"All about getting my hand raised" - Jonathan Haggerty says it's strictly business when he's 'in the zone' in Denver
Two-sport ONE world champion Jonathan Haggerty has another tough assignment at hand when he defends his bantamweight Muay Thai crown this Friday, September 6. But as he has done in the past, the Londoner is ready to make headway and prove why he's as elite as it gets.
The Knowlesy Academy and Team Underground MMA firecracker squares off against ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion 'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9 inside Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, a five-round tie that serves as the headliner attraction of ONE 168: Denver.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, before he puts his 26 pounds of gold on the line, Jonathan Haggerty said:
"I mean, I can understand where he comes from there a little bit, but once you're in there, all the thoughts go away. And that's the same for me when I'm in the zone. So that's what we're looking to do on September the sixth. All about getting my hand raised."
Heading into this rematch, Jonathan Haggerty has won six consecutive matches across bantamweight and kickboxing. The cherry on the cake of his sensational run came in 2023, when he knocked out Nong-O Hama (Muay Thai) and Fabricio Andrade (kickboxing) to secure two-sport world championship status.
Although he'd be up against a man who's looked near-immortal through his ONE campaign — Superlek has won his last ten matches in succession — Jonathan Haggerty's run has given him the confidence and belief that he can beat anyone standing across from him inside the Circle.
Watch the full interview on SCMP here:
North American fans with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription can catch the entire ONE 168: Denver card live in U.S. primetime for free this Friday, September 6. Tickets are still available here.
Rodtang weighs in on Superlek-Jonathan Haggerty world title tilt at ONE 168
Before they renew their rivalry, Muay Thai megastar Rodtang Jitmuangnon shared his thoughts on this ONE 168 headliner. Speaking to the promotion, the 27-year-old had this to say:
"Jonathan Haggerty has the edge in terms of weight. He has been fighting in this division for a long time. Anyway, I'll root for Superlek."
Of course, no one knows Haggerty and Superlek more than 'The Iron Man.'
The longtime ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion has shared combat sports' biggest platform with the superstars on three occasions – beating 'The General' twice and sharing a back-and-forth classic with 'The Kicking Machine' at ONE Friday Fights 34 last year.
While he will have his eyes locked on this five-round thriller in the Mile High City, Rodtang remains laser-focused for his world title defense against Jacob Smith at ONE 169: Atlanta inside State Farm Arena on November 8.
It will be the second time the strikers meet under the ONE spotlight after the Thai handed the tough-as-nails Brit a unanimous decision defeat at ONE 157 in May 2022.