At just 16, Malia Weaver has already built a life around Muay Thai that stretches from the United States to Thailand, supported by her family’s sacrifices and her own determination to succeed.
The American phenom began practicing martial arts at 4 years old before developing into an amateur champion and undefeated professional fighter.
Her dedication eventually brought her to Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, where she trains alongside established ONE Championship stars while pursuing her own World Title ambitions.
Now, Weaver is set to make her promotional debut against Canada’s Olivia “Diamond” Bahsous in women’s atomweight Muay Thai at The Inner Circle 35 on Friday, October 16, streaming live in Asia primetime for subscribers at live.onefc.com from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
From Karate To Her First Muay Thai Victory
Weaver grew up in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by sports and physical activity. She began karate at just 4 years old and discovered Muay Thai in 2020, bringing years of martial arts experience into a new discipline.
Her mother works as a personal trainer, while her father has a boxing background. However, Weaver became the first member of the family to pursue martial arts as competition.
She said:
“I’m the first one to compete in it. I’ve had other family members who have done it as a workout and stuff like that, but I’m the first to actually take this to the next level and take it seriously.”
Her family later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where she continued developing her skills at Chonburi Muay Thai.
While Weaver loved training, she at first felt embarrassed telling other children she practiced Muay Thai, especially when more familiar sports such as basketball and baseball were popular among her peers.
Despite those feelings, Weaver developed a love for competition. She made her amateur debut at 10 years old, earning an early finish that remains one of her fondest memories.
Weaver said:
“I remember that in the first round, I TKO’d her within the first 30 seconds. So it was really nice. I knew that was kind of where my journey started.”
A Two-Week Trip That Sparked Her Love For Thailand
Training at Chonburi Muay Thai introduced Weaver to the possibility of visiting Thailand, the birthplace of the sport she had grown to love.
Her former gym organized annual trips to the country, but she hesitated because no family members would accompany her. Her parents, however, encouraged her to embrace the opportunity.
She said:
“My parents pushed me to do it. They were like, ‘You need to go. It’s only for two weeks.’
“So I ended up going on that first trip, and since then, I fell in love with it. I just keep coming back.”
Weaver traveled with her team for a two-week visit that included intensive training and opportunities to compete.
The American youngster immersed herself in Thailand’s Muay Thai culture, watching her teammates fight while experiencing the country’s deep connection to the sport.
She said:
“I remember when we came here, we pretty much trained every single day. There were about 10 of us who fought, and every day, one of us was fighting.
“It was just really cool to see real Muay Thai, the culture, and how real Muay Thai is here in Thailand.”
Her growing competitive achievements also reflected that dedication.
In 2024, Weaver captured a title at the TBA Classic World Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, marking a significant milestone in her amateur career.
Her journey also took her into professional competition in Thailand, where she remains undefeated. Facing an experienced Thai opponent in her first professional bout proved memorable.
Weaver said:
“Then my first pro fight was here in Thailand, and I remember that fight so well. I was really proud of myself in that fight because, obviously, when you fight a Thai person, they have so many fights because they live and breathe Muay Thai compared to me.”
Building A Life Between Thailand And The United States
Weaver’s first visit to Thailand had been organized alongside her teammates, with coaches and familiar faces accompanying her throughout the trip.
Her next major adventure required a different level of independence. With little time to prepare, she decided to travel overseas on her own, unsure of how long she would stay or what opportunities might develop.
She said:
“I found out five days before I was supposed to come to Thailand that I was leaving for Thailand.
“It was my first time ever coming with no one. Having to pack my whole life in five days, I didn’t know when I was coming back or what opportunities I could have gotten. I kind of just went there, and I was going to see what happened.”
Pursuing her ambitions abroad has also required sacrifices from her family.
Her parents invested considerable time and resources in supporting her development, even selling homemade drinks to help fund training trips to Thailand.
Weaver said:
“It takes a lot of sacrifice to let me come to Thailand and train for so long and just keep living my dreams because, when you’re first starting, it’s not cheap.
“But in the U.S., in order for me to make money to come to Thailand, I do nails. I want to be able to come here and stay here for a long period of time.”
From Training With ONE Stars To Living Her Dream
Weaver’s commitment brought her to Fairtex Training Center in Pattaya, where she found herself surrounded by athletes competing on the very stage she hoped to reach.
Training alongside experienced ONE Championship stars has strengthened her confidence and accelerated her development. Among those who have helped her is former three-sport ONE World Champion Stamp Fairtex, with whom Weaver has sparred.
She said:
“I train with a lot of ONE fighters. At Fairtex Training Center, we have a fight team, and it’s pretty much filled with ONE fighters.
“I’m really thankful that I get to train with them, and they don’t take it easy on me. They really push me.”
Even small interactions with established stars carried special meaning.
The American teenager remembers when former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty noticed a video of her hitting pads on social media.
She said:
“This was a while ago, but Jonathan Haggerty actually liked one of my posts, and I was like, ‘Wow, this is crazy.’”
Social media became another important part of her rise, allowing her to share her training progress and connect with martial arts fans worldwide.
As her following grew, Weaver discussed her ambition to compete in ONE. Supporters responded, helping generate interest in a potential matchup with Bahsous.
Now, her promotional debut marks the next step toward the World Title she has long dreamed of winning.
Weaver said:
“My biggest dream is to be in ONE Championship, have that belt, and just keep being an active fighter.”