Fabricio Andrade and Jonathan Haggerty Ready for Heated World Title Tussle at ONE Fight Night 15

“I’m going to knock him out – that’s it.”

Originally slated as one of three World Title matchups to go down this past weekend, their fight was moved to a later date in order to give it the spotlight it deserves as the headliner for the next event.

Fabricio Andrade and Jonathan Haggerty gear up to lock horns for the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing title

As they stood face to face in the ring, they got a little too close and started to shove each other in a heated moment. While they calmed down for a proper staredown, it’s clear they can’t wait to touch gloves and prove who the better man is in the kickboxing realm. Bantamweight kings Fabricio Andrade and Jonathan Haggerty are gunning to get it on, and they made fans know that they can’t wait to get their hands on each other this past weekend.

At ONE Fight Night 15 last Friday, October 6, the pair stood in the middle of the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ring to promote their fight for the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship on Friday, November 3. Their clash will headline ONE Fight Night 16, which will go down inside the same legendary striking venue in Bangkok, Thailand. Bantamweight MMA king Andrade has an exceptional 40-3 record in Muay Thai and kickboxing contests, but he will compete outside of MMA for the first time since joining the world’s largest martial arts organization when he meets Haggerty.

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Asked how he feels about fighting in a different rule set, ‘Wonder Boy’ expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to go back to his first love and get a chance at a World Title. “Even when I signed with ONE, I was more active in kickboxing than MMA. But at the time, they were more interested in putting on fights in MMA,” he said. “But that was one dream of mine, to be a World Champion in kickboxing. So, to have this opportunity now to be a World Champion in one of the biggest organizations in the world–this is amazing. I’m very grateful, and I can’t wait.”

Jonathan Haggerty has two-sport championship ambitions 

For his part, Muay Thai titleholder Haggerty is looking to claim both striking belts in the division with a win over Andrade. He cast doubt on his Brazilian foe’s ability to transition well to kickboxing rules after spending the past few years training in the all-encompassing sport of MMA, and that resulted in a heated exchange of words between the two champions as they stood opposite each other. “First of all, when we get in there, we strike, there’s no taking me down,” said ‘The General.’ “You’ll have to stand in the middle with me, and we’re going to have to stand toe to toe. So I wish you the best.”

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In response, Andrade shot back: If you watch my MMA fights, I never shoot for a takedown in my life. I like to strike. I like to make people feel pain, and this time won’t be different. I’m going to make him feel some pain.” Without missing a beat, Haggerty replied: “I don’t feel pain.” When asked how they plan on winning their matchup, both men expressed their desire to end it in exciting fashion. “You know me. I’m always there for the stoppage. So if I see it, I’m going to take him out, for sure,” Haggerty said. “I think footwork’s key. I’ve got great footwork. So I’m going to drag him to deep waters just to show him he doesn’t belong in there with me.” Andrade didn’t need a lot of words for his prediction, saying simply.