Jonathan Haggerty, playfully dubbed “The General,” is kicking his way to the top in Muay Thai, creating a knockout legacy with performances that are nothing short of roundhouse excellence.
Born February 18th, 1997, in Orpington, England, Haggerty’s journey in martial arts began at a young age, learning Muay Thai from his father at 7 and making his amateur debut at 12.
Stepping into the professional arena in 2014, he quickly rose through the ranks with skill, determination, and relentless fighting spirit.
Haggerty’s proficiency in Muay Thai garnered attention, leading to his ONE Championship debut in January 2019.
In a short span, he achieved remarkable success, notably defeating the legendary Sam-A Gaiyanghadao in May 2019 to claim the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship.
However, Haggerty’s ambition didn’t stop there; he aimed to become a champion in multiple weight classes, showing off his versatility and adaptability in the striking arts. Building on this success, Haggerty continued his pursuit of excellence.
On November 4, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 16, he faced Brazil’s Fabrício Andrade for the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship. Once again, Haggerty displayed his striking prowess, culminating in a second-round knockout to claim yet another championship belt.
Haggerty accomplished the rare feat of becoming a dual-title holder in ONE Championship in an astounding display of skill and tenacity.
On April 22, 2023, at ONE Fight Night 9, he faced Nong-O Gaiyanghadao for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship. The bout ended with Haggerty delivering a knockout victory and securing his position as the new champion in a different weight class.
Jonathan Haggerty’s remarkable achievements as a dual-title holder in ONE Championship underscore his dominance in the Muay Thai arena and his ability to conquer multiple weight divisions, solidify his status as one of the most versatile and accomplished athletes in the promotion.
As he continues to make history, fans eagerly anticipate the next chapter in “The General’s” extraordinary career. Now, let’s get ready for the ultimate showdown as we kick up a storm with Jonathan Haggerty’s Top 5 Kickboxing Finishes! (in descending order)
5. Vs. Ross Cochrane – MTGP 1 (June 20, 2015)
In a youthful display of skill, Haggerty graces the ring with his prowess at a very early stage in his career.
A mere 30 seconds into the first round, he expertly catches a mid-kick, initiating a rapid scramble to the ground.
The ensuing clinch work unfolds with an amateurish scuffle, producing near trips and stumbles from both contenders.
However, the turning point arrives just over a minute into the round, as Haggerty unveils a breathtaking finishing combination.
He connects a perfect left hook and uppercut with precision and finesse, seamlessly followed by a devastating knee to his opponent’s head.
The aftermath sees his opponent crumple in the aftermath of the powerful uppercut.
The fight concluded spectacularly, with Haggerty securing victory at 1:17 into the first round!
4. Vs. Keith McLachlan – YOKKAO 29 (Mar. 10, 2018)
Haggerty’s prowess was on full display from the outset here as a booming head kick echoed throughout the entire stadium despite being skilfully blocked.
At 2:14 of round 1, Jonathan unleashed an audacious inverted elbow, narrowly missing a devastating split atop McLachlan’s head.
Shortly after, Haggerty seamlessly executed a trip on Keith, deftly shoving him out of the clinch and onto the canvas. He then attempted an ambitious flying knee. This move would have proven catastrophic if it had found its mark!
As the second round commenced, Haggerty wasted no time, delivering a lightning-fast left high kick that sent Keith to the canvas just two seconds in.
Although the referee allowed Keith to resume, a repeat left high kick abruptly concluded the fight 15 seconds into the round, stunningly sealing McLachlan’s fate whilst sealing Haggerty’s victory.
3. Vs. Arthur Meyer – SWS (Nov. 20, 2021)
Contending for the ISKA Muay Thai Lightweight World Title, Haggerty entered the ring against Arthur Meyer in a display of exceptional skill.
Initiating the bout with intriguing counter kicks, he added flair with a flashy tomahawk elbow that sent ripples of concern through his opponent, deftly skimming Meyer. At 1:50, Haggerty showed off his technical ability with a clinch trip.
Meyer retaliated with mid-kicks, but Haggerty demonstrated impeccable defence, adeptly measuring his teeps towards the end of the round and delivering a remarkable left mid-kick.
With a mere 10 seconds remaining in the round, Haggerty unleashed an all-out assault, connecting a beautiful body hook, mid-kick, and a knee, concluding the round on a high note.
As round 2 commenced, Meyer narrowly avoided spinning out onto the floor with a missed calf kick, highlighting Haggerty’s impressive spatial awareness.
At 2:25, an elbow landed solidly on Meyer’s head, yet miraculously, he remained standing. However, Haggerty didn’t take long to seal the deal with a stunning left and right hook, bringing the fight to a close with 1:00 left in the round.
The climax of the bout unfolded exceptionally in the second round when Haggerty secured a knockout victory through a flawless combination of a left hook and right cross.
This triumph marked yet another significant milestone in Haggerty’s illustrious career.
2. Vs. Nong-O Gaiyanghadao – ONE FN: 9 (April 22, 2023)
In a clash for the prestigious ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship, Haggerty squared off against the formidable Nong-O Gaiyanghadao.
The tension escalated at 2:22 as a perfectly executed one-two combination penetrated Nong-O’s guard, followed by a seamless mid-kick catch and a sweep seconds later.
Haggerty continued to display his prowess, nearly connecting with another one-two at 1:30, only to be countered by a straight from the resilient Nong-O.
The intensity of the bout reached its zenith at 0:58 when a lightning-fast one-two from Haggerty sent Nong-O sprawling to the mat, visibly wobbling as he struggled to rise.
After a reset, history repeated itself as Haggerty unleashed another devastating one-two, causing Nong-O to valiantly stand once more.
However, the third lightning-fast attempt proved decisive, as Haggerty’s one-two sent Nong-O’s now limp body crashing down to the canvas.
The fight concluded abruptly in the first round, with Haggerty securing a knockout victory through a barrage of punches.
This monumental win solidified his status as the new ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.
1. Vs. Fabrício Andrade – ONE FN: 16 (Nov. 4, 2023)
In a highly anticipated showdown for the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Championship, Jonathan Haggerty faced off against the skilled Brazilian fighter Fabrício Andrade.
In the initial round, Haggerty’s lightning-fast combinations proved overwhelming for Andrade.
Despite Andrade’s attempts to counter, he struggled to match Haggerty’s speed and dynamic moves.
Haggerty’s boldness and relentless high kicks, combined with precise punch combinations, kept Andrade on the defensive, relying on mid and calf kicks to fend off the onslaught.
The second round burst with intensity as Haggerty unleashed a powerful knee and jab at 2:43, setting a relentless pace.
A left head kick from Haggerty at 1:48 proved pivotal, causing Andrade to wobble and creating an opening for a furious barrage of punches.
Andrade pressed against the ropes and circled desperately. Still, Haggerty’s relentless one-two combination, followed by a repeated onslaught, proved too much. Andrade succumbed, falling to the canvas at 1:57 and was unable to rise.
The fight climaxed in the second round, with Haggerty securing the championship title through a decisive knockout with punches.
This extraordinary victory spotlighted Haggerty’s striking mastery and earned him the prestigious Performance of the Night bonus.
Haggerty’s triumph is a testament to his exceptional adaptability and innate ability to seize opportunities within the ring.
This remarkable victory solidifies his ascent in the world of Muay Thai and adds another well-deserved Performance of the Night accolade to his impressive list of achievements.
As Jonathan Haggerty continues to navigate through different weight classes, fans can eagerly anticipate a continued cascade of exhilarating moments inside the ring sharing in his gripping journey.
