Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar holds the record for most time spent fighting in the Octagon, at 337 minutes. By contrast, Evolve MMA trainer and 2011 Lumpinee Fighter of the Year, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, has had 419 fights. In fact, Sam-A has more wins at 364, than anyone has minutes in the Octagon.

Sam-A is renowned for his defense, counter striking, and above all for what many call the fastest kicks in the history of the sport. It took a lifetime.

Sam-A was inspired by watching Muay Thai on television, and began fighting in 1992, at the age of 9. By 2000 he was fighting at the twin meccas of Muay Thai, Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadiums. In 2004 he became the Lumpinee champion in the super flyweight (112-115) division.

By the end of the decade, he was one of the greatest fighters in the sport.

Compensation in combat sports varies enormously. Floyd Mayweather made $220,000,000 vs. Manny Pacquiao; thats more than the entire cumulative career earnings of Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods combined. UFC fighters are widely considered to be underpaid; the 500 fighter roster starts at $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win, with an additional $2,500 from Reebok.

By contrast, only a few top Muay Thai fighters can make 100,000 baht per fight. That’s roughly $3,000. Sam-A is one of the small elite that can command up to $3,000 per fight; the short money stands as a further testament to his dedication.

The story has a hard, hard, hard beginning, and it has a happy ending. Sam-A is now one of the coaches at Singapore’s Evolve MMA. Evolve coaches receive free corporate housing, and monthly compensation of up to $15,000, among the highest in the world.

Evolve fighters in return receive instruction that is among the greatest in the world, some say the best. Here coach Sam-A does 50 full power kicks in 20 seconds. His speed is such that the camera can barely capture it, and remember, these are full power Thai kicks.