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Combat sports lost one of its legends.
Ramon Dekkers, a multi-time Muay Thai champion, passed away at the age of 43 on February 27. According to the Dutch newspaper BN DeStem, Dekkers had collapsed while riding his bike. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Dekkers, known to fans as “The Diamond” or “Turbine from Hell”, will leave a lasting legacy in kickboxing. He accumulated a kickboxing record of 186-33-2 with 95 knockouts. He made his kickboxing debut back in 1987, winning his first three fights and capturing the Dutch Featherweight A-class title. His final fight was in 2006 against Joerie Mes.
In addition to kickboxing, Dekkers briefly competed in mixed martial arts. His only bout was against Japanese superstar Genki Sudo back in 2005. Sudo defeated him with a leglock in the first round.
Outside of competition, Dekkers taught Muay Thai in his hometown of Breda, Netherlands.
Several members of the fight community took time to remember Dekkers including: women’s Muay Thai champion Julie Kitchen, UFC commentator Joe Rogan and Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp.
Dekkers will be known for his aggressive style and great boxing. Although kickboxing may not be as popular as mixed martial arts, it is still respected by competitors and fans around the world, and fighters like Dekkers have helped it retain its strong appeal over the years.
Those of us at Rant Sports would like to give thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.
What is your favorite Dekkers memory? Answer with a comment below or send a tweet to @alstover with the hashtag #RantMMA.
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