Jonathan Haggerty Praises ‘Idol’ and ‘Legend’ Nong-O, but Vows to Break Thai’s Rhythm

Jonathan “The General” Haggerty knows his next bout in ONE will be one of the most important he has ever partaken in. After dropping out of a couple of fights due to undisclosed illnesses and weight-management issues, the former flyweight Muay Thai king decided it would be best for him to step up to the bantamweight division.

And he couldn’t have wished for a better opportunity to kick off his tenure hunt in the new weight class.

Jonathan Haggerty lauded his experienced opponent Nong-O Hama

Haggerty will challenge longtime ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama for the coveted gold in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 on Prime Video this Friday, April 21, and he couldn’t be happier.

Speaking to ONE Championship recently, Haggerty said, “I wasn’t expecting to get the World Title shot straight away. I thought we were going to have one more fight. But yeah, I’m excited to compete against Nong-O. He’s a legend. He’s an idol. I’ve been growing up watching him, and to finally get in the ring with him is great. I’m excited.”

As great a fight it will be for his career and journey as a martial artist, the London native understands that his upcoming opponent’s striking prowess and technical skill will likely cause him problems when they collide inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

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But instead of getting intimidated by this, Haggerty sees it as a chance for him and his team to put together a perfect game plan in the hopes of leaving as the first athlete to put a dent in Nong-O’s 10-0 run in ONE.And “The General” isn’t a fighter who simply turns up for a bout – he guarantees a firefight every time he competes.

Jonathan Haggerty eyes breaking his opponent’s rhythm and frustrating him

On April 21, he plans to stop Nong-O’s aggression, nullify his ability to find flaws, and most importantly, make sure the defending king doesn’t find his stride in the Thai capital.

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Haggerty added, “I feel like he’s got great experience, obviously, with the amount of fights that he has. And he’s got a good IQ. He knows how to read a fight. He knows when to turn it on, and he knows when to relax and coast.,If I can just break his rhythm, which we’re going to plan to do, and which we are going to do, we’re just going to force him into a fight and frustrate him.”