Ramon Gonzales Aims To Continue Life-Changing Winning Streak In Bangkok

Ramon “The Bicolano” Gonzales has quietly built one of the most impressive streaks of any ONE Championship strawweight.

The Filipino Kyokushin karate champion recovered from two defeats in his first two contests in The Home Of Martial Arts to score three victories in a row – including a fantastic 79-second submission of Akihiro Fujisawa in April.

Next Friday, 16 August, he has the chance to increase his winning run to four consecutive contests against “Wolf of the Grasslands” Hexigetu at ONE: DREAMS OF GOLD, and he is confident he can do it.

“I’m so happy for this new opportunity – excited and humbled for every fight that is given to me,” Gonzales says.

“My training has been good. Team Kyokushin is always there to help me every day. We work on our striking and ground skills. Every day, I’m at my best to prepare myself for this bout.

“Winning consecutively really helps [give me confidence], but more than that, it helps me as a person as it makes me strive for more, and be grateful for what I have.”

Hexigetu is also coming into this bout in Bangkok, Thailand off a win – his first on the global stage – after he outlasted Pakistan’s Ovais Shah over three rounds.

However, Gonzales is confident he can handle the Chinese athlete’s wrestling and get his hand raised.

“Perseverance, determination and focus, those are the things that I need to have against Hexigetu,” he says.

“There are a lot of people who believe in me, it’s all about believing in myself.”

The 32-year-old is filled with positivity thanks to his recent success, which has improved his life – both personally and financially.

Before he was part of the world’s largest martial arts organization, Gonzales struggled to put food on his family’s table. He performed different jobs in different places, but nothing gave him stability.

“It helped me a lot financially. From being a fisherman to a security guard, I’ve been through many jobs, but martial arts brought me to where I am today,” he continued.

“Now, I can help my family and sustain my everyday needs, and I think that’s one of the main reasons for my determination.

“[Being in ONE] made me appreciate every little thing that comes my way, because I know that not all people are given a chance to be part of ONE.”

Because his mixed martial arts career has given him so much, “The Bicolano” is keen to give back to the young members of his martial arts community.

He used to be one of the Uchideshies – the live-in students of Kyokushin Fight Academy – who was molded into an athlete by his diligent coaches

Now he is training the young competitors at the gym, and hopes to help them follow in his footsteps and become successful professionals.

“I am now in charge of training Uchideshies. I also encourage them and inspire them to be fighters with heart and passion in the sport,” he adds

That is exactly what the man from Manila needed to overcome his difficult start to life in ONE and become the rising strawweight star he is now.

When he experienced defeat, he did not give up on his dream. He kept training, improving his skills, and preparing for any opportunity that came his way.

Gonzales had to find his inner strength to persevere before he was driven toward success through the support from his coaches, training partners, and other people close to him.

“[The losses] made me more disciplined. I’ve learned that nobody will help me, nobody will push me except myself,” he says.

“I tried training just by myself when I was in another country, and I think that’s a big lesson. Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.

“[My struggles] showed me the people who believe in me. I am very thankful for them, then and now.”