Dream Man’s Wild Ride to ONE Championship glory
At 26, Thai superstar Kritsada Kongsrichai – everybody’s favorite “Dream Man” – is on a one‑liner for the big bucks: ONE Championship gold practically wrapped around his waist. The next chapter begins on June 29th in Yangon when he squares off against Filipino slugger Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado at the ONE: Spirit of a Warrior show.
From Nakhon Si Thammarat to the world’s biggest stage
It all kicked off in a small southern town. Kongsrichai’s dad kicked him into Muay Thai; his mum was worried the ring would chew him up. “Everyone in the neighbourhood used to fight,” he says, “and the gym was right next door.” At nine, Dad asked if he’d wanna train, while Mom’d just grin, “I’m afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Keeping his dreams under wraps, Kritsada poured his heart into training and fighting in secret. When his parents finally saw his record, the shock turned into pride. “I kept winning, and eventually Mom gave in,” he recalls.
He clocked roughly 200 Muay Thai fights, snatching the Southern Thailand Championship like a trophy. But the street kid wasn’t content – he wanted more.
From the ring to the wrestling mat
At 13, a cousin dragged him to Srisaket Sports School, where he learned wrestling. Two years later, he landed a spot on the Thai national wrestling squad. He went on to dominate freestyle and Greco‑Roman circuits, racking a 200‑20 record over the years.
- Silver at the 2009 SEA Games in Laos
- Bronze at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar (Greco‑Roman)
- Thirteen-time Thai National Wrestling Champion
- Qualified for the 2010 Asian Games in China
These skills laid the groundwork for his next ambition: MMA. He debuted in August 2014 and rattled opponents in the first round with a swish of strikes and takedowns. “Wrestling changed my life,” he says. “Adding Muay Thai makes me even more deadly inside the cage.”
Back in Yangon – ready for redemption
The mission? Beat Miado and inch closer to a ONE straw‑weight world title. He aims to become the second Thai to own the belt after Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke.
“My focus is to be a ONE World Champion at least once,” Kongsada declares. “Sitting on the same weight class as Dejdamrong, I want that ribbon back home.”
It’s a fight of destiny: Judge the year’s top Tiger in the cage. If “Dream Man” wins, he’ll not only snag the title but also break through the fences that once held his ambition hostage. This cage bout could feel like a comic book showdown, but it’s very real, and the stakes are sky‑high for Thailand.
