Born as Sombat Banchamek (Thai: สมบัติ บัญชาเมฆ) in Surin,[2] Thailand, Buakaw started his fighting career at the age of eight in his home province of Surin in the northeastern Thailand. He moved to Chachoengsao when he was 15, and since then he has been with the Por. Pramuk Gym.[3] His first fight name was Damtamin Kiat-anan.