Two-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai stands on the precipice of securing the life-changing six-figure contract that would validate every sacrifice made throughout his remarkable journey. The man known as "Left Meteorite" brings his four-bout winning streak back to Bangkok's legendary Lumpinee Stadium on December 19 at ONE Friday Fights 137, where he faces PTT Apichart Farm with title aspirations and financial security hanging in the balance. Victory, particularly by knockout, could finally deliver the ONE Championship contract he's pursued relentlessly for the past several years. But the path from his impoverished childhood in rural Surin to the doorstep of martial arts immortality represents more than just athletic achievement. It’s a story of survival, sacrifice, and the unwavering determination to lift his family from the desperate poverty that defined his earliest years.

A Poor Child’s Dream Is Born

Kulabdam grew up in Surin, a rural province in Northeastern Thailand that couldn't have been further removed from the bustling economy and modern infrastructure of Bangkok. While Thailand's capital enjoyed elevated rapid transit systems and economic prosperity, the young boy and his family struggled daily just to find enough food to survive. His mother and father worked as rice farmers who relied entirely on unpredictable rainfall to irrigate their crops, meaning some years produced enough yield to sustain their family of seven while other years brought frightening scarcity and hunger.

The extreme poverty forced Kulabdam and his siblings to forage for food alongside their parents, searching for anything edible that could supplement their meager rice harvests. But everything started to change when an eight-year-old Kulabdam attended a local temple fair and watched another kid from his village compete in Muay Thai.

The excitement of watching that fight sparked something inside him that wouldn't be extinguished. He rushed home and begged his father for permission to train, but his dad initially refused, worried his son would get hurt. Kulabdam proved stubborn and persistent, eventually wearing down his father's resistance. Through a friend who loved the sport and trained a few children at his house, the young boy finally got his chance to learn "the art of eight limbs.”

"My dad had a friend who had a few kids training at his house. He wasn't an accomplished fighter or anything like that, he just really loved the sport," Kulabdam said. "We didn't have the resources to train properly, just a couple of bags that were hung from trees. We trained in the dirt, and didn't have a ring either.”

Early Success To Teenage Crisis: Losing Focus On The Road

Kulabdam picked up Muay Thai quickly despite the primitive training conditions, winning his first fight after just one month of haphazardly structured preparation and earning 150 baht –approximately five dollars, which felt like a fortune to a boy from such desperate poverty. He continued finding success over the following years, dreaming of one day competing at Bangkok's prestigious Lumpinee Stadium while sharing his modest earnings with friends and family who needed every baht he could contribute.

By age 13, Kulabdam's success in the ring meant he could seriously consider professional fighting as a viable career path. His purses increased, allowing him to help support his struggling family while pursuing his athletic ambitions. However, the constant travel around Thailand's Muay Thai heartland of Isaan for several matches per month became exhausting. The teenage fighter began losing his drive and focus, barely training while prioritizing time with friends over his career. A devastating five-bout losing skid showed him exactly where that path led – watching his life deteriorate before his eyes.

Fortunately, Kulabdam's father intervened at precisely the right moment. Through mutual connections, the 15-year-old was sent to Bangkok to train under the watchful eye of Olympic boxing gold medalist Somrak Kamsing, who was also a successful Muay Thai fighter himself. Somrak helped the southpaw harness the devastating knockout power in his left hand, solidifying the "Left Meteorite" nickname that would define his career. But even this dream opportunity couldn't overcome Kulabdam's deep unhappiness with big-city life and the structured schedule that felt suffocating compared to his rural upbringing.

"Bangkok is chaotic, and the schedule was too structured for me. It was such a big change and I wasn't happy," Kulabdam said. "I wanted to go home, but I had a fight booked at Lumpinee Stadium. It was my dream to fight there, I trained really hard and won by knockout. Right after the fight, I went home. Somrak called asking for me to come back, but I told him I couldn't live in Bangkok.”

Finding Success In Rural Surroundings

Somrak Kamsing still saw tremendous potential in his young protégé despite the setback, and he granted Kulabdam's wish, but with a twist. Rather than allowing him to return home completely, Somrak arranged for the teenager to continue his development at Sor Jor Piek Uthai gym in the distant Uthai Thani province. The rural environment provided the comfort and familiarity Kulabdam craved while maintaining the professional training structure necessary to reach elite levels. The change in scenery re-energized the young fighter, and he truly began to prosper.

Kulabdam's career soared to heights nobody from his impoverished background could have imagined possible. In 2016, he became a household name throughout Thailand after an incredible streak of knockouts at Channel 7 Stadium – many delivered by his devastating straight left hand. The accolades followed rapidly: Thailand's prestigious Sports Writers Award in 2017, followed by a pair of Lumpinee Stadium belts in different weight classes over the next few years.

Finally, in 2019, Kulabdam stepped onto the global stage with his ONE Championship debut, defeating Bobo "The Panther" Sacko and announcing his arrival to international audiences. He continued competing for various promotions over the following years, but since 2023, his focus has centered entirely on ONE Friday Fights and the pursuit of that life-changing six-figure contract.

Now, riding a four-fight winning streak and facing PTT Apichart Farm at the venue where he once fulfilled his childhood dream, "Left Meteorite" stands ready to transform opportunity into reality and finally secure the financial future his family deserves.

"I am so happy to finally get to compete with ONE," Kulabdam said. "I have been hoping for this opportunity for a long time."