‘I’m Gonna Make Him Drown’ – Dmitri Ramos Plots Epic ONE Debut Against Gingsanglek At The Inner Circle 26
Dmitri Ramos has spent years believing his golden opportunity would eventually arrive. Now that the global spotlight has finally found him, the American striker fully intends to make sure nobody forgets his name.
The 26-year-old Colorado native makes his highly anticipated ONE Championship debut against Thai veteran Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn at The Inner Circle 26. The bantamweight Muay Thai showdown broadcasts live in Asia primetime from Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, August 14, streaming exclusively on live.onefc.com.
For Ramos, the high-stakes clash represents the culmination of an incredible journey that began as a bullied teenager in the United States and eventually carried him halfway around the world to Thailand, where he now sharpens his weapons alongside an elite collection of talent at Sor Dechapan.
After quietly building a highly respected résumé on the grueling Thai circuit, Ramos believes he has been adequately preparing for this moment much longer than most fans realize.
He said:
“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.”
Ramos certainly did not take the conventional route to ONE.
Growing up in Colorado, he was a quiet child who was regularly picked on. Tired of being bullied, he confidently turned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at age 15 before adding wrestling and Western boxing to his growing arsenal at Easton Training Center.
Back then, his ultimate dream wasn’t Muay Thai. Ramos deeply wanted to become a mixed martial arts World Champion and initially viewed striking as just another necessary piece of the all-encompassing sports puzzle. But when a coach honestly told him he wasn’t ready to compete until his stand-up skills vastly improved, the ambitious teenager decided to throw himself completely into striking.
That pivotal decision ultimately transformed the entire direction of his life.
Ramos found a dedicated mentor in JD Hardwick, even living with him for several months while the pair trained together every single day. Muay Thai eventually became his sole competitive focus, and years later, Ramos boldly left Colorado for Thailand to pursue the sport directly at its source.
He said:
“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.
“I’m going into this debut to win, to have fun, to enjoy myself, and to really experience the next level of competition. But first and foremost, I am going in to win. I’m a prizefighter. I want to win. That’s why I’m here.”
His eventual arrival at the renowned Sor Dechapan gym provided another major turning point.
Ramos had to consistently prove himself before ever receiving his ONE opportunity, and one of his absolute biggest tests came against decorated Thai veteran Phet Uthong Or. Kwanmuang.
The American dropped their first encounter, but the invaluable experience forced him to properly confront his own nerves and drastically evolve. He returned with soaring confidence for their immediate rematch and scored a spectacular third-round spinning elbow finish.
That statement victory helped put significantly more eyes on the previously unheralded American, and when an offer to face Gingsanglek came at The Inner Circle 26, Ramos didn’t hesitate for a second.
The American recalled:
“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.’
“I’m going to be honest, I was so scared the first time. I was really nervous. But I am very good at adapting mentally. I truly believe I can mentally match any obstacle that is put in front of me.”
Ramos Aims To Drag Gingsanglek Into Deep Waters
Dmitri Ramos carries enormous respect for Gingsanglek Wor Kumchamnarn and has extensively studied his opponent ahead of Friday’s encounter. In particular, he clearly recognizes the immense danger posed by the Thai’s thunderous left kick, respectfully describing the weapon as a cannon.
Ramos, however, plans to heavily lean into the distinct skills he has spent years meticulously developing.
The American firmly sees his boxing as one of his biggest advantages, while his relentless forward pressure, elite conditioning, and unique ability to maintain a furious work rate could become increasingly important as the three-round battle progresses.
The 26-year-old said:
“One thing I do pride myself in is being a relentless pressure fighter. And I like to box. I’m a boxer. Like I told you, boxing is the first striking art that I ever learned.
“I do think Gingsanglek’s kick is more dangerous than Phet Uthong’s. All respect, and no takeaway of respect from Phet Uthong, but Gingsanglek is a cannon. So I have to treat his weapon for what it is.”
Ramos believes there are two highly likely scenarios for how the matchup will unfold.
With both men carrying serious finishing ability, he knows either could comfortably find the decisive opening early. But if Gingsanglek survives that initial burst of action, the debutant fully expects his conditioning and pressure to become increasingly difficult for the veteran to handle.
It is exactly there, in the final round of a grueling firefight, that Ramos believes he can truly introduce himself to ONE’s global fan base.
He concluded:
“I know my gas tank is better. I’ve seen him fight. I train my conditioning very, very diligently. Yes, he has the technical advantage when it comes to his kicks. I’m not afraid to admit that. My boxing, I know I have the technical advantage with my boxing.
“I’m gonna make him drown. Take him to the deep waters in the third round.”
