5 Things That Make Liam Harrison Such A Dangerous Muay Thai Fighter
Liam “Hitman” Harrison has many elite attributes that have helped him become one of the most revered foreign Muay Thai fighters in history.
The decorated British star will showcase those skills in a clash of legends against Seksan Or Kwanmuang at ONE 168: Denver, and fans can’t wait to see how their matchup plays out in U.S. primetime on Friday, September 6.
Returning from the longest layoff of his career, Harrison is hungry to prove he can still deliver at the highest level, so expect a signature performance when ONE touches down on North American soil at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Here are five reasons why “Hitman” will be such a dangerous threat to Seksan when they duke it out in a 140-pound catchweight battle.
#1 Powerful Punches
Harrison is an aggressive fighter who likes to explode forward with heavy punches to hurt his opponents.
Those strikes were already damaging in big gloves, but they’ve been devastating since he joined ONE and donned the smaller 4-ouncers.
The 38-year-old throws his punches with bad intentions, rarely looking for a primer, instead trying to take off his opponents’ jaws with every shot.
This has earned him a massive social media following for his intense pad work videos. More importantly, it’s earned him some stunning KOs, including his whirlwind stoppage of Mohammed Bin Mahmoud.
#2 Incredible Heart
Harrison’s ability to move forward and throw hard is aided by his durability and affinity for a firefight. He loves to get in the pocket and throw, but you can’t do that without believing in your chin.
With no doubts about his ability to take a shot – and no fear of it, either – “Hitman” will walk toward any rival and pit his power against theirs to see who comes out on top.
Even in the face of adversity, the Leeds native will continue to plow forward. His memorable comeback against Muangthai PK Saenchai saw him bounce back off the canvas twice before dispatching his foe with three knockdowns of his own – all inside 2:19 of the first round.
#3 Blistering Low Kicks
Although he has a wide-ranging arsenal, Harrison’s other most-feared technique is his damaging low kick. The Bad Company representative owns a thigh-tenderizing right shin that he throws with power and accuracy.
However, it’s even more potent because of its uniqueness. Dubbed the “Leeds low kick,” the strike travels in a different trajectory than most others.
Many Muay Thai fighters arc their strike downward onto the lead thigh, but “Hitman” throws a quicker kick in an upward arc from the floor before turning his hips later in the movement.
This makes it much faster and less telegraphed, and therefore, more likely to land.
It also means Harrison can double or triple it up easily without needing as much time to reload – something Rodlek PK Saenchai found out in their 2019 clash.
#4 High Fight IQ
Harrison is renowned for his marauding style, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a thinking fighter.
He’s an astute analyst of the game who has a great eye for what other strikers do well and what their weaknesses are.
In part, this comes from “Hitman” still being a huge Muay Thai fan who is passionate about watching the sport and keeping tabs on rising talent.
He’ll often offer his thoughts on upcoming battles and be accurate in his predictions, picking up on the small details that make things work.
As a longtime and successful coach, the veteran has shown his unrivaled understanding of every facet of the game, and he can bring this into his own battles.
#5 An Unbreakable Mindset
The mind is just as important as the body when it comes to combat, and Harrison’s mental strength is unbreakable. He has proven this by finally returning from a recurring knee injury that threatened to end his career.
Instead of accepting that fate, Harrison has spent two years building himself back to peak condition, even saying he feels stronger and more powerful than ever.
This difficult journey also has the added benefit of making him hungrier with nothing to lose.
It appeared there were times when “Hitman” might lose the chance to do the one thing he loves the most, so he’s promising to enjoy every minute of it and give the fans something spectacular against Seksan on September 6.
