“I couldn't believe he went down” - Jonathan Haggerty recalls initial shock after sending the legendary Nong-O to the canvas
Reigning and undisputed ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion 'The General' Jonathan Haggerty of the United Kingdom admits he was shocked by how he dispatched legendary Thai fighter and former champion Nong-O Hama.
Haggerty challenged Nong-O, then longtime bantamweight Muay Thai king, for the coveted golden strap at ONE Fight Night 9 on Prime Video last April 2023. In that fight, the Englishman was coming in as a heavy underdog, and many fans wrote him off quite quickly before the match even started.
But 'The General' was a man on a mission and focused on achieving his goal. He blitzed Nong-O from the opening bell, shocking spectators with his all-out attack from the get-go.
On his official YouTube channel, Haggerty looked back on his performance against Nong-O, particularly the moment he scored the first knockdown, which eventually led to the finish.
'The General' said:
"So when I landed the first right hand that dropped him, I actually had my eyes closed, and it was sort of like an overhand right. And it hit him in the back of the ear, believe it or not, that is where I was aiming to hit, the back of the ear. And I feel like when it landed, I just looked, and I thought, he's down. This shot here. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe he went down."
Fans can't wait to see Haggerty back in action, and it won't be long.
Jonathan Haggerty to defend bantamweight Muay Thai gold against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver
'The General' Jonathan Haggerty is set to defend his ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title against flyweight kickboxing king 'The Kicking Machine' Superlek Kiatmoo9. The two lock horns at ONE 168: Denver, which broadcasts live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, September 6th.
Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video. Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding the event.