UFC Champ Coach Thinks Wiz Khalifa Is Ready for Amateur Muay Thai Fights
Wiz Khalifa may be best known for making hits, but John Wood thinks the rapper could make some noise in the Muay Thai ring, too. After working with Khalifa in training, the respected MMA coach believes amateur or regional opponents could have a rough night if “Wiz the fighter” ever decides to lace up for real.
“I’ve had a few sessions with Wiz Khalifa and man that guy is legit,” Wood said during an appearance with Home of Fight’s Jake Noecker. “If he decides to take on some amateur or regional fights that dude is going to kick some serious ass.”
Wood’s opinion carries weight in MMA circles. The Syndicate MMA owner and head coach has worked with UFC champions including Merab Dvalishvili and Zhang Weili, while his Las Vegas gym has long housed high-level UFC talent.
Wiz Khalifa In Muay Thai
Wiz Khalifa has spent years training Muay Thai, and the footage has gone well beyond a celebrity trying pads for a viral clip. His long frame, kicking range and comfort switching between punches, knees and kicks have been visible in sessions shared online.
His work with Superlek Kiatmoo9 has brought the most attention. In 2022, Superlek met Wiz Khalifa during a U.S. seminar tour alongside Muay Thai icon Saenchai, and the Thai star came away impressed by what he saw.
“He came to learn Muay Thai with me at the seminar. I taught him a few of my techniques,” Superlek said. “His basics are good because he exercises regularly. He is also a fan of Muay Thai and used to practice this sport.”
Superlek said Khalifa’s stance and attacking choices showed he could fight, adding that the rapper was “not an ordinary amateur.” At the time, Superlek had 132 professional wins and four Muay Thai world titles on his resume.
The relationship continued in 2023, when Khalifa trained with Superlek at Unbreakable Gym in Los Angeles. The session included work on boxing-to-knee combinations, elbow strikes, clinch positions and escaping a caught kick. Khalifa later traveled to Phuket, Thailand, where he trained and sparred with Superlek at AKA Thailand. Superlek was then the ONE flyweight kickboxing champion and ONE bantamweight Muay Thai champion, so the session gave Khalifa time with one of the sport’s top active competitors.
A regional Muay Thai contest would be the sensible first step if he chose that route. It would reveal how his technique holds up when an opponent fires back with intent, and whether the rapper can keep the same calm he has shown in training. For now, Khalifa has no announced fight, but Wood and Superlek have both seen enough to suggest that “Wiz the fighter” is more than a fun idea.
