Russian superstar Egor Bikrev etched his name into the history books this past weekend with a career-defining performance. In a stunning display of skill, Bikrev defeated Sangmanee in record time to claim the Rajadamnern Stadium Lightweight Title.
This victory broke numerous records and elevates him to the stratosphere of the sport. By securing the belt, he becomes only the 22nd non-Thai fighter in history to hold a title from the world’s most storied Muay Thai arena.
A Legacy of Prestige
Opened in 1945, Rajadamnern Stadium is the birthplace of modern Muay Thai. For most Nak Muay, simply competing within its walls is a lifelong dream; winning the stadium’s coveted gold belt, widely considered the pinnacle of prestige in the sport, is a feat few even dare to imagine.
The Rajadamnern belt is notoriously difficult for outsiders to claim. Since the stadium’s inception over 80 years ago, the elite club of foreign champions remained nearly impenetrable. Bikrev joined this exclusive circle on April 11, 2026, cementing his legacy alongside the greats.
Global Pioneers
The path for foreign fighters was blazed by Japan’s Toshio Fujiwara, who became the first non-Thai champion in 1978 by knocking out Monsawan Ruk Changmai in Tokyo. Since then, Japan has remained the most successful nation outside of Thailand, boasting ten champions. Brazil has also emerged as a powerhouse in recent years, producing three titleholders so far.
The Hall of Champions: Non-Thai Rajadamnern Title Holders
Chronological list updated as of April 14, 2026.
| Fighter | Country | Year | Weight Class |
| Toshio Fujiwara | Japan 🇯🇵 | 1978* | 135 lbs |
| Hitoshi Ogasawara | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2000 | 154 lbs |
| Kozo Takeda | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2001* | 147 lbs |
| Hiroki Ishii | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2011* | 140 lbs |
| Jos Mendonca | Brazil 🇧🇷 | 2013 | 147 lbs |
| Takuya Imamura “T-98” | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2016* | 154 lbs |
| Youssef Boughanem | Morocco 🇲🇦 /Belgium 🇧🇪 | 2016 | 160 lbs |
| Genji Umeno | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2016* | 135 lbs |
| Fabio Pinca | France 🇫🇷 | 2017 | 147 lbs |
| Nadaka Yoshinari | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2019* / 2023* | 105 lbs / 112 lbs |
| Ryuya Okuwaki | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2019 | 105 lbs |
| Shinya Ishige | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2019 | 160 lbs |
| Daniel Rodriguez | Switzerland 🇨🇭 /DR 🇩🇴 | 2023 | 154 lbs |
| Sajad Sattari | Iran 🇮🇷 | 2023 | 147 lbs |
| Isaac “Petchnung” Mohammed | France 🇫🇷 | 2023 | 108 lbs |
| Emerson Bento | Brazil 🇧🇷 | 2023 | 160 lbs |
| Joe Ryan | England 🏴 | 2023 | 160 lbs |
| Erdem Dinçer | Turkey 🇹🇷 | 2023 | 147 lbs |
| Ryuki Matsuda | Japan 🇯🇵 | 2024* | 118 lbs |
| Bárbara Aguiar | Brazil 🇧🇷 | 2025/26 | 118 lbs |
| Marie Ruumet | Estonia 🇪🇪 | 2026 | 112 lbs |
| Egor Bikrev | Russia 🇷🇺 | 2026 | 135 lbs |
*Denotes the title was won outside of Thailand.
Current Non-Thai Champions
With Birkrev’s historic win, there are currently four non-Thai champions reigning over Rajadamnern: Daniel Rodriguez, Bárbara Aguiar, Marie Ruumet, and Egor Birkrev. However, this foreign invasion”could expand rapidly, as the upcoming RWS: April Inferno features three high-stakes title bouts involving international talent.
On Saturday the 18th, Australian powerhouse Chadd Collins faces Dam Parunchai for the 140 lbs Super Lightweight strap. This is a landmark moment for Australian Muay Thai; no fighter from the country has ever held a Rajadamnern title, and Collins will be the first Australian male to challenge for one.
The same card marks the return of the “Chosen One,” as Daniel Rodriguez defends his Super Welterweight crown against Hercules. The Thai challenger previously won the 2024 RWS Welterweight Tournament and is now moving up in weight to dethrone the Swiss champion.
Finally, the April Inferno main event sees former WBC World Champion Salimkhan Ibragimov challenge Middleweight king Petchmorakot. Originally scheduled as an all-Thai clash against Thanachai, an injury forced a change in the lineup. Stepping in on just three weeks’ notice, Ibragimov will look to follow in Birkrev’s footsteps and bring a second Rajadamnern belt back to Russia in a single month.
A New Era of Global Muay Thai
The landscape of Muay Thai is shifting. For decades, the Rajadamnern belt was a fortress that few outsiders could breach, yet the recent surge of international champions suggests that the gap is closing. As Egor Birkrev celebrates his place in the history books, the eyes of the combat sports world turn to the upcoming Inferno card as we will see if this list of foreign legends grow to 23 or 24 by next week.