Tiago Baader Faces American Luke Hayes at Rajadamnern Stadium This Friday

Tiago Baader will take another significant step in his international journey this Friday, October 2. The Brazilian faces American Luke Hayes in one of the bouts at Rajadamnern Knockout, an event held at Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The fight is officially scheduled in the Light Heavyweight division.

Baader arrives at this matchup with extensive experience in Muay Thai. A champion of Attack Fight, the fighter from Santa Catarina has built his career competing in some of Brazil's top events and has a long-standing relationship with Thailand, where he has returned for a new training and competition period.

The Brazilian is currently training at Manop Gym in Chiang Mai. This stay represents a new phase in a journey Baader knows well. Between 2023 and 2024, he spent 11 months in Thailand, during which he fought nine times and secured six victories, including a knockout win at Rajadamnern Stadium.

His Thai experience also led Baader to compete in Thai Fight, further enhancing the international resume of an athlete who has surpassed 80 fights throughout his career, according to his team.

From Training in Santa Catarina to the Rings of Thailand

In addition to his fighting career, Tiago Baader plays a crucial role in training new athletes in Brazil. He is a coach and one of the key figures at Jaraguá Thai Boxing, a gym in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina.

Baader's connection to the team goes beyond sports representation. Official records from Attack Fight identify him as a representative of Jaraguá Thai Boxing, while local sources have long presented him as both a teacher and athlete of the gym. Currently, Tiago also serves as one of the legal representatives of Jaraguá Thai Boxing.

In September, Baader returned to Thailand accompanied by other athletes from his team for an immersion period in Muay Thai. The group includes fighters who traveled for both training and competition. In recent statements, Baader also emphasized his role as a coach during this international experience.

His history with Attack Fight is equally significant. Baader won the 71 kg title in 2021 by defeating Taygre Yuri via technical knockout and later defended the title in Jaraguá do Sul. The official website of the event lists the Brazilian among its champions.

Luke Hayes Arrives After Knockout Victory

On the other side will be Luke Hayes, representing the United States and confirmed as Baader's opponent on the card this Friday. The official Rajadamnern page records the matchup between Hayes and Tiago Eduardo Baader in the Light Heavyweight division.

Hayes comes into this fight following a victorious debut in the circuit. On July 28, the American made his first appearance at Rage MMA and defeated Khavazh Iriskhanov by knockout in the second round.

In the identification presented by the event, Iriskhanov is listed as representing France, as indicated by the French flag associated with the fighter's name.

This result places Hayes against a considerably more experienced opponent this Friday. While the American looks to build on his positive start, Baader arrives backed by years of competition, titles in Brazil, and accumulated experience in Thai rings.

Return to Rajadamnern

The fight venue also holds particular significance for Tiago Baader. Rajadamnern Stadium is part of the Brazilian's history in Thailand and was the site of one of his victories during his long stay in the country between 2023 and 2024.

Opened in Bangkok and directly associated with the history of professional Muay Thai, the stadium regularly hosts Thai and foreign athletes in various events. For the October 2 card, the official organization lists Baader against Hayes among the international bouts of the night.

This matchup also marks the continuation of the current phase of the Santa Catarina athlete's journey in Thailand. Baader returned to the country this second semester with members of Jaraguá Thai Boxing and has been balancing training, coaching duties, and new competitive commitments.

For the Brazilian, it will be another opportunity to test his experience in one of the most traditional venues of the sport. For Luke Hayes, the bout represents a step up in challenge against an opponent accustomed to high-level fights and the competitive Thai environment.

Tiago Baader vs. Luke Hayes takes place this Friday, October 2, 2026, at Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, in the Light Heavyweight division of Rajadamnern Knockout.