Tuan was the only Vietnamese presentative to compete in the 68 kg category. He faced off against three strong foreign rivals - Mahmoud Ali Moussa of the UK, Mochamed Emin Machaev of Uzbekistan, and Mikhail Baranov of Russia.

The Vietnamese fighter defeated all three of them to win the title, with the impressive victory earning Tuan a cash prize of US$5,000.

This year the competition has been organised under the new format for the first time to involve two weight categories - 60 and 68 kg. In each category, four athletes who are members of world famous Muay Thai clubs took part in three-round knockout-format bouts. The two winners then advanced to the final.

"This format is called muay marathon because athletes have to fight two matches in one day. If he wants to take the trophy he has to win both," said Giap Trung Thang, general secretary of the HCM City Muay Thai Federation.

Along with the four-man competition, there were also six bouts held between Vietnamese and foreign fighters.

The MTR: One King - Victory in Pride was organised by the HCM City Muay Thai Federation and Shadow Entertainment.