ONE Fight Night 16 comes our way this weekend, and the main event is a must-watch for so many reasons.
First of all when Britain’s Jonathan Haggerty and Brazil’s Fabricio Andrade meet, a two-sport world champion will be crowned.
Bantamweight Muay Thai champ Haggerty, and bantamweight MMA supremo Andrade will go head-to-head for the division’s kickboxing crown, and join a small select group who have been able to reign over two sports in ONE Championship.
Haggerty comes into the bout with an outright striking pedigree, as you’d expect from a Muay Thai master. Training in the discipline since the age of seven, he has learned and honed his craft over nearly two decades to become a member of the world’s elite – with standout ONE wins over Joseph Lasiri, Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, and Nong-O Hama – all of whom are former ONE world champions.
Fabricio Andrade wants another title
The question going into this one, will be can Andrade hang with Haggerty’s striking in a purely kickboxing contrast. We are all well aware of his MMA capabilities, and the four knockout/TKO wins he holds in ONE – but MMA striking is vastly different to purer striking disciplines like Muay Thai, and indeed kickboxing.
Take a step back into the world of Fabricio Andrade from 2016 to 2019 however and you will see a kickboxing record of 20-3 – yes, he may not have fought under those rules in the last four years but he will be more than comfortable between the ropes, rather than a cage.
Andrade will take a half-inch height advantage, but Haggerty will enjoy a little over an inch in reach advantage – both negligible at this level.
And so it will come down to the pure striker versus the striker turned MMA superstar – two phenomenal champions – one of who will leave the Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, a history maker and two sport king.
ONE Fight Night 16 comes live from the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Thailand on Saturday October 28 Fight fans in the MENA region can watch action BeINSPORTS from 3.00am MECCA, or on watch.onefc.com
