Yodtongthai Sor.Sommai

Piyawat Bungna (Thai: ปิยวัฒน์ บุงนา; born 19 April 1993), also known as Yodtongthai Sor.Sommai (Thai: ยอดทองไท ส.สมหมาย) is a Thai Muay Thai fighter. He currently trains and fights out of Sor.Sommai gym in the Bang Kapi District of Bangkok. As of December 2021, Yodtongthai is ranked 22 at Lightweight by the World Muay Thai Organization (WMO) after over a year out of the ring. He is nicknamed as "The Classic Cat With 9 Lives" since his fighting style is similar to that of past Muay Thai fighters as well as his success after returning from a hiatus in 2016.

Biography and career

Bungna was born in Bang Kaeo District, Phatthalung Province on April 19, 1993. He began his Muay Thai career at around 5–6 years old. He fights under the ring name of Yodthongthai. He won his first prestigious championship in 2007 after beating Thanonchai Thanakorngym for the Rajadamnern junior bantamweight title and won the Rajadamnern flyweight title in 2009. He formerly trained out of and represented the Por.Telakun, T.M.B. Gym, and Kiatjaroenchai Muay Thai camps. He is primarily an orthodox stance fighter.

Yodthongthai cemented his status as a well-known fighter in the Thai Muay Thai circuit in 2014 when he had a successful series of fights against those who were considered star fighters such as Saen Parunchai for a 2 million baht side-bet and Yutthakan Phet.Por.Tor.Or before taking a 14-month hiatus. When he resumed his Muay Thai career in 2016, he was still matched up against other yodmuay (elite fighters) such as Phetmorakot Teeded99 and Thappabut SitUbon and was able to beat them. He was nicknamed by the Thai media as "The Classic Cat With 9 Lives" (แมวเก้าชีวิตจอมคลาสสิค) in reference to his "Muay Classic" fighting style which resembles that of Muay Fimeu fighters from the 1980s to 1990s and also due to his successes after returning from his first hiatus.

In 2018, his performance as a fighter declined, thus he lost four fights in a row and caused audiences to doubt that he could return to his former status as a yodmuay. However, in 2019, Yodthongthai had another successful run against highly regarded opponents including Duamsompong Jitmuangnon, Jompichit Chuwattana, and Kochasan Wor.Wiwattanawanon. He took another hiatus from Muay Thai in mid 2020 due to COVID-19 quarantine protocols in Thailand. He temporarily worked as a fruit vendor behind the Koh Suea Temple in the Hat Yai District where his business was supported by Muay Thai fans. He later began training in and representing the Sor.Sommai gym in Bangkok, becoming teammates with Saeksan Or. Kwanmuang and Kongthoranee Sor.Sommai. After he returned from his second hiatus, he won the Rajadamnern lightweight championship in late 2020.

Yodthongchai is currently a father to Nong Aomsin, his daughter.

He began competing in the Muay Thai division of ONE Championship in late 2023, meaning that he would be fighting under a different scoring system and ruleset as opposed to the traditional Muay Thai style that he competed in for most of his career. After losing to the Lebanese Omar El Halabi in his first ONE Championship fight, he revised his fighting style for their rematch in February 2024. He defended against most of El Halabi's strikes and consistently threw counters, eventually resulting in a TKO victory by way of punches. Yodthongthai was rewarded a ฿350,000 bonus for the win, the largest sum of money he has received in his 25-year-long Muay Thai career. He divided the bonus to his parents, his debts, and his daughter's future scholarship.

He is currently fighting between 128 and 141 pounds (58 and 64 kg).