Annie Ramirez displayed her prowess as she shocked a pair of heavyweights to emerge as a two-time champion of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation World Championships in Bangkok last 2 November.

Ramirez, 34, overcame Astrid Scholin of Sweden and Mongoljin Ganbataar of Mongolia en route to ruling the women’s -57-kilogram Gi and No-Gi categories, respectively.

Scholin was the gold medalist in the World Games in the women’s 57kg Ne-Waza while Ganbataar finished in fourth place.

The University of Santo Tomas alumnus’ won another tournament after conquering the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, Asian Championships, Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and Asian Beach Games.

“In the World Games finals, she (Scholin) won the gold and I didn’t get a medal. Here, we faced each other and I got to score early,” said Ramirez, narrating how she took down one of the best jiu-jitsu fighters in Europe.

“I told myself I can’t let this opportunity slip away because I would lose if I gave her an opening.”

Ramirez said she was more relaxed against Ganbataar in the No-Gi event after winning her first gold medal, prompting her to easily avenge her World Games loss in Chengdu, China last August.

“In the No-Gi, I was actually not pressured but I really wanted to win. I was able to beat the same athlete back then,” Ramirez, a gold medalist in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, added.