Jeremy Miado's Rivalry With Dejdamrong Is Built On Respect

One of the first lessons Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado took as a martial artist was about respect.

As the Filipino hero heads into his long-awaited rematch against Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke at ONE: CALL TO GREATNESS, he does not harbor any ill will or thoughts about getting one over on his rival.

Furthermore, the fact that he has defeated the Thai icon before does not change his mindset for this pivotal strawweight encounter this Friday, 22 September.

“No matter which martial artist I go up against, whether he’s better than me or not, I should respect him as a martial artist,” Maido says.

“The Jaguar” drew inspiration from Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and started an amateur career in the sweet science, but his journey as a martial artist took a deeper step in college.

While pursuing a degree in criminology, he discovered Muay Thai. He forged a bond with his trainer and began to realize that his lessons in the gym would teach him far more than just how to punch and kick.

“My coach back in Bicol, Dante Madrideo [taught me the value of respect],” he explains.

“He was my first coach who really took me under his wing.”

The notion took root in the gym, and stayed with him as he started to compete. “The Jaguar” treated everyone the same – whether they were his instructors, training partners, or opponents.

Miado also says he took the same approach outside the ring and cage.

“Not just as a martial artist, but as a regular person, respect is important. You won’t get respect if you don’t know how to give it,” he says.

“In the cage, if you don’t display this value, win or lose, people will not care. If you won, then good for you, but if you lost, then they would say that you had it coming.”

“If you respect the people around you, win or lose, people will be proud of what you did in the cage. You can’t be respectful in the cage and be a different person in everyday life.”

The 26-year-old believes that conducting himself in this way on the global stage for martial arts has allowed him to earn the support and admiration from his peers, as well as fans from his homeland – and across Asia.

Whether his hand is raised or not, the Manila native will always give it his all, and bow to his opponent before and after a bout.

“ONE Championship is a huge platform where millions of people are watching,” the Switch MMA and Cage Gladiators representative adds.

“If you display this value, people will respect you just the same.

“It is especially true against an opponent because you’re not really enemies outside the cage. Competing against each other is what we do, it is our sport, but outside of the cage, we’re all friends.”

That sentiment holds true as he prepares to face Evolve’s Dejdamrong for the second time inside the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Miado has always held “Kru Rong” in high regard because of his multiple Muay Thai World Titles, his capture of the ONE Strawweight World Championship, and the way he carries himself.

“I have great respect for him, because when I was starting, I was looking up to him,” he explains.

“It is a huge honor for me to be able to be on the opposite side of the cage competing against him. That’s why I want to do my best in our match.”

His attitude did not change when he became the first mixed martial artist to stop Dejdamrong by knockout.

When they face off again, Miado’s respect for his idol will not have diminished.

“No, not one bit. I still respect him a lot as a fighter,” he says.

“Personally, I think I won because my preparation for that match was really well thought of. I studied his moves, his angles of weaknesses, but my respect for him remains the same.”

With that said, the way Miado thinks of his opponent will not stop him from going all-out to finish him in style once again, and march on towards World Title contention.