13-year-old Carlsbad teen dominates American Muay Thai and heads to world championships

Maddie Kaufman, a top female Muay Thai fighter under 100 pounds, will represent the U.S. at the IFMA World Championships in Greece.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:43pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric planes in vibrant colors that capture the dynamic movements and energy of a young Muay Thai fighter.A young Muay Thai prodigy's path to the world stage is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration that deconstructs her powerful kicks and strikes.Carlsbad Today

Maddie Kaufman, a 13-year-old from Carlsbad, California, is considered the top female Muay Thai fighter under 100 pounds in North America. She will represent the United States at the IFMA World Championships in Greece later this year after recently winning the National Juniors in Delaware.

Why it matters

Muay Thai is not yet an Olympic sport, but the IFMA World Championships are considered the closest thing to the Olympics for the sport. Kaufman's success could pave the way for her to potentially compete in the Olympics if Muay Thai is added in the future.

The details

Kaufman only started taking Muay Thai seriously about three years ago, but she now owns a slew of championship belts. She was given the opportunity to fight in a weight class and age group above her own because there was no one in her normal bracket, and she ended up winning the whole competition. Kaufman trains six days a week at the Elite Kickboxing Studio in Vista, where she also helps train younger kids.

  • Kaufman started taking Muay Thai seriously about 3 years ago.
  • Kaufman recently won the National Juniors in Delaware.
  • Kaufman will represent the U.S. at the IFMA World Championships in Greece in November 2026.

The players

Maddie Kaufman

A 13-year-old Muay Thai fighter from Carlsbad, California, who is considered the top female fighter under 100 pounds in North America.

Ahmad Ibrahim

Kaufman's Muay Thai coach at the Elite Kickboxing Studio in Vista, California.

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What they’re saying

“I was given the opportunity to fight a weight class above and an age class above because there was nobody in my normal bracket, so I decided to do it, just for the practice, and I ended up winning the whole thing.”

— Maddie Kaufman

“You speak to Maddie and she's very soft, very quiet, very timid.”

— Ahmad Ibrahim, Elite Muay Thai coach

“That's the closest thing we have to the Olympics, and that federation is recognized by the Olympic committee, so God-willing, in the next five, six years, when Muay Thai does come to the Olympics, Maddie will be on a cereal box.”

— Ahmad Ibrahim, Elite Muay Thai coach

What’s next

Kaufman will continue training, especially focusing on using her elbows, as she prepares to represent the U.S. at the IFMA World Championships in Greece in November 2026.

The takeaway

Kaufman's success in Muay Thai at such a young age highlights the potential for the sport to gain more recognition and possibly become an Olympic event in the future. Her journey could inspire other young athletes to pursue their passions in lesser-known sports.