Stunning KO helps crown new Muay Thai champ

Professional Muay Thai athlete Jonathan Haggerty won the ONE Muay Thai Championship against Nong O Gaiyanghadao. Haggerty only needed 2 minutes and 40 seconds to finish the reigning champion.

Jonathan Haggerty returned to the ring on April 22 to take on Nong O Gaiyanghadao, a fan-favorite Thai athlete who won the inaugural championship in 2019 and has successfully defended it 8 times in a row.

On the other hand, Jonathan Haggerty was riding a 4-win streak when he entered the arena. He also previously won the ISKA Muay Thai lightweight championship in 2021. The 27-year-old earned the opportunity to fight for the ONE championship after defeating Vladimir Kuzmin in November of last year.

He kept the same spirit when he took on Gaiyanghadao at the iconic arena of Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

As soon as the match started, both athletes relentlessly exchanged hard attacks. Gaiyanghadao showcased why he is called a legend, but his effort wasn’t enough. Haggerty proved that he is too much for Gaiyanghadao. His fierce combination of strikes absolutely overwhelmed Gaiyanghadao.

With his intense punches, the young Englishman successfully knocked down Gaiyanghadao not only once but twice in the first round. The gap between these knockdowns was very short. Soon after the second knockdown, Haggerty delivered a hard right hook that was so hard it sent Gaiyanghadao right to the canvas.

Gaiyanghadao was completely knocked out and flat on the ground. The referee quickly waved his hands, marking the end of the match.

With this result, Jonathan Haggerty became the new ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai Champion. ‘The General’ also extended his professional record to 20 wins and 4 losses. Chairman and CEO of ONE Chatri Sityodtong was so impressed with his performance and rewarded him with a $100,000 performance bonus.