A spicy Muay Thai battle has captivated the combat sports world, including ONE bantamweight Muay Thai contender, Nico ‘King of the North’ Carrillo. On Friday, September 6, two-sport world champion Jonathan Haggerty will defend the Muay Thai world title against ‘The Kicking Machine’, Superlek Kiatmoo9, at ONE 168: Denver. 

This highly anticipated fight will take place at the Ball Arena in the promotion’s return to the United States this year. Superlek, the reigning flyweight kickboxing world champion, will be stepping up in weight for his attempt at two-division glory. Now, fans from all over the planet are keeping a close eye on this clash, including Carillo. Moreover, the #1-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender recently shared his predictions for the upcoming co-main event in a media interview.

Nico Carrillo on Superlek vs. Haggerty at ONE 168

Nico Carrillo has been impressive since joining ONE Championship in 2023. The hard-hitting Scot has racked up a perfect 3-0 record that year, defeating notable opponents like Nong-O-Hama and Muangthai PK Saenchai. This experience gives him valuable insights as he analyzes the upcoming Haggerty vs. Superlek fight. On a recent episode of the Sky Sports MMA Club podcast on Spotify, Nico Carillo offered his prediction for the upcoming ONE 168: Denver fight between Haggerty and Superlek. When asked about the fight’s outcome, Carrillo wasted no time and shared his narrative.

“The main challenge for Haggerty will be Superlek’s size, ” Carrillo said, adding, “But even then, Superlek can make 61 comfortably. In my opinion, the thing that would matter is size.“Moreover, Carrillo went on to praise Superlek’s takedown defense, referencing his impressive performance against Takeru. “His kickboxing is top-notch – he’s the best kickboxer alive,” he noted.  Interestingly, Nico Carrillo isn’t the only one backing Superlek; the Thai star also has the support of a 5x Muay Thai World Champion.

Superlek Kiatmoo9 backed to stop Jonathan Haggerty at ONE 168

British Muay Thai Champion Andre Howsow, despite his own heritage, appeared to favor Superlek over his fellow countryman Jonathan Haggerty in a recent ONE Championship Instagram reel. Howson commented, predicting a stoppage win for Superlek in round  3 or 4. Replying to Howson’s comment, Haggerty dropped a playful ‘kiss emoji’ as he added a sarcastic touch.

Concerned that his earlier comment might have been taken the wrong way, Howson clarified, “No hate; actually my all-time favorite fighter, has been for years, and he’s an elite competitor right now. There’s no doubt he can pull this off.” Then, Howson reassured Haggerty, claiming, “This win would be amazing for you and UK Muay Thau, solidifying your status as one of the greats for sure.“

Even after Howson’s clarification, his initial comment caught the attention of ONE Championship fans and Jonathan Haggerty himself, leading to some hilarious back-and-forth between Andrew Howson and Haggerty. Now, the question is: who’s your pick for the upcoming ONE 168: Denver fight? Jonathan Haggerty or Superlek Kiatmoo9? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.