Ricardo Ramos Expects to be ‘Greatly Challenged’ in UFC Fight Night 228 Return

Injuries and a well-publicized weight cut failure have kept Ricardo Ramos out of the cage for more than a year. Now healthy and in shape, the Brazilian readies his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight division.

Ramos will take on former TKO Major League MMA champion Charles Jourdain in a three-round UFC Fight Night 228 showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where he hopes to re-establish himself as a person of interest in the 145-pound weight class. The road back to the Octagon has been fraught with difficulties. Ramos takes it all in stride.

“I’m very happy with all my conquests, as well as my setbacks,” he told Sherdog.com. “They all helped me become better. A champion is someone who turns adversity into good results. I’ve always done that whenever things didn’t go my way. I think what I do is something that very few have been able to do in the history of the sport. I keep bringing better performances each time.

“Over time, I’ve built up my arsenal of techniques,” Ramos added. “I’m always looking to evolve, to improve. All the sacrifices I’ve made since day one have been worth it. I’m always looking to do what I love in the best way possible, for the best possible results.”

Jourdain does not figure to provide a soft landing. The 27-year-old Canadian carries a 5-5-1 record across his 11 appearances in the UFC. Jourdain last fought at UFC 288, where he took a three-round unanimous decision from 2013 Abu Dhabi Submission Fighting World Championship gold medalist Kron Gracie.

“It will be a tough fight,” Ramos said. “I know I will be greatly challenged in the cage. I’m getting ready. I’m very aware that it won’t be easy, but I’ll chase after him. He has two arms and two legs, and he’s a complete fighter. So am I. I have the right game to beat him. I imagine he’s also concerned about me. If he’s not, he should be.”

Still just 28 years of age, Ramos hopes to find more consistency after having alternated wins and losses in each of his past four outings. He last competed on June 18, 2022, when he brought down Danny Chavez with a spinning back elbow just 72 seconds into their encounter at UFC on ESPN 37. The 462-day layoff led to some retrospection for Ramos.

“It’s a blessing to be a professional in the sport I love and to be able to make a living from it,” he said. “Early on, I didn’t have much support in my career choice. I had to overcome several obstacles to get here. We have to learn from our challenges, and it’s from our failures that we gain the most strength. It’s during those moments that we can show the meaning of martial arts and of being a fighter. We never give up in pursuit of our objectives.”

Should he get past Jourdain, Ramos has a target in mind: “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 12 quarterfinalist Alex Caceres.

“He’s ranked, and it will be a great test for me,” Ramos said. “I feel I have every possibility of beating him. With a win [against Charles], the UFC should give me this opportunity next.”