Clinch fighting permitted — fundamental to Muay Thai; Knees + elbows in clinch are legal and heavily scored; Sweeps from clinch (without slamming) are legal
Why people argue about this
People often assume that clinching in Muay Thai is strictly about holding opponents without realizing it's more about controlling them with strikes while maintaining balance. They think you're only allowed to hold briefly for a defensive advantage, but actually, it’s encouraged as long as you don’t slam or hold too aggressively and keep the fight moving with strikes.
