Obviously there is a lot more to break down in a five rounder than in a first round knockout affair, so I will just focus on a few highlight moments.As in most Thai fights, the first and second rounds of this bout are largely throw-aways. Combat sports lost a hero last week. His other name, however, is a different story. A knockout replied with a knockout, a decision loss followed by a decision win.

But Dekkers showed that, despite the lack of elbows, he was fully able to beat Coban in a more kicking-focused, Thai-style engagement. But there are some interesting techniques at play. A final right hand lands, but it’s mostly academic, and Coban spills to the floor like a corpse.Finesse when desired, and unstoppable aggression when necessary. Dekkers had great technique and skill, and you can see that in this fight. Kyokushin; Kickboxing; Muay Thai; Boxing; MMA; Wrestling; Judo; Karate; Jiu-Jitsu & Grappling And Coban, to his credit, strides boldly after Dekkers as he returns to the neutral corner, staring at him steadily while the count is given.

Coban would prove the only Thai to ever knock Dekkers out, and he would never be able to do so again.Though it came not four months after their first meeting, Dekkers came into his second round with Coban looking like a much different fighter. It is irrelevant. But Dekkers is comfortable keeping the inside position here, and as he senses his opponent stepping to the outside, he lifts his front leg and effortlessly knocks Coban to the canvas with a perfectly placed teep. But the Turbine from Hell cannot be stopped. Unlike his last bout, he seems very cognizant of his position at all times. But the Dutchman stands and clinches, covers up, and survives the round.At 15:54 Dekkers powers forward with a barrage of punches, using his new high block to defend against counters, and timing his right hands so that they enter inside of Coban’s looping lefts, forcing the Thai to clinch for protection. And though it might seem absurd to some for so many to… The world of fightsport expressed their grief and condolences as one following the unexpected news. This is just the way the Thais fight, and Dekkers obliged in this match.

But Dekkers’ doesn’t add any shots to the head with his lead hand as he exits, which would have dissuaded Coban from countering. This is a fine example of how to properly kick with the head off-center, and Dekkers brilliantly utilizes the right hand following the right kick throughout the fight to keep Coban from closing on him and countering with his own rear hand.There’s another moment that many would overlook at first glance, beautiful in its subtlety. Dominating the center line is key to controlling space, and This willingness to take the inside also opens up angle for the rear inside leg kick, which Dekkers utilizes beautifully throughout the bout in conjunction with his middle and high kicks and his rear teep, constantly keeping Coban guessing and waiting on Dekkers to initiate. He is constantly circling away from Coban’s powerful left hand, jockeying for the outside position with his foot. Close. But confidence can’t save him. But in reality, the serial switching only causes him to become less cognizant of his defense and his positioning.2:14 is the perfect example of this. I’d like to imagine that he didn’t care about proving that he was the best, so long as the score was even, and so long as he got to fight. There are glimpses of the overwhelming fighter that Dekkers would become, such as the all-power combination at 0:35, but all the pieces were not quite in place. At 15:59 he bumps Coban’s thigh with his left knee and steps around the outside with his right foot, pivoting and pulling the off-balance Coban to the ground.Coban takes the decision this time around. No longer the young fighter that switches stance to land with his dominant hand as lead, he pounces with left hook after left hook, using his right hand as a jab to pin Coban against the ropes between shots.Mercifully, at 5:02, the referee gives Coban a standing count. You gave us some of the greatest fights this sport has ever seen and inspired generations of fighters with your skill, your toughness, and your indomitable will. And for being ever willing to face whatever opposition stood before him.So let’s celebrate the deeds of the great Ramon Dekkers with a brief look at some of his finest exhibitions of talent and skill.

And Ramon Dekkers belongs in this Pantheon, among these men, for bringing the sport of Muay Thai to the biggest international stage it had ever known at his time. At 5:37 he launches into a beautiful high kick that catches Coban on the arm, and then throws a punch with the same-side hand. Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Muay Thai legend Ramon Dekkers passed away after an afternoon bike ride at the age of 43. We may as well ask whether or not Fedor Emelianenko always fought the greatest competition (he didn’t), or whether Muhammad Ali always displayed the cleanest technique (he didn’t). If you scored every Thai fight with the first two rounds as draws, effectively none of the final verdicts would be different. This was Ramon Dekkers fighting his fight.Now we get to Dekkers’ and Coban’s pair of decision fights.

In his time as a fighter, Dekkers was called by two names.

Many follow his path in a quest to become better practitioners of the sport. He pays the price for it, and is knocked out by a titanic left from Coban before the end of the first round.This first bout shows us a tentative Dekkers, looking unsure about himself and not-so confident against his experienced Thai opponent. For fighting every fight like it might be his last. Watch their feet.

Readers of my blog will have heard me mention positioning before, and here is a fine example of what I mean by that term.

WIm, Thanks for sharing and pointing out all these extremely important elements. One, the title of this article, “the Diamond.” Not so much an intimidating fighter name as much as a compliment to the fighter’s prowess.