Prior to the 2004 k-1 max Buakaw was little known outside of Thailand. He had collected several belts fighting in Bangkok but the 70kg weight class in Thailand is a much thinner talent pool and most of the fighters that end up at this weight had their hay days lighter, and, in their early 20’s. Buakaws highest ranking was number 2 in the famed Lumpinee stadium and at the time, he would have been small for the 70kg division, especially with the Japanese weighing in fighters 48 hours before their bouts at this time. This would have given some of the westerners a big physical advantage as they would have cut a lot of weight, and then rehydrated and eaten over those 48 hours, to be much bigger then the 70kg weigh in limit. The first K-1 MAX was in 2002 and won by Dutch fighter Albert Kraus, the 2nd in 2003 was won by beloved Japanese fighter Masato, who defeated previous winner Kraus in their rematch by KO, was the tournament favourite. Buakaw went on to win in dominant fashion setting him on route to becoming the household name he is today.