Dave Leduc

Born in Gatineau, Leduc starting playing baseball at a young age. In 2005, Leduc represented Outaouais in Baseball at the Summer Quebec Games in Amos and won the bronze medal. He also played in the United States as a pitcher. In 2011, at nineteen years old, Leduc was managing a nightclub in Ottawa and owned a limousine company. == Fighting career ==

2009-2015: Martial arts initiation and Prison Fight In 2009, at the age of seventeen, a disagreement with his father forced Leduc to leave his home and live on the streets. Leduc decided to direct his anger into martial arts and joined the martial arts academy of Sifu Patrick Marcil in Gatineau, Quebec. He began learning Sanda, Jeet Kune Do principles, training his headbutts, and hitting the bag bareknuckle while competing in amateur fight nights. Leduc started training and organizing local no-gi grappling tournaments. and having difficulty getting a fight in Myanmar, Leduc went on his first trip to neighboring Thailand to begin his professional career. Leduc fought MMA in Canada and went undefeated in his three amateur fights, winning two of them by submission via guillotine choke. His last win was against Tristar Gym fighter and Georges St-Pierre's protege, Yukinori Akazawa, which he won by unanimous decision. In 2014, Leduc made his pro debut against future UFC welterweight fighter Jonathan Meunier. Having never cut weight as an amateur, Leduc fought at his walking weight 171 lbs. He lost by referee stoppage in the first round and would return to the cage in November 2015 to face future ONE Championship title contender Koyomi Matsushima, this time attempting to drop down to 155 lbs. Matsushima won by referee stoppage in the first round after Leduc was caught by a hammer fist trying to secure a triangle choke. On July 12, 2014, Leduc took part in the controversial Prison Fight in Thailand, where inmates with serious convictions can reduce their sentences and even earn their freedom by winning a series of fights against foreign fighters. Prison Fight is sanctioned by the Thai Department of Corrections and described as a way for inmates to battle their way to an early release. The event took place in the maximum security Klongpai Central Prison, in Nakhon Ratchasima, two hours north of Bangkok. Leduc explained to Argentinian news Infobae the mentality of the inmates at the Prison Fight events, saying: 2016-2017: Championship pursuit and Lethwei in Japan In April 2016, Leduc competed in the 2016 Tiger Muay Thai Tryouts in Phuket, and went on to win a place on the professional fight team, along with teammate Dan Hooker. On August 21, 2016, Leduc was invited to make his Lethwei debut at the 1st Myanmar Lethwei World Championship in Yangon, Myanmar, against Too Too, (34–0) undefeated, 75 kg Lethwei World Champion. Leduc dominated the fight and some furious fans threw projectiles in the ring. The fight ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules. After his dominant performance over Too Too, Leduc challenged Myanmar star Tun Tun Min, at the time, the Openweight Lethwei World Champion, however the Lethwei Golden Belt was not at stake. The match was held at Thein Pyu Stadium and organized by Great Tiger Group. Tun Tun Min was the heavy favorite heading into the fight and dominated the early rounds. Leduc came back and floored Tun Tun Min a few times. The match was closely contested and ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules. After the match, Tun Tun Min was quoted saying that he had ''"difficulties with Dave's control of distance, but that he was confident to put on a better performance in their rematch"'' in December 2016. by U Thein Aung, President of Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation On December 11, 2016, the very anticipated rematch took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship in Yangon, Myanmar. After previously fighting in October to a draw, Tun Tun Min put the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt on the line. The journey to the world title was captured by Canal D as part of the Canadian documentary titled La Fosse aux Tigres which aired in November 2017. The documentary follows Leduc training and traveling to Yangon to win the Lethwei world title. The movie was filmed in Canada, Thailand and Myanmar. , from La Fosse aux Tigres, 2016 On February 16, 2017, for the second event organized by the International Lethwei Federation Japan Leduc headlined Lethwei in Japan 2 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo Dome City, Japan. Leduc defended his title for the first time against veteran Lethwei fighter Phoe Kay. In the first round, Leduc performed a vicious spinning elbow knockout, forcing Phoe Kay's corner to call the permitted time-out. They revived him and the fight continued. In the second round, after several knockdowns, Leduc ended the match by KO, winning his first title defense. The Japanese people loved the brutality and aggression of Lethwei, and more events were announced to be held in Tokyo. at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. On April 18, 2017, for his second title defense, Leduc faced Turkish Australian fighter Adem Yilmaz at Lethwei in Japan 3 in Tokyo, Japan under traditional Lethwei rules. This match was the first Lethwei world title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history. For the occasion, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan was present at the event held in the Korakuen Hall. In the first round, Leduc scored two knockdowns and landed a powerful headbutt in the clinch. In the second round, Leduc dislocated his right index finger in the clinch and was not able to use his right hand the duration of the fight, but managed to land elbows and headbutts on Yilmaz. After five rounds, the fight was declared a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules with Leduc defending the Lethwei Golden Belt. For his third title defense, Leduc was set to face American Veteran Cyrus Washington at Lethwei in Japan 4 in Tokyo, Japan. Washington pulled out of the fight citing a hand injury he sustained during training. Leduc's opponent changed to Muaythai Champion Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym from Thailand. The matchup was billed as Lethwei vs. Muaythai. Leduc made his entrance dressed as the grim reaper at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. In the first round, he landed a headbutt on Nilmungkorn, followed by a right-kick to right-punch move, hitting Nilmungkorn on the jaw forcing him to use his time-out. Leduc ended the match with a knee to the face winning by knockout at 2m:23sec of the second round. "I respect Cyrus a lot, he is a crafty veteran, he has fought some of the best fighters of the sport, but he has never fought anyone like me. I am not like the others, I'm the King of Lethwei and he wants a taste of the crown", Leduc said in an interview. On August 20, 2017, Leduc faced Cyrus Washington inside the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, to defend his openweight Lethwei world title, at the Myanmar Lethwei World Championship. With more than 100 fights on his record, Washington was the more experienced fighter of the two with Leduc having only 22 fights. During Leduc's rise in Lethwei, fans often entertained the idea of a match with Cyrus Washington and pushed for a fight between the two. Having been the only other fighter to score a win over Tun Tun Min, Washington used his time-out and spent remaining of the fight backing up from Leduc and going to the mat upon entering in the clinch trying to protect his lacerated forehead from any further damage. The fight was officially declared a draw under traditional Lethwei rules. On 10 December 2017, Leduc faced former WKN world champion heavyweight kickboxer Corentin Jallon from France. "Fighting him is gonna be like a crocodile bringing a gazelle in the water." Leduc said. Historically, the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship was a kryptonite event for Lethwei champions, Leduc having won the title by defeating Tun Tun Min, who had won it from Saw Nga Man on the same stage. Inside the Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Leduc executed his ceremonial fight dance Lethwei yay, announcing the start of the match. Just before the first exchange, Leduc challenged Jallon with the Lekkha moun. The Frenchman automatically replied with a flurry of punches, which Leduc countered with an elbow counterattack. In the third round, Leduc executed a diving headbutt which landed on Jallon's right eye, drawing blood. In the fourth round, Leduc had Jallon bent over the ropes from trying to avoid a headbutt. Leduc opened deep cuts and heavily used his headbutts in the clinch. The fight was declared a draw according to traditional rules and Leduc retained the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt, marking his fifth consecutive title defence. 2018: Myanmar Lethwei World Championship and Tun Tun Min Trilogy flag at Thein Pyu Stadium, 2018 On 19 August 2018, at the 3rd Myanmar Lethwei World Championship, Leduc returned to face former Rajadamnern Stadium, WPMF and IKF Champion Diesellek TopkingBoxing inside the Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar. The matchup was mediatized as Lethwei vs Muaythai. With more than 200 fights to his record, Diesellek was the more experienced fighter of the two, with Leduc having only 24 fights. For this fight and for the first time in his career, Leduc flew his longtime trainer Sifu Patrick Marcil to Myanmar. Prior to the bout, Leduc said in an interview that he respected Diesellek's left kick, having knocked out current Lumpini Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium champion Youssef Boughanem in brutal manner at Lumpini Stadium in 2012. The fight started with some exchanges in the clinch, with Diesellek trying the first headbutt of the fight which missed and Leduc landing a left uppercut. Leduc continued with a fake right knee, fake left knee, followed by a right elbow, knocking out his opponent. Diesellek's corner called for the allowed injury time-out and woke him up. Leduc won by KO at 2:23 in the first round, marking his sixth title defence. He raised the Myanmar flag and performed the traditional victory dance Lethwei yay. . On December 16, 2018, the very anticipated third match between Tun Tun Min took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship in Yangon. The fight was billed as The Biggest Fight In Lethwei History. The third fight saw Leduc fighting out of the red corner, the first time a foreigner has been able to do so in the history of Lethwei, as it is customary to have non-Burmese fighters come out of the blue corner. Tun Tun Min was fully recovered, but had tremendous difficulty with the distance control of Leduc. At 1:28 seconds of the first round, Leduc landed a headbutt to the temple in the clinch which floored Tun Tun Min, but managed to get up at the count of eight. At the 2:35 of the same round, Leduc landed a jumping elbow that knocked out Tun Tun Min. His team had to call for the 2-minute injury time-out to revive him and attend to a cut above his right eye. The later rounds saw both fighters vying for a finish but ended without another knockout at the final bell and Leduc retained the Lethwei Golden Belt title. 2019–2023: WLC, Lethwei in USA and vacating title In 2017, Leduc had expressed his disagreement with the World Lethwei Championship's usage of the modern Lethwei rules also known as Tournament rules. In 1996, the tournament rules was created by the MTLF and added to some tournaments by removing the controversial injury time-out and adding a decision to determine a winner in the occasion there was no knockout. Leduc announced that he had signed an exclusive contract with the World Lethwei Championship which would make it impossible for him to defend his world titles from other Lethwei organizations. On March 25, 2019, Leduc held a press conference at the Karaweik Palace in Yangon, Myanmar announcing that he was relinquishing three of his four Lethwei world titles. The three titles included the MLWC Title, Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship title and the ILFJ Openweight Lethwei World title, but keeping the Lethwei Golden Belt, therefore remaining the openweight Lethwei World Champion under traditional rules. Leduc became the sports channel ambassador for Canal+ Myanmar. for the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship. Baczynski felt confident leading up to the fight because he had significantly more fighting experience than Leduc. The weigh ins and face-off was officiated by Full Metal Dojo founder Jon Nutt presenting the WLC belt. On August 2, 2019, Leduc landed an elbow strike which exploded Bacynski's left ear and then knocked him out with punches to win the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship. Following his performance, Leduc was invited on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast by Joe Rogan and both men discussed Lethwei. Leduc announced that the WLC had plans to host an event in the United States. On 7 November 2020, Leduc was challenged by American Cyrus Washington for the second and final time to determine who is the best foreign Lethwei fighter. The fight was under traditional Lethwei rules at the Outlaw Saloon in Cheyenne, Wyoming inside a cage and Leduc won the fight by TKO. Leduc retained the Lethwei openweight world title. On January 29, 2023, Leduc officially vacated the openweight Lethwei World Championship title before the fight between Tun Tun Min and Thway Thit Win Hlaing. As soon as the fight started the title was up for grabs. In the event where the champion vacates the title, the two top contenders are required to fight for the belt. In these cases, in order to have a champion, the fight cannot end in a draw, a winner must obligatory be declared even if there is no knockout. Tway Thit Win Hlaing was awarded the title Retirement fight: Kun Khmer rules vs. Prom Samnang In 2023, the World Lethwei Federation agreed for Prom Samnang from Cambodia to challenge Leduc because of his extensive winning streak in Kun Khmer. The match was scheduled to take place in Banská Bystrica, but was cancelled because Samnang was denied a Schengen visa to enter Slovakia. Leduc stated he would compete under Kun Khmer rules out of respect for the host country. Leduc invited the Prime Minister of Cambodia His Excellency Hun Manet to attend his match against Prom Samnang. Manet respond and agreed to meet Leduc when he comes to Kingdom of Cambodia. On November 3, 2023, Leduc and Samnang were invited to the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh to meet with Prime Minister of Cambodia His Excellency Hun Manet. Manet was quoted saying that the match between the two fighters will reflect mutual respect and contribute to strengthen the ties of friendship between Cambodia and Myanmar and that this will raise awareness about Kun Khmer around the world the Cambodian Premier added. The match was referred as historic and the most anticipated fight of the year. On November 5, 2023, Leduc and Samnang fought under Kun Khmer rules, 1 round of 9 minutes with ropes wrapped around their fists. Leduc dominated the majority of the fight and dropped Samnang with an overhand right. The fight was streamed online and watched live by over 15 million people. == The Rise of Lethwei ==

Leduc is considered a pioneer of Lethwei. Leduc is referred to as the King of Lethwei. After winning the world title in 2016, Leduc dedicated his career to Lethwei and has been widely credited for the sport's rise in international popularity. Leduc helped open gyms throughout Myanmar and promoted Lethwei outside of the country. On 8 October 2017, Myint Htwe, the Minister of Health and Sports of Myanmar awarded Leduc with a Certificate of Honor in recognition for his efforts as a proponent of Myanmar's national sport, being on the forefront of Lethwei's expansion internationally. Leduc is known for his elbows and headbutts as well as for his unpredictable and unorthodox style. The majority of Burmese have accepted Leduc and welcomed the idea of having a non-native as the champion of their national sport. Leduc stated that he would compete in ONE under Lethwei rules. ''"I need to stay focused on Lethwei. I like fighting with no gloves and with headbutts: that's my passion"''. In 2020, Leduc became the first Lethwei fighter to make the cover of Karaté Bushido, the oldest magazine dedicated to martial arts in Europe. He followed martial artists such as Bruce Lee (1974), Jean-Claude Van Damme (1993), Bas Rutten (1997), Rickson Gracie (1998), Jackie Chan (2000), Fedor Emelianenko (2007), Georges St-Pierre (2008) and Jérôme Le Banner (2012) and Francis Ngannou (2019). In 2022, Leduc became an ambassador for one of the world's largest online sportsbook 1xBet alongside FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. In 2024, Leduc was inducted in the Chelsea Wall of Fame alongside cyclist Michael Woods and runner Ray Zahab, in a permanent display at the Meredith Centre in Chelsea, Quebec. Instructor lineage Bruce Lee → James DeMile → Jaques Patenaude → Patrick Marcil → Dave Leduc == Personal life ==

Leduc is married and has two sons named Captain (born 2022) and Askari (born 2024). In 2024, Leduc and his family moved to Cambodia. Leduc is a vegan and believes that Veganism is the basis for the bettering of humans. He went initially vegan after watching The Game Changers and realizing it was ‘possible to thrive as an elite athlete on a Plant-based diet’, but believes being vegan is a philosophy 'not a diet'. Wedding In 2016, Leduc met Moldovan writer and model Irina Terehova when she traveled to Thailand. The two had never met before, but after writing a story on Leduc, Terehova decided to leave Canada and meet him in Phuket. In October 2016, Leduc got engaged to Terehova on the Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar. The ceremony was watched by approximately 30 million people in Myanmar which catapulted the couple to superstardom in Myanmar. In February 2023, Leduc and his wife renewed their wedding vows in Iceland in a ceremony officiated by Icelandic witch Sigga Kling. Leduc and his wife wore traditional Icelandic national costumes and the ceremony took place at Álftanesfjara, a sacred beach facing Snæfellsjökull. Despite challenging weather conditions, including a yellow weather warning, the couple proceeded with the ceremony. Charity In 2017, Leduc and his wife started getting involved with orphan children who are affected with HIV and AIDS at the NLD AIDS Center in Myanmar, bringing food treats, as well as undisclosed donations. In 2021 and 2025, Leduc campaigned on social media to raise awareness and raised money for people who were victims of Myanmar military coup and the 2025 Myanmar earthquake. == Controversy ==

Burmese bank note Bank note with Leduc. In 2018, Leduc posted a fan art on social media, showing of a 1000-kyats note with a picture of him suggesting that the Central Bank of Myanmar was issuing a sports celebratory note with him on it. The announcement outraged the population in Myanmar because of the sensitive nature of the issue. The post sparked considerable backlash from the Muaythai and combat sports community. In a letter, the Myanmar Lethwei Federation explained that Muaythai promoters made a complaint about Leduc. Prominent Thai Muaythai promoter Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong urged the MLF to reprimand Leduc. The MLF judged that Leduc had "committed personal attacks" on Buakaw Banchamek and Muaythai history, potentially "tarnishing the relationship between Myanmar and Thailand". The federation issued Leduc a two-year ban on Lethwei competitions under their federation. Leduc made fun of the Muay Thai folklore figure Nai Khanom Tom for being captured by Burmese troops during the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767). In May 2021, the Ministry of Culture of Thailand blacklisted Leduc from entering Thailand. In May 2023, Leduc accused "Thai spies" of poisoning him after eating at a Thai restaurant in Turkey. After his speech, while Leduc was giving an interview, multiple agents of the SPVM police force started to surround him and detained him. Leduc received a fine of 1546 CAD$ for not wearing a facial covering outside. In 2021, Leduc had become a leading activist opposing the health measures surrounding COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec. In May, the government-sponsored media Radio-Canada commissioned a documentary to better understand the dissident movement led by Leduc and three other Quebec personalities that rejected the measures imposed by the government. The documentary was a finalist for the Prix Gémeaux. In 2022, Leduc was featured in the study conducted the UNESCO Chairs in Quebec entitled "The conspiracy movement in Quebec: Leaders, discourses and adherence" presented to the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation. == Television ==

The Amazing Race Canada In 2019, before headlining WLC 9, Leduc competed with his wife Irina Terehova on The Amazing Race Canada Season 7. The couple made it clear that they weren't on the show for the prize money or to make friends, it was apparently Leduc's desire since teenage to compete on the show. Undoubtedly the most controversial seasons of the Canadian franchise, Dave & Irina became the most notorious villains the franchise has known, while being practically unbeatable for the entire season. The couple outraged a lot of viewers and were deemed "un-Canadian". They fell out of favour of viewers and fellow racers for their cutthroat way of racing, copying an answer at the Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park and stealing cabs in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The couple later revealed receiving death threats when the show aired. They generated a remarkable amount of hate from Canadian viewers for referring to other contestants as peasants. After arriving first in Edmonton, Alberta, Leduc said ''"We'll let the peasants fight for last place."'', which became the title of episode 3. In the first episode of the season, in Kamloops, British Columbia, the couple quickly stood out and became the season's villains after trash-talking Canada's Choice Jet & Dave. Jet told Leduc about being a firefighter which he replied ''"That's great because you will be back there next week."'', which ended up being true. In the fifth episode, in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, the remaining contestants teamed up and tried send the Quebec couple home, but as Leduc said, it was a "drastic failure." Dave and Irina led the charge out of Thunder Bay to Wolfville, Nova Scotia, but faltered at the apple sorting challenge and were eventually the last team to meet host Jon Montgomery at the mat at Luckett Vineyards. == Filmography ==

== Championships and accomplishments ==

Championships • Lethwei World Champion • Openweight Lethwei Golden Belt • Nine successful title defenses Vacated in 2023 • Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship • Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship 2016, 2017 & 2018 • Two successful title defenses Vacated in 2019 • International Lethwei Federation Japan • ILFJ Openweight World Championship (1 time, inaugural) Vacated in 2019 • Myanmar Lethwei World Championship • MLWC Openweight World Championship (1 time) Vacated in 2019 • World Lethwei Championship • WLC Cruiserweight World Championship (1 time, inaugural) • Sparta Sports and Entertainment • Sparta Lethwei Championship Awards, records, and honours • Lethwei • First non-Burmese Golden Belt champion • Certificate of honor awarded by Myint Htwe, Minister of Health and Sports of Myanmar • 2024 Chelsea Wall of Fame Inductee • 2019 Fight of the Year • Lethwei World • 2019 Lethwei Person of the Year • 2019 Event of the Year • Asian Academy Awards • 2019 Best Sport Program - National Winner {{cite web|url=https://www.asianacademycreativeawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Full-List-of-National-Winners-by-Categories.pdf == Lethwei record ==

== Mixed martial arts record ==