In his last fight, Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirochoke faced the brightest prospect in the strawweight division, an opponent 17 years his junior. The Thai veteran looked out of sorts in the opening two rounds but mounted a stirring comeback in the final five minutes.
The Bangkok crowd though he had done enough to win and one of the judges concurred. But at the elite level of MMA margins between success and failure are razor thin and the former strawweight division was ultimately handed a split decision defeat.
It left Dejdamrong’s hopes of an immediate title challenge on hold but he will be hoping to get back to winning ways at ONE: ‘Dynasty of Heroes’ on May 26th.
“I was very disappointed to lose my last fight. It was a very close fight and I gave it my all. I was disappointed I wasn't able to get the win for the Thai people. However that's in the past and all I'm focused on now is winning next week.”
It was Dejdamrong’s second successive loss in Bangkok but he refuses to blame the judges.
“I thought that I had won because I dominated the end of the fight, if there had been a few more minutes I would have ended it. I understand it was close though and respect the decision.”
Dejdamrong won his first six fights, capturing the ONE Championship strawweight strap in the process. Before that he was a champion at Lumpinee Stadium and the 38 year old was already a veteran of several hundred Muay Thai fights when he decided to make the switch to MMA.
Changing combat codes has given Dejdamrong a new lease of life and he sees the two recent defeats as a small setback in his MMA journey. He can get back on winning track by beating Indonesian Adrian Matheis at ONE: ‘Dynasty of Heroes’.
“I am extremely determined to win this next fight. I am 100 per cent ready to confident. I want to avenge my losses and win the title back.”
Dejdamrong originally moved to Singapore to work as a trainer at Evolve MMA. He subsequently decided to compete inside the cage and says he has learned a lot from the coaches at the world renowned team.
“I have been working with all the fighters and World Champions on the Evolve Fight Team. The BJJ World Champions Leandro Issa, Bruno Pucci, Alex Silva, and Michelle Nicolini really help me with my grappling. As always I also work with all our Muay Thai World Champions and our head coach Brian Ebersole.”
It has given his fighting career something akin to a second wind and regardless of what happens on Friday night the former Lumpinee and ONE Championship champion says he wants to continue competing for the forseeable future.
“I still feel strong and healthy. I am enjoying training and fighting and I have no plans to retire.“