a contest between Soe Htet Oo and Thway Thit Win Hlaing. Soe Htet Oo would end up losing a decision according to WLC point system where a winner must be chosen by judges decision if the fight goes there is no stoppage. As of 2022, there has been rumours of WLC Champion Dave Leduc crossing over to ONE Championship under Lethwei rules.
Women division
In 2018, Cambodia's Nou Srey Pov became the first female winner in World Lethwei Championship, defeating Shwe Sin Min and Shwe Nadi.
In 2019, WLC announced it will commit to the female Lethwei division with a dedicated female match at every event. It held its first female fight after the announcement featuring France's Souris Manfredi and Eh Yanut from Cambodia at WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs on 2 August in Mandalay, Myanmar. Manfredi became the first winner of the newly created women's division by defeating Yanut.
Broadcast
Sky Net was the first television channel to broadcast the WLC events live in Myanmar and were then delayed telecast in over 40 countries worldwide. In 2018, WLC signed a broadcasting deal with international broadcaster Canal+ for exclusive broadcasting rights in Myanmar. The end of 2018, the WLC marked Lethwei history by signing a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and having its first Lethwei event broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass. World Lethwei Championship was also available in over 100 countries through broadcast deals with Fight Network, Arena Sport, Fox Sports, Star Sports, Bayon Television, Titan Channel, Sport Extra and StarTimes.
Events
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | WLC 14: Lethwei Showcase | 25 September 2020 | Undisclosed location | Undisclosed location |
| 12 | WLC 12: Hideout Battle | 28 August 2020 | Undisclosed location | Undisclosed location |
| 11 | WLC 11: Battlebones | 31 January 2020 | Thein Pyu Stadium | Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar |
| 10 | WLC 10: Fearless Tigers | 4 October 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Mandalay, Myanmar |
| 9 | WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs | 2 August 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Mandalay, Myanmar |
| 8 | WLC 8: Karen Spirit | 5 May 2019 | Chit Tu Myaing Park | Myanmar Hpa-an, Myanmar |
| 7 | WLC 7: Mighty Warriors | 22 February 2019 | Mandalar Thiri Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Mandalay, Myanmar |
| 6 | WLC 6: Heartless Tigers | 29 September 2018 | Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar |
| 5 | WLC 5: Knockout War | 2 June 2018 | Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Naypitaw, Myanmar |
| 4 | WLC 4: Bareknuckle-King | 17 February 2018 | Wunna Theikdi Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Naypitaw, Myanmar |
| 3 | WLC 3: Legendary Champions | 4 November 2017 | Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar |
| 2 | WLC 2: Ancient Warriors | 10 June 2017 | Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium | Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar |
| 1 | WLC 1: The Great Beginning | 3 March 2017 | Mingalardon Event Zone | Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar |
Final champions
World Champions
| Division | Champion | Event | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cruiserweight | Canada Dave Leduc | August 2, 2019 (WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs) | 0 |
| Middleweight | Uzbekistan Naimjon Tuhtaboyev | January 31, 2020 (WLC 11: Battlebones) | 0 |
| Light Middleweight | Ukraine Sasha Moisa | August 2, 2019 (WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs) | 0 |
| Light Welterweight | Portugal Antonio Faria | February 22, 2019 (WLC 7: Mighty Warriors) | 1 |
| Women's Bantamweight | France Souris Manfredi | August 28, 2020 (WLC 12: Hideout Battle) | 0 |
Myanmar National Champion
| Division | Champion | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Light Welterweight | Myanmar Saw Htoo Aung | September 29, 2018 (WLC 6: Heartless Tigers) |
World championship history
Cruiserweight Championship
Weight limit: 84 kg (185.2 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada Dave Leduc def. Seth Baczynski | WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs Mandalay, Myanmar | August 2, 2019 | 542 days | WLC defuncted February 1, 2021 due to Myanmar coup d'état |
Middleweight Championship
Weight limit: 75 kg (165.3 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myanmar Too Too def. Michael Badato | WLC 3: Legendary Champions Yangon, Myanmar | November 4, 2017 | 818 days | 1. def. Vasyl Sorokin at WLC 4 on February 17, 2018 |
| 2 | Uzbekistan Naimjon Tuhtaboyev def. Too Too | WLC 11: Battlebones Yangon, Myanmar | January 31, 2020 | 367 days | WLC defuncted February 1, 2021 due to Myanmar coup d'état |
Light Middleweight Championship
Weight limit: 71 kg (156.5 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poland Artur Saladiak def. Saw Ba Oo | WLC 5: Knockout War Naypitaw, Myanmar | June 2, 2018 | 426 days | |
| 2 | Ukraine Sasha Moisa def. Artur Saladiak | WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs Mandalay, Myanmar | August 2, 2019 | 542 days | WLC defuncted February 1, 2021 due to Myanmar coup d'état |
Light Welterweight Championship
Weight limit: 63.5 kg (140.0 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal Antonio Faria def. Saw Htoo Aung | WLC 7: Mighty Warriors Mandalay, Myanmar | February 22, 2019 | 710 days | 1. def. Francisco Vinuelas at WLC 14 on September 25, 2020 WLC defuncted February 1, 2021 due to Myanmar coup d'état |
Women's Bantamweight Championship
Weight limit: 54 kg (119.0 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France Souris Manfredi def. Maisha Katz | WLC 12: Hideout Battle Undisclosed location | August 28, 2020 | 157 days | WLC defuncted February 1, 2021 due to Myanmar coup d'état |
Rules
The WLC uses the tournament rules established in 1996 by the MTLF.
Rounds
Each bout can be booked as a 3, 4 or 5 round fight with 3 minutes per round and a 2-minute break in between rounds. Championship bouts are 5 round fights with 3 minutes per round and a 2-minute break between rounds.
Judging
In the event that a bout goes the distance, it will go to the judges decision. The 3 judges will score the bout based on number of strikes per round. Fighters have a maximum of 3 knockdowns per round and 4 knockdowns in the entire fight before the fight is ruled a knockout.
Weight classes
| Weight class name | Upper limit | Gender | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in pounds (lb) | in kilograms (kg) | in stone (st) | ||
| Light Flyweight | 105.8 | 48 | 7.6 | Female |
| Flyweight | 112.4 | 51 | 8 | Male / Female |
| Bantamweight | 119 | 54 | 8.5 | Male / Female |
| Featherweight | 125.7 | 57 | 9 | Male / Female |
| Lightweight | 132.3 | 60 | 9.4 | Male / Female |
| Light Welterweight | 140 | 63.5 | 10 | Male / Female |
| Welterweight | 147.7 | 67 | 10.5 | Male |
| Light Middleweight | 156.5 | 71 | 11.2 | Male |
| Middleweight | 165.3 | 75 | 11.8 | Male |
| Light Heavyweight | 174.2 | 79 | 12.4 | Male |
| Cruiserweight | 185.2 | 84 | 13.2 | Male |
| Heavyweight | 185.2+ | 84+ | 13.2+ | Male |
Awards
- Lethwei World 2019 Lethwei Promotion of the year 2019 Event of the Year WLC 9
- Spia Asia Awards 2019 Best Sport Tourism Destination Campaign of the Year - Bronze WLC 9
- Asian Academy Awards 2019 Best Sport Program - National Winner WLC 9
Notable fighters
- Myanmar Tun Tun Min
- Canada Dave Leduc
- Myanmar Too Too
- Myanmar Soe Lin Oo
- Myanmar Mite Yine
- Myanmar Saw Ba Oo
- Ukraine Sasha Moisa
- Poland Artur Saladiak
- Uzbekistan Naimjon Tuhtaboyev
- Vietnam Nguyễn Trần Duy Nhất
- Uganda Umar Semata
- United States Seth Baczynski