Muay thai
Muay thai is fought in a ring over three rounds with punches, kicks, knees and elbows. Judges score each round for clean, forceful strikes, giving the winner 10 and the loser 9, 8 or 7 by the margin. The athlete ahead wins on points unless the fight ends early by stoppage or knockout. Biting, head-butting, joint locks and throwing with the hip are among the fouls.
Checked 20 October 2026
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How long
Three rounds of 3 minutes with a minute's rest (elite)
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1IFMA World ChampionshipsThe sport's own amateur world title.Yearly
- 2The World Games (muay thai)The multi-sport Games for sports outside the Olympics.Every 4 years · Holder: China 2 golds
India
India did not enter muay thai at The World Games in Chengdu, 2025.
- Muaythai at the World Games: No medal; India did not enter muaythai at Chengdu 2025
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- IndiaIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 1 silver (latest 2017)
- ThailandIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 58 golds, 12 silvers, 13 bronzes (latest 2019); Muaythai at the World Games: 4 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2025)
- RussiaIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 34 golds, 44 silvers, 53 bronzes (latest 2019); Muaythai at the World Games: 2 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2025)
- BelarusIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 34 golds, 28 silvers, 38 bronzes (latest 2019); Muaythai at the World Games: 1 gold, 1 bronze (latest 2017)
- UkraineIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 23 golds, 17 silvers, 38 bronzes (latest 2019); Muaythai at the World Games: 7 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2025)
- SwedenIFMA World Muaythai Championships: 14 golds, 22 silvers, 36 bronzes (latest 2019); Muaythai at the World Games: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze (latest 2022)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA), Rules & Regulations for International Competition, version 3.057, revised 11 May 2026 |
| International federation | International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) |
| In India | United Muaythai Association of India (UMAI), recognised by IFMA in 2019. |
Where and when it is played
In a ring. The big events: the IFMA World Championships every year and The World Games every four years.