“I have time” - Muay Thai phenom Johan Ghazali says MMA switch is a possibility ‘down the line’
Johan Ghazali isn't closing the door on a potential transition to MMA.
Over the last year and a half, Ghazali has become one of the fastest-rising superstars in ONE Championship history. The 17-year-old has fought under the ONE banner seven times, leading to a 6-1 record, including five wins by KO/TKO.
At ONE 168: Denver, Ghazali looked to bounce back from his first promotional loss, which was against Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat in June. 'Jojo' wouldn't be denied in his comeback fight, as he secured a $50,000 performance after electrifying the North American crowd with a first-round knockout against Josue Cruz.
Following his impressive performance, the Malaysian-American prospect conducted a media scrum backstage. Ghazali had this to say when asked about potentially transitioning to MMA in the future:
"I get this question a lot but I'm open to the possibility. Sometime down the line, like I said, I'm only 17, so 18, 19, 20, 21 22, 23, 24. I have time."
ONE 168: Denver featured many special moments, including Demetrious Johnson and Liam Harrison ending their legendary careers. The replay of the September 6 event, including Johan Ghazali's knockout win, can be seen for free by North American and Canadian viewers with an active Amazon Prime Video subscription.
Watch Ghazali's previously mentioned post-fight media scrum below:
Johan Ghazali has plenty of Muay Thai business to take care of before potential MMA transition
At 17 years old, Johan Ghazali has the potential to accomplish nearly anything in combat sports. With that said, the ONE flyweight Muay Thai prospect is currently focused on becoming a world champion in "The Art of Eight Limbs."
It won't be easy for Ghazali to climb the flyweight rankings, with Rodtang as the reigning world champion. Therefore, it's too early for the Malaysian-American to consider a potential transition to mixed martial arts.
Luckily, Ghazali has plenty of time to create a legacy in Muay Thai and potentially compete in other combat sports. Firstly, 'Jojo' looks to continue building momentum following his dominant performance at ONE 168: Denver.
Watch the fight-ending sequence to Ghazali's win against Josue Cruz below: