Two-sport ONE Bantamweight World Champion, Jonathan Haggerty, has traveled a long journey in the promotion, solidifying as one of the most prominent non-Thai figures within the ONE Championship. He’s now ready to prove himself once again as he faces a tough test against ‘The Kicking Machine’ Superlek Kiatmoo9 at the upcoming ONE 168: Denver, which goes down on September 6 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

Before looking towards the future, Haggerty decided to take a retrospective look at his first fight inside ONE Championship in a recent YouTube video. He evaluated his past performance, offering insights into his growth as a fighter.

Throwback: When Jon Jones reacted to Jonathan Haggerty’s downward elbow

Riding a six-figure winning streak, Jonathan Haggerty has toppled prominent fighters like Nong-O Hama and Fabricio Andrade on his path to championship glory. However, during his first fight in the ONE Championship against Joseph Lasiri, ‘The General’ faced struggles early on, recalling a punch that busted his nose and hampered his breathing throughout the fight. Despite this adversity, Haggerty displayed resilience with a downward elbow that turned the tide.

This maneuver captured the hearts of fans on social media, including UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who appreciated ‘The General’s move. Haggerty further stated, “I remember after landing that shot, social media went mad. Jon Jones and all sorts of fighters posted comments on it, so it worked wonders. It put me on the map, let’s just say that.”

Haggerty also claimed that his fighting style has undergone a significant transformation. This evolution is evident from his strong run in the promotion, with only two defeats thus far – both at the hands of Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Jonathan Haggerty on his evolution in ONE Championship

‘The General’ isn’t content with staying in his comfort zone. He actively sought to challenge the limits of his skills by going up against the best. His rise began within the ONE Championship Circle, where he defeated Joseph Lasiri, followed by a dominant victory over Sam-A Gaiyanghadao to capture the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title. Although he went on to lose his belt to Rodtang in 2019, he later found his groove to get back to the winning ways again.

In 2023, Haggerty continued his ascent by moving up a weight class and knocking out the reigning king, Nong-O Hama, to claim the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title. His hunger for achievement didn’t stop there. Later that year, he defeated MMA king Fabricio Andrade to capture the vacant bantamweight kickboxing crown, accomplishing a feat reserved for only a select few athletes.

While analyzing his debut fight in the same YouTube video, Jonathan Haggerty reflected, “It’s crazy to watch this back because my style has evolved so much since then.”

“Chris [his coach]telling me, “You got to go for it.” I knew I was winning at this point, but you can’t underestimate your opponent. With a four-ounce glove, one shot and it could be game over. I had to stay switched on, but at this point, I knew I was winning. He was eager to get close to me, rushing in,” The 27-year-old continued, recalling a specific moment in the third round.

Now, with ONE 168: Denver just around the corner, all eyes are on the highly anticipated ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Title clash Between Jonathan Haggerty and Superlek Kiatmoo9. Both fighters are at the peak of their careers. Who’s your pick to win? Let us know in the comments.