Two-sport ONE Bantamweight World Champion, Jonathan Haggerty, is set to return to defend his Muay Thai strap against “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver. This marks ONE Championship’s second return to the United States, with the event scheduled for September 6th at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

In a bid to space his busy schedule and carve out some personal time, Jonathan Haggerty took to social media to reveal how he spends his vacations when he’s not fighting.

Jonathan Haggerty emphasizes rest ahead of the ONE 168 fight

Currently, Jonathan Haggerty stands as one of the most successful non-Thai fighters in the all-striking divisions of the ONE Championship. In his most recent fight this year, Haggerty successfully defended his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title against Felipe Lobo at ONE Fight Night 19 with a knockout victory in February. After some well-deserved rest, he’s now gearing up to compete in September in the US.

In a recent Instagram reel, Jonathan Haggerty offers a glimpse into another side of a fighter’s life, reminding us that they’re human beings after all. The reel showcases his vacation in Qatar at the Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva Som. We hear Haggerty’s voiceover explaining, “Training is pretty hardcore. It’s very important to have a rest from training, especially coming to a place as beautiful as Qatar. We are here to show that we’re different and we are not just fighters.“

Haggerty’s words echo the sentiment that a balance between hard training and proper rest is crucial for a fighter’s overall development, contributing to peak performance and sustained success. This is evident in his current six-fight winning streak and his impressive form, as acknowledged by his rival Liam Harrison in a recent interview.

Liam Harrison appreciates Jonathan Haggerty’s skills

The feud between the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai King Jonathan Haggerty and #5-ranked contender Liam Harrison is not new. Haggerty has called out Harrison for a fight on many occasions. However, Liam Harrison, who is coming off multiple injuries, rejected his offers and advised Haggerty to fight someone of his age.

In a recent interview with Sky Sports MMA Club, Liam Harrison revealed he might never have personally liked Jonathan Haggerty, but still respected him professionally. Harrison expressed his excitement for Haggerty’s upcoming title defense against Superlek Kiatmoo9 in September.

Harrison emphasized, “I think he’s a very, very dangerous young man, he’s an exciting fighter to watch. I think his fight with Superlek is going to be insane and we’re going to see what he’s really made of here. Other than the Rodtang fight, this is the first elite-level guy who’s in their prime, who’s a real killer so I’m looking forward to that fight.”

He continued, noting the form both fighters are in, stating, “Haggerty is in great form, Superlek is in great form, and you’re going to get an explosion.” Meanwhile, ONE Championship’s CEO Chatri Sityodtong mentioned a few weeks ago about a potential Liam Harrison vs. Jonathan Haggerty bout happening in Britain. What do you think? Is this a fight you want to see? Let us know in the comments below.