Dmitri Ramos Spent Years In The Shadows Before Finally Getting His Shot
Every fighter has an origin story. Dmitri Ramos built his out of the exact thing that once made him feel powerless.
The 26-year-old American makes his ONE Championship debut against Thai veteran Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn in a bantamweight Muay Thai co-main event at The Inner Circle 26, streaming live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, August 14.
Growing up in Colorado, Ramos was a quiet kid who was regularly picked on, and at 15 he turned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu simply to stop feeling like a target.
Wrestling and Western boxing followed at Easton Training Center, and Ramos initially saw striking as just one piece of a bigger mixed martial arts dream.
“I envisioned the MMA belt, but then my life took a whole different turn of events, and I just gave myself to it. I’m reaping the rewards of that decision now,” he said.
A coach’s honest assessment that his stand-up wasn’t ready changed everything. Ramos found a mentor in JD Hardwick, even living with him for months of daily training, before eventually leaving Colorado entirely to chase Muay Thai at its source in Thailand.
“I’ve been intertwined with the promotion and crossed paths with so many individuals. I knew my time was coming sooner or later. I’ve just been kind of lurking in the shadows. Not a lot of people know who I am, but I’ve been waiting for the opportunity,” he said.
That patience was tested hard at Sor Dechapan, where a loss to veteran Phet Uthong Or.Kwanmuang forced him to confront real nerves for the first time. He answered in the rematch with a third-round spinning elbow finish that finally put his name on ONE’s radar.
“Against a fighter like that, with that pedigree, hundreds of fights, that was my first real test. I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not just fighting people anymore. I’m fighting the real deal,'” he said.
“I’m going to be honest, I was so scared the first time. But I am very good at adapting mentally. I truly believe I can mentally match any obstacle that is put in front of me.”
Years of being overlooked have built toward this exact moment, and Ramos intends to make sure nobody walks away from Lumpinee Stadium still unaware of his name.
READ MORE: Natalia Diachkova Isn’t Asking For A ONE World Title Shot, She’s Demanding One Back
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