Following Jean Silva’s impressive performance in Seattle, Ricardo Ramos is set to represent the Fighting Nerds in the featherweight division.
Ramos will face Chepe Mariscal at UFC Vegas 103 this Saturday, aiming to build on his victory over Josh Culibao in August 2024. He explained that his move to Pablo Sucupira’s team was motivated by family reasons, after spending years with Team Alpha Male in California.
“The transition was for my family, for my daughter,” Ramos told MMA Fighting. “I enjoyed my time in the United States but decided to be closer to family. While many athletes adapt and stay in the US, personal reasons led us to remain in Sao Paulo.”
Ramos communicated his decision to Team Alpha Male coaches and maintains a positive relationship with them. He is now based full-time in Sao Paulo. His training camp for the Mariscal fight was his first with Fighting Nerds, requiring daily travel from his native Campinas to training sessions.
“It’s a new experience, but the training camp was productive,” Ramos shared. “Training with the team has been great, the energy is fantastic, and I’m contributing to the team as much as possible. I’m ready for another battle with my new team and anticipate a great victory.”
Mariscal, Ramos’s opponent, has a 13-6 professional record after a lengthy amateur career and is currently undefeated in the UFC with three decision wins out of four fights. Ramos anticipates an exciting fight at the UFC APEX.
“Mariscal is unpredictable,” Ramos noted. “You have to be cautious because he commits fully. He tries to draw you into a chaotic, brawling style fight. If you allow that, his cardio is strong. He’s physically strong and versatile, so controlling his attacks is key. He has takedowns, submissions, and knockouts, but often goes the distance in the UFC.”
Ramos has an 8-5 UFC record with three finishes. During his seven-month break recovering from injuries sustained from Josh Culibao’s leg kicks, he remained active in jiu-jitsu competitions. With improved jiu-jitsu, “Carcacinha” sees multiple paths to victory in Las Vegas.
“I think a knockout is likely,” Ramos predicted. “He’ll create openings for strikes. While he’s never been submitted and has good defensive jiu-jitsu, he often gets into vulnerable positions, giving up his back. If I get an opportunity in those positions, I’ll capitalize. However, I won’t overcommit to submissions and waste energy on scrambles. I need to seize opportunities against him.”
