Shimon Yoshinari Predicts Quick Finish Of Ramadan Ondash At The Inner Circle 38
Shimon Yoshinari carries more than his own ambitions into the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Grand Prix. The Japanese contender believes he is fighting for his entire country.
The #4-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender meets #5-ranked Ramadan “The Scorpion” Ondash in a quarterfinal at The Inner Circle 38 on Friday, November 13. The bout takes place at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium and streams exclusively for members at live.onefc.com.
The 22-year-old Yokohama native is 6-0 in ONE and earned a US$100,000 contract along the way. Most recently, he stopped Suablack Tor Pran49 in the second round at ONE SAMURAI 3 in September.
His cousin and Eiwa Sports Gym teammate is reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka Yoshinari. Rather than feeling overshadowed, Shimon uses that example as motivation to build his own legacy.
Winning the tournament would bring the silver belt and the undisputed ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title. National pride, though, drives him even more.
“I got selected as a Japanese representative, so I have to show the strength of Japan. I also want to show the strength of a member of Eiwa Sports Gym and win this championship,” Shimon said.
Many fans see the matchup with Ondash as a clash of similar high-volume strikers. Shimon rejects that idea completely.
“What I am superior in compared to Ramadan is everything other than speed,” he said.
“When you talk about what separates me from him, or what’s different between us, I’d say everything. I don’t see anything similar between him and me.”
The winner meets either Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon or Nong-O Hama in the semifinals. Shimon would welcome either legend, but admits that facing Rodtang would be more entertaining.
Reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Asadula “The Dagestan Ninja” Imangazaliev defends his belt against Aslamjon “El Pantera” Ortikov in another quarterfinal at The Inner Circle 39 on November 20.
For now, Shimon respects Ondash’s speed and power but remains confident in his preparation.
“Ramadan has his speed, his power, and he is dangerous. But if I can execute what I have trained for in this fight, I’m going to be the one who has the advantage,” Shimon said.
“If I can do what I have planned, it will be a fight that easily ends.”
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