Jonathan Haggerty Takes Swipe At Rodtang, Jarred Brooks Responds With An MMA-Muay Thai Challenge
Former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty has made his feelings on the Demetrious Johnson-Rodtang Jitmuangnon special rules super-fight at ONE X crystal clear.
“The General” wants in on the action, and he even believes he would give the MMA GOAT a tougher challenge than the Thai superstar.
ONE Championship recently posted a photo of the flyweight trio on its official Instagram account, with a quote from a previous Haggerty interview:
“I think I’d be a tougher fight for Demetrious Johnson.”
Naturally, the post elicited a bevy of responses, as well as a shocking challenge from another ONE athlete.
Veteran ONE broadcast analyst Mitch Chilson commented on the post:
“I wonder if ‘The General’ can stop a takedown.”
Second-ranked strawweight MMA contender Jarred Brooks also chimed in and, interestingly enough, proposed his own hybrid-rules showdown with Haggerty.
“No disrespect @jhaggerty_ let’s do our own shabang.”
With his father running an MMA gym in London, Haggerty says he grew up training with mixed martial arts fighters since he was a young boy. As such, wrestling and grappling isn’t a foreign concept to the 24-year-old striking superstar.
That in mind, Haggerty responded to Brooks’ comment:
“Would be an honour.”
Jonathan Haggerty Ready To Step In For Rodtang On Short Notice
Following his big win over Mongkolpetch Petchyindee at ONE: BAD BLOOD earlier this month, Jonathan Haggerty said he was heading back into training as soon as possible in case his old foe – reigning ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon – was unable to face Johnson at ONE X for any reason.
The London-based striker further elaborated:
“It might be written in the stars. As soon as I get back in the gym, I’m jumping straight on MMA training and I’m waiting for that phone call. Like I said, I think I would be a tougher fight for Demetrious Johnson, in all God’s honest truth. I’m just more athletic, so we’ll see what happens.”
While his grappling isn’t high level by any means, Haggerty feels it’s good enough to allow him to survive a round or two inside the Circle, and maybe even throw up a submission attempt of his own.
Haggerty said:
“I could do it. You know I’m ready at all times. I can try a little triangle choke in there. But we’ll have to wait and see…I’ve done it [jiu-jitsu]. My dad owns a gym. For years I’ve been growing up, I’ve just been doing the basics for years, nothing too dedicated.”
Johnson battles Rodtang at ONE X, ONE Championship’s historic 10-year anniversary show, live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday, 26 March. And fans can be sure that Haggerty will be patiently waiting with a pair of MMA gloves should anything change.
