10 Weirdest UFC Fighting Styles
4. Muay Boran
What is Muay Boran? I hear you say.
Well, the style - in fighting terms - is known as the father of Muay Thai and was the default way of practising the art before it became an official combat sport. With that comes some distinct differences that made the martial art difficult to perform competitively, including more ground based combat and hands wrapped in hemp rope to inflict more damage.
In terms of fighters implementing the style in the Octagon, the most famous owner of Muay Boran traits would be Anthony 'Showtime'' Pettis.
Pettis would land a Muay Boran style off-the-cage kick - which he dubbed a 'Showtime Kick' - to land him the WEC Lightweight belt. It may not have been in the UFC but it's too impressive to leave out.
His trainer, Duke Roufus, admitted that the kick derived from the 'old school Muay Thai techniques', alluding to Muay Boran.
An official Muay Boran fighter Pettis is not, but the infusion of the traditional essence of the style helped create a KO for the ages.