ONE Championship: Nong-O wants Jonathan Haggerty rematch, but prioritises health of ‘brain and body’
- Nong-O suffers shock knockout loss to Haggerty at Saturday’s O’NE Fight Night 9 event in Bangkok, losing his bantamweight Muay Thai belt
- Thai legend was previously unbeaten in 10 ONE fights, and now plans to take some time off to recover
Nong-O Hama is already thinking about a ONE Championship rematch with Jonathan Haggerty, but will prioritise the health of his brain and body.
The 36-year-old Thai was back in action in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 in Bangkok on Saturday, taking on England’s Jonathan Haggerty in hopes of defending his bantamweight Muay Thai belt for a record-setting eighth time.
Haggerty had other plans, dropping the champion three times en route a first-round knockout win – and a massive upset.
It was his Nong-O’s first loss in 11 ONE bouts, and one he is hoping he will have the opportunity to avenge.
“I want to have a chance to rematch again,” the Muay Thai legend wrote on Facebook several hours after his shocking knockout loss. “But for now, I need time to rest my brain and my body to the fullest. I promise to come back again.”
Nong-O also shared footage of himself comforting his children after the loss.
“Fall down today, get up tomorrow,” he wrote in the caption for the video. “You can suffer, but don’t suffer for long.”
ONE Friday Fights 13 results: Rambolek earns US$100,000 contract for KO
While the new champion Haggerty has plenty of options in terms of his first title challenger, he told the Post that he would welcome a rematch with the man he beat to win the belt.
“No hard feelings at all,” he said. “I wish him a speedy recovery. What a great legend. If we wants to go again, let’s go.”
Nong-O was cornered in Bangkok by his training partner Superbon – the former ONE featherweight kickboxing champ – who had predicted a third-round knockout for the his fellow Thai.
“Let’s go to claim the championship back together, brother,” Superbon – who also surrendered his belt in a shock knockout loss in Bangkok in January, against Chingiz Allazov – wrote in a social media post.
Nong-O’s last successful title defence occurred in January, when he knocked out former kickboxing champion Alaverdi Ramazanov at ONE’s debut event in Lumpinee Stadium.
His next most recent defences came against world class contenders in Liam Harrison, Felipe Lobo, Rodlek PK Saenchai and Saemapetch Fairtex, none of whom survived until the final bell.
Nong-O won the title with a decision defeat of Han Zihao in February, 2019.
He was briefly retired before signing with ONE 2018, following a long successful career on the Thai circuit.
