“It Would Be Nuts”- Chatri Sityodtong Open for Potential Super Fight Between UK Stars Jonathan Haggerty and Liam Harrison, Targets One Championship Show at Wembley Arena

The feud between the UK’s most prominent Muay Thai fighters, two-sport ONE Bantamweight World Champion Jonathan Haggerty and ranked #5 ONE bantamweight Muay Thai contender Liam Harrison, isn’t new. Haggerty has repeatedly called out Harrison for a fight, but it hasn’t materialized until now.

However, the 38-year-old veteran, Harrison, has always maintained that Jonathan Haggerty should fight someone closer to his age. Recently, though, ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong expressed his desire to see the fight happen between Harrison and Haggerty through an interview. 

Jonathan Haggerty vs. Liam Harrison’s fight approved by ONE CEO

Liam Harrison, eager to return after a two-year absence due to multiple setbacks in his recovery, has been booked for ONE 168: Denver, where he will fight Seksan Or Kwanmuang in a 140-pound catchweight Muay Thai bout. Meanwhile, Jonathan Haggerty will be in action on the same night, as he defends ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against Superlek Kiatmoo9 in one of the main bouts of the massive card. 

ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong revealed in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post that Liam Harrison underwent full-body stem cell therapy. Sityodtong says it helped Harrison’s recovery and “Hitman” is now feeling fresh and strong. He also provided an update on the highly anticipated fight between Haggerty and Harrison, which has been a hot topic since last year.

While he says Harrison may have turned down the idea immediately if you asked him about it last year, Sityodtong is optimistic that this fully healthy version of the British veteran could actually give it a thought. “I would love to fo Haggerty versus Liam Harrison title, you know, in Wembley. It would be nuts,” Sityodtong said. “I think that’s 15,000 seats. I think we would fill that very easily in the UK, and the buzz, you know, the greatest strikers coming out of the UK going after the world title…televised live, (over) Sky Sports. It does not get any better than that.”

Moreover, it must be a dream come true for Jonathan Haggerty to finally have a potential fight with his own countryman, Liam Harrison, on the horizon. In an interview last April, Haggerty called it the most profitable and fan-desired fight that could be made.

Haggerty welcomes all-British clash with Harrison

Jonathan Haggerty boats a stellar career in ONE Championship and had a banner year in 2023. First, he claimed the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title by knocking out former longtime king Nong-O Hama at ONE Fight Night 9 in April. Later, he became a two-sport World Champion when he also stopped MMA king Fabricio Andrade to take the vacant kickboxing strap at ONE Fight Night 16 in November. He is coming off another stoppage win – his third straight – at the expense of Felipe Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19 this past February to cement his spot atop the division. Despite his impressive resume, his sight remains fixed on a long-desired clash with the legendary Liam Harrison.

In an interview with Sky Sports MMA Club last April, the host asked Jonathan Haggerty what message he’d like to send to Liam Harrison. Haggerty kept it simple, saying: “You know, truthfully, let’s just give the fans what they want. May the best man win. Let’s go.” With ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong confirming that Liam Harrison is recovered and ready after stem cell therapy, the potential clash between “The General” and ‘Hitman” could be closer to happening than it was just a year ago. 

This highly anticipated matchup has been a hot topic for fans. But first, they must each overcome their challenges at ONE 168: Denver this September.