Jonathan Haggerty Survives Early Scare To Stop Felipe Lobo And Retain Bantamweight Muay Thai Gold
ONE Championship (ONE) put together another electric evening of martial arts action at the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with ONE Fight Night 19: Haggerty vs. Lobo. The ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title was up for grabs in a fiery showdown between elite strikers.
ONE Championship, in partnership with leading premium lifestyle and luxury performance brand TUMI, presented the prestigious ONE World Title belt to the World Champion.
In the main event, reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Jonathan Haggerty overcame a spirited effort from #3-ranked contender Felipe “Demolition Man” Lobo, surviving a knockdown in the first round to come storming back with a TKO victory in the third.
Haggerty put forth a calculated offensive in the early going, forcing Lobo on the back foot with his signature push kicks and switch-hitting style. Meanwhile, Lobo patiently waited for openings to unload his vaunted boxing combinations. Ultimately, “Demolition Man” ended the round with a devastating flurry that had Haggerty sitting on the ropes and forced the referee to administer a standing eight-count.
The second round was an absolute barnburner, as both men traded their heaviest blows at the center of the ring. “The General” hurt his Brazilian challenger in a quick exchange, dropping Lobo with an elbow for a knockdown of his own. Lobo would rally back to force Haggerty on the defensive yet again, and the two continued to go back and forth with their best shots.
The third round saw the defending champion take control of the action, as the two-sport king sent his game opponent back to the canvas with a bludgeoning right hand. Though Lobo made it back to his feet, he was on unsteady legs, which forced referee Olivier Coste to call a halt to the contest.
In the co-main event, #4-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender Saemapetch Fairtex returned to action with a vengeance to stop Algerian rival Mohamed Younes Rabah in the first round of their highly anticipated rematch.
Saemapetch connected with a thunderous straight left in the opening moments of the fight, sending a bewildered Rabah to the canvas. Soon thereafter, the 29-year-old Thai floored the Algerian for a second time with another straight left hand.
The end came as Saemapetch smothered Rabah with one more combination to score a third consecutive knockdown, which awarded him the technical knockout finish.
For ONE Fight Night 19: Haggerty vs. Lobo, ONE Championship has been proud to partner with Stage Front VIP (global VIP experience partner), Monster Energy (exclusive energy drink partner), TUMI (official premium luggage partner), and Fairtex (official glove partner), featuring branding in-stadium and inside the Circle, custom branded content across broadcast and digital, and more.
Performance bonus winners: Jonathan Haggerty (US$50,000), Saemapetch Fairtex (US$50,000), Martyna Kierczynska (US$50,000), Thongpoon PK Saenchai (US$50,000)
ONE Fight Night 19: Haggerty vs. Lobo Complete Results
Jonathan Haggerty defeats Felipe Lobo via TKO (referee stoppage – right punch) at 0:45 of round three to retain the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title
Saemapetch Fairtex defeats Mohamed Younes Rabah via TKO (3 knockdowns – punch-elbow combination) at 1:33 of round one (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
Lito Adiwang defeats Danial Williams via unanimous decision (MMA – strawweight)
Nauzet Trujillo defeats Liam Nolan via unanimous decision (Muay Thai – lightweight)
Hiroyuki Tetsuka defeats Abraao Amorim via submission (armbar) at 4:57 of round one (MMA – welterweight)
Luke Lessei defeats Eddie Abasolo via split decision (Muay Thai – featherweight)
Martyna Kierczynska defeats Nat Jaroonsak via TKO (referee stoppage – punch combination) at 1:24 of round two (Muay Thai – strawweight)
Mansur Malachiev defeats Yosuke Saruta via unanimous decision (MMA – strawweight)
Thongpoon PK Saenchai defeats Timur Chuikov via TKO (3 knockdowns – punch combination) at 1:37 of round one (Muay Thai – strawweight)
