The Complete History Of The ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title
The ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai division houses a who’s who of talent, where only the most technical and ferocious practitioners of the sport compete for combat sports immortality.
From iconic ONE World Title defenses to stunning upsets, the 145-pound weight class has consistently delivered superstar-making performances that launched careers into the stratosphere.
The elite competition continues at ONE Fight Night 39 on Prime Video on January 23, streaming live in U.S. primetime.
On that night, Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon collides with Abdulla Dayakaev at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium in a high-stakes main event that could determine the next challenger for ONE Bantamweight World Champion Nabil Anane.
But before the division’s future unfolds, let’s explore the rich lineage of the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship.
Nong-O Sets The Standard With Legendary Reign
The bantamweight Muay Thai crown will forever be synonymous with its first and longest-reigning king, Nong-O Hama.
The revered Thai icon entered the world’s largest martial arts organization in 2018 with over 300 professional bouts and multiple Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium World Titles.
After winning his first two promotional matches, Nong-O earned his shot at the inaugural belt against China’s Han Zi Hao at ONE: CLASH OF LEGENDS in February 2019, claiming a dominant unanimous decision victory across five rounds.
That marked the beginning of a legendary run featuring seven successful defenses. The Thai superstar retained his throne with back-to-back unanimous decision victories over Hiroaki “Kaibutsukun” Suzuki at ONE: WARRIORS OF LIGHT and Brice “The Truck” Delval at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH.
Donning the 4-ounce gloves, Nong-O transformed from a cerebral muay femur into a ruthless headhunter, unleashing five consecutive knockout victories. He demolished fellow Thai Saemapetch Fairtex with a fourth-round KO at ONE: EDGE OF GREATNESS in November 2019 and stopped the durable Rodlek PK Saenchai in round three at ONE: COLLISION COURSE in December 2020.
Next, Nong-O took out another feared finisher in Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo at ONE X in March 2022, shutting the Brazilian’s lights out with a thunderous third-round uppercut.
Yet his most memorable finish came against Liam “Hitman” Harrison at “ONE on Prime Video 1” in August 2022, where devastating leg kicks smashed the British icon’s lead leg, forcing a first-round TKO in just over two minutes.
Then, at ONE Friday Fights 1 in January 2023, he made former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov pay for his taunts with a relentless third-round knockout.
Though Jonathan “The General” Haggerty ended his reign with a stunning first-round finish at ONE Fight Night 9 in April 2023, Nong-O’s brilliance shaped the division’s identity. At 39, he reinvented himself at flyweight and chases two-division supremacy with the same hunger that made him a bantamweight legend.
Haggerty Conquers Second Weight Class
Jonathan “The General” Haggerty notched one of the biggest upsets in Muay Thai history when he ended Nong-O’s dynasty.
The Orpington, England, native had already captured the ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in 2019. But to unlock his full potential, the British striker moved up to bantamweight.
His shot at history came at ONE Fight Night 9, as a massive underdog against the mythical Thai champion. What happened next shook the combat sports world.
Haggerty blitzed the longtime king with explosive combinations and relentless pressure, dropping Nong-O three times in the opening round before the referee waved off the contest at the 2:40 mark, crowning a new bantamweight ruler.
Later that year, he joined rarefied air as a two-sport, two-division ONE World Champion by knocking out Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade to claim the vacant ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title at ONE Fight Night 16.
After making history, “The General” returned to Muay Thai at ONE Fight Night 19 in February 2024 and was tested like never before by challenger Felipe Lobo. All seemed lost when the Brazilian knocked down Haggerty early in the first round.
But the 28-year-old showcased incredible resilience, weathering the storm before pulling off a dramatic comeback. In the third round, Haggerty unleashed a devastating assault that forced the stoppage in an all-time classic.
However, his reign was cut short when “The Kicking Machine” Superlek landed a devastating counter elbow at ONE 168: Denver in September 2024.
While Haggerty still holds his kickboxing crown, he aims to reclaim his lost Muay Thai throne in 2026.
Superlek’s Greatness Reaches New Heights
Superlek stands as one of the greatest strikers of this generation.
His technically mesmerizing striking fueled an 11-fight winning streak across Muay Thai and kickboxing that included victories over iconic figures like Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa.
The reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion earned his shot at a second weight class at ONE 168, where he met Haggerty.
Making his U.S. debut in Colorado, the Thai virtuoso delivered a masterclass in timing and precision. Using brilliant feints to disrupt the Englishman’s rhythm, Superlek patiently waited for his moment.
Then, he unleashed a devastating counter elbow that caught Haggerty coming forward, ending the contest in just 49 seconds with one of the greatest finishes the promotion has ever seen.
Unfortunately, the Thai star lost his belt outside of battle, unable to meet the demands of the scales before his scheduled unification bout with then-ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Anane at ONE 172 last March.
Adding to his woes, their bout continued as a non-title affair, where Anane dominated across three rounds.
Despite his recent struggles, Superlek remains determined to prove he is still the best pound-for-pound striker in the world and avenge his setbacks.
Anane Claims Interim Belt, Becomes Undisputed ONE World Champion
Losing his promotional debut to Superlek at ONE Friday Fights 22 in 2023 proved to be the best thing for Anane’s career.
That rude awakening showed the towering Algerian-Thai striker what it takes to succeed at the highest levels. He responded by winning his next six straight bouts, capped by an interim World Title-winning performance against Nico “King of the North” Carrillo at ONE 170 in January.
Showcasing his growth, the 21-year-old ended the Scottish monster’s four-fight winning streak with a devastating first-round TKO.
The victory earned him a rematch against Superlek at ONE 172. While the bout became a non-title affair after “The Kicking Machine” missed weight and lost his belt, Anane remained hell-bent on securing redemption.
The Team Mehdi Zatout prodigy used his height and reach advantage to perfection, keeping Superlek at bay before scoring a massive head-kick knockdown in the second round. He cruised to a career-defining unanimous decision victory, dominating Superlek like nobody had before.
In June, the promotion elevated him to undisputed ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion.
Anane was scheduled to defend his crown against Haggerty at ONE 173 last November, but the Brit’s injury changed plans. Instead, Anane seamlessly transitioned to featherweight kickboxing, defeating Hiromi Wajima via unanimous decision.
In 2026, the Pattaya native seeks to defend his throne against all challengers while chasing two-sport supremacy in kickboxing.
