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Undefeated Dagestani MMA sensation and ONE welterweight stalwart Murad Ramazanov is on the cusp of receiving his first world title shot.
At ONE on Prime Video 5 on December 2, he'll have to go through the much-lauded Croatian striker Roberto Soldic, who will be making his promotional debut that night.
Growing up in the tumultuous region of Dagestan, one would assume that Murad Ramazanov grew up hardened and violent, ready to pull the trigger at the drop of a hat.
This couldn't be further from the truth.
In an interview with ONE Championship, Ramazanov spoke about how he used martial arts and his sense of respect and honor to get through a rough childhood:
"As kids, we fought a lot in the street and at school, but I don't remember hurting anybody who couldn't fight back. In general, I always tried to negotiate. If we fought in the schoolyard, it was normal to become even better friends after a fair fight and leave all the bad feelings in the past."
Though we would never condone violence outside combat sports, most will no doubt applaud Ramazanov's mindset as a child when it comes to fighting.
While he may not have had much of a choice as the culture around him dictated that he fights, he managed to do so with honor, respect and humility. He is the epitome of a true martial artist.
ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong says Murad Ramazanov is the best 185-pound wrestler from Dagestan
ONE CEO and chairman Chatri Stiyodtong recently praised the remarkable run of Murad Ramazanov in ONE's welterweight division promotion.
The former wrestler from the Caucasus region of Russia has been on a tear with his assault on the division, going 3-0 so far in the division.
In his post-fight media scrum in the aftermath of ONE on Prime Video 4, Sityodtong spoke about the Dagestani's wrestling prowess and where it falls on the list of the very best today:
"[Murad] Ramazanov is undefeated. He's currently the number one wrestler in the middleweight division in all of Russia. I mean, if you ask all the major wrestling gyms and teams and whatnot. Murad is by far the best, obviously the best in Dagestan."
It's almost as if anyone raised in the Caucasus region of Russia was born with cauliflower ears. They have one of the very best wrestling programs in the world and have produced countless world champions between wrestling and MMA.
Murad Ramazanov is just the latest to come out of their long line of great grapplers to reach world-wide recognition. If Sityodtong says he's the best from that region, best believe he's one of the best in the world, period.
Watch Sityodtong's interview here:
