"An easier version of Thai boxing" - Jonathan Haggerty recalls switch to kickboxing in slugfest with Fabricio Andrade
Double-world champion Jonathan Haggerty didn't suffer any notion of indecisiveness, when he switched over to kickboxing to fight Fabricio Andrade for the vacant bantamweight world title.
The 27-year-old striker showed he was ready to take on any opponent under any circumstances after proving himself against one of the longest-reigning Muay Thai world champions on the ONE roster - Nong-O Hama - at ONE Fight Night 9.
The fact that Haggerty was able to surprise us again with another fantastic KO victory over another undefeated champion, like MMA superstar Fabricio Andrade, just shows that he's levels above his competition.
This week, 'The General' took us back to that eventful night with Andrade, explaining why he took the fight in the first place. On Retrospect, Haggerty said:
"My style is more like a kickboxer if I'm totally honest. So when they offered me the fight, I though it was it was just going to be an easier version of Thai boxing, because there were no elbows to look out for. So my striking is great, so why not? Let's go for it. I think I put on a great clinical performance there."
Watch Jonathan Haggerty extend his reign as the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion when he fights kickboxing star Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver.
Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.
Jonathan Haggerty explores the physical advantages he will have over Superlek when they look horns on September 6
With so much at stake, Jonathan Haggerty is remarkably calm and confident about defeating one of the best strikers in the world on US ground.
Superlek Kiatmoo9, the current ONE kickboxing bantamweight kingpin, hasn't been defeated since February 2021, when he lost to Moroccan-Danish world champion Ilias Ennahachi at ONE: Fists of Fury.
From that moment onwards, Superlek has been driven to the point of being unstoppable, working at an insane pace in ONE Championship for 10 consecutive bouts.
Now, he's eager to become a rare two-division world champion - a difficult achievement for any in his place. But Jonathan Haggerty will have none of that. Besides having a large skill gap, Haggerty believes he also has a physical advantage over Superlek.
He told Sky Sports MMA Club:
"I'm bigger than him, I'm in one weight category above him, and he's stepping into my weight category."