The main event of ONE 168: Denver will see Thai superstar “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 move up in weight to challenge Jonathan “The General” Haggerty for his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.

Set to air live in U.S. primetime on September 6 from Ball Arena, that hotly anticipated showdown represents a clash between two of the planet’s top pound-for-pound strikers.

Notably, though, it won’t be the first time the pair has gone toe-to-toe. 

Superlek Kiatmoo9 was craving a rematch with Jonathan Haggerty

Back in 2018, before either athlete was competing in ONE, Superlek ventured into enemy territory and defeated the hard-hitting Brit via doctor stoppage due to cuts. Understandably, the pro-Haggerty crowd wasn’t happy with the way the fight ended.

“The Kicking Machine” is now hungry to erase any doubt that he’s the superior striker. He said:

“Haggerty has always been someone [I wanted] a rematch with since our first match in 2018. That fight was stopped by the ref. I won by TKO, but the crowd wasn’t happy. There was a lot of booing as if I didn’t deserve to win. I want to prove that I can still win the fight without a ref stopping it prematurely.

“I’m not happy that I was questioned, as if I wasn’t able to win without the stoppage. I want to prove people wrong. I have always wanted a rematch.”

Since that fight, Superlek has gone on to claim the ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Title and pick up unforgettable victories over the likes of Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa, among others.

“The Kicking Machine” promises to give it his all

Through it all, he’s cemented himself as a true master of technique and one of the most talented strikers the world has ever seen. 

He says that against Haggerty, he’s ready to risk it all – including suffering his first-ever knockout – to put on a show for American fans and become a two-division, two-sport ONE World Champion:

“This fight will be the first time ever I’ll go 100 percent all out, putting a lot of pressure. I will be aggressive. Fans may know us as technical fighters, but they can expect an explosive fight on September 6. I’m looking for a knockout. It’s high risk. I may lose my record of never being knocked out in my entire career, but I’m going for it. I’m giving my all for this fight.”