Felipe Lobo doesn’t back down from anyone, even if it’s a two-sport ONE World Champion. After many heated words, the Brazilian striker will finally get to challenge Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in the main event of ONE Fight Night 19, set to go down inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, February 16.
“Demolition Man” has risen through the ranks on the strength of three wins in four outings in the stacked division, and he claimed the #3-ranked contender position by knocking out Thai veteran Saemapetch Fairtex in his latest outing at ONE Fight Night 9 last April. That same night, Haggerty won the bantamweight Muay Thai crown with a shocking first-round finish of Nong-O Hama in the main event.
The buildup between Felipe Lobo and Jonathan Haggerty
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In a recent interview with ONE, Lobo revealed that the tension between him and “The General” started with a backstage interaction at the event. “[Haggerty has] been calling me since my last fight with Saemapetch. When my fight with Saemapetch ended, back at the hotel, he walked past me and said, ‘I liked watching you fight. You’re next,’” said Lobo.
After winning the Muay Thai belt, Haggerty battled bantamweight MMA king Fabricio Andrade for the division’s vacant kickboxing strap at ONE Fight Night 16 this past November. Lobo is a teammate and close friend of Andrade’s, and he was in attendance when Haggerty finished “Wonder Boy” to take the World Title. Following the win, the British star took aim at the #3-ranked contender and proceeded to reignite their war of words.
“On the day of the fight with Fabricio, it was the same thing. [Haggerty] walked past me and said, ‘You’re next,’” Lobo recalled. “I said, ‘Let’s see what happens next time. I’m waiting for you.’ His coaches came and said a lot of things, but I couldn’t understand because everyone was talking at the same time. He likes to talk a lot. He is talkative.”
The time for verbal barbs is quickly coming to an end, as they are set to meet in the middle of the ring in a few short weeks.
“The Demolition Man” talks about this matchup against “The General”
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As that day draws closer, “Demolition Man” is more motivated than ever to show Haggerty he has chosen to mess with the wrong guy.
“This confrontation certainly increased my desire to face him. Especially because in the ring, he said I was a nobody. So, I want to show him who I am,” said Lobo.
Also Read: Chatri Sityodtong Says MMA Will Be “Back in Full Force” in 2024 After Monumental Year for Muay Thai
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The beef between the two fighters has been brewing for quite some time now. Given both Haggerty and Lobo’s eagerness to face each other inside the ring, one thing fans can be sure of is a war. who are you picking to win the fight? Let us know in the comments section below.
