“It’s an expression” - UFC star Israel Adesanya has all the love for Jonathan Haggerty’s show of identity in his fight gear
Jonathan Haggerty always wore his emotions on his sleeve and sometimes on his fight gear.
The reigning ONE bantamweight kickboxing world champion is no stranger to putting his design on his shorts and coats, making his already flamboyant fighting style even more magical when seen up close.
While it's not to everyone's liking, usually holed-up keyboard trolls with nothing better to do, there is one personality who loved Haggerty's penchant for fashion.
Former UFC middleweight world champion Israel Adesanya admitted that he loves how Muay Thai allows fighters to show their emotions in every way possible.
Haggerty, a former ONE flyweight and bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, was never shy in expressing his brand on his gear, a trait that Adesanya loves him for.
Adesanya said in his appearance at The Joe Rogan Experience:
"The expression on the Mongkong, arm bands, the shorts. Like, Jonathan Haggerty, he has cool shorts with, like, gold and, like, bows on the side. I like that, it’s cool. It’s an expression."
Adesanya, himself, is no stranger to showing his love for anime and professional wrestling, two things frowned upon by those who adhere to the outdated ultra-macho ramblings of old MMA.
In the same vein, Jonathan Haggerty never bothered himself with outside voices and did his own thing to become one of the greatest strikers of all time.
Haggerty has 22 wins in his professional career, eight of which are in ONE Championship.
'The General' also holds wins over Joseph Lasiri, Mongkolpetch Petchyindee, ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade, and Thai legends Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and Nong-O Hama.
Chatri Sityodtong says one loss won't tarnish the legacy Jonathan Haggerty has built
Jonathan Haggerty may have lost the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title in his previous match, but ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong said it won't tarnish the British superstar's overall legacy.
'The General' relinquished the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title to Superlek Kiatmoo9, who also holds the ONE flyweight kickboxing world title, in their super fight at ONE 168: Denver in September.
In the virtual press conference for ONE Friday Fights 81, Sityodtong said Haggerty already has a decorated resume fit for a future legend of combat sports.
"Mind you, Jonathan, he beat Sam-A when he only had, I think, 12 or 14 fights, and Sam-A had 400 fights and Jonathan beat him. Sure you don't see that, somebody with a few fights being able to fight somebody with so much experience and winning, ok? Haggerty's a very special generational talent. I believe when all is said and done in his career, he'll go down as one of the greatest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet, in history."