Former two-division MMA World Champion Martin Nguyen is just one of countless fans who are pumped for the main event clash between Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade and Jonathan “The General” Haggerty at ONE Fight Night 16 on Prime Video.
On November 3 in U.S. primetime, the two superstars – each already ONE World Champions in other sports – will throw down for the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Nguyen recently spoke about that massive World Title showdown and gushed about the elite striking talent on both sides
In one corner, he recognizes that reigning bantamweight MMA kingpin Andrade has already proven to be one of the sport’s most dominant stand-up competitors.
“The Situ-Asian” said:
“They’re two of my favorite strikers to watch. Let’s put it this way: In terms of MMA, for sure I see Fabricio holding the World Title for a long time. A long time. I don’t really see anyone in that division beating him.
“He’s very, very good. Very, very good defense when it comes to wrestling. We haven’t seen his jiu-jitsu or his type of wrestling yet because, you know, he’s just been obliterating everyone on the feet.”
Standing across from “Wonder Boy” will be Haggerty, the reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and a former flyweight Muay Thai titleholder.
Nguyen is quick to note that the Brit has added some serious size and strength since moving up from the lower weight class late last year:
“Jonathan Haggerty, he’s come up from flyweight and he’s on a tear. Obviously, more power, more speed. It’s very, very scary to stand across him now.”
That massive power was on full display in Haggerty’s spectacular World Title-winning stoppage of Thai legend Nong-O Hama in the first round this past April.
And given that “The General” usually competes in Muay Thai as a striking specialist, Nguyen knows many will view him as the favorite at ONE Fight Night 16.
Still, he warns that fans shouldn’t count out Andrade, who put together a remarkable resume in professional Muay Thai and kickboxing before his full-time transition to MMA:
“This is a kickboxing fight. Everyone would think Haggerty would have somewhat of the advantage, and on paper, you would think, yeah, 100 percent.
“But on paper, if you look at Andrade, he started off in Muay Thai and kickboxing. He’s got a 40-3 record. That’s like, phenomenal. I think that’s more than Haggerty. So, he is a world-class striker, and it’s very, very hard to pick this bout and a winner, you know.”
Ultimately, Nguyen sees Haggerty as an elite technician – one of the finest pound-for-pound strikers on the planet. Andrade, though, is a ruthless knockout artist of the highest caliber.
“The Situ-Asian” offered:
“I think technically, you’d think that Haggerty would walk away with this. But you can never know because Fabricio is such a sniper, man. You can’t give him any space – otherwise, he’ll put you out.”
Nguyen Confident In Andrade’s Switch Back To Kickboxing
Diving deeper into this ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title contest, one has to wonder if Fabricio Andrade’s focus on MMA – rather than striking – will hinder him against Muay Thai superstar Jonathan Haggerty.
A devastating MMA striker in his own right, Martin Nguyen knows a thing about the stand-up game. And he believes the Brazilian phenom – with his deep background on the feet and proven finishing instincts – won’t have any problems switching sports.
Nguyen added:
[Andrade’s] elite when it comes to striking. So, that transition, I don’t think it will take too much to transition at all.”
(@fabricioandrade1)
