Felipe Lobo has shown heart and power since arriving in ONE Championship. The “Demolition Man” will now have a chance to show his championship mettle on Friday, February 16, in Bangkok. The Brazilian will challenge Jonathan Haggerty for the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in the ONE Fight Night 19 main event.
The collision course for the match was set last April. Lobo defeated Saemapetch Fairtex by knockout to position himself as a top contender and called for his title shot. The champion also took notice, according to Lobo.
“[Haggerty has] been calling me since my last fight with Saemapetch. When my fight with Saemapetch ended, back at the hotel, he walked past me and said, ‘I liked watching you fight. You’re next,'” Lobo told ONE.
At year’s end, ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Fabricio Andrade and Haggerty competed for the vacant kickboxing crown. Lobo was in Andrade’s corner for the encounter. He once again traded words with the reigning king.
“On the day of the fight with Fabricio, it was the same thing. [Haggerty] walked past me and said, ‘You’re next.’ I said, ‘Let’s see what happens next time. I’m waiting for you.’ His coaches came and said a lot of things, but I couldn’t understand because everyone was talking at the same time. He likes to talk a lot. He is talkative,” the Brazilian stated.
Haggerty dismissed Lobo’s ability to take the gold from him. It was something that struck a chord with the Brazilian, who is out to prove the Brit wrong at ONE Fight Night 19. With the contract signed, the “Demolition Man” now just had to put in the work in the gym.
Tackling Haggerty will not be an easy feat. He is at the top of his game, putting away elite competition. But Lobo believes he can return fire and connect first in an exciting firefight on February 16.
“He knows how to use his boxing very well. He moves forward all the time and kicks very well. Furthermore, he has good feints that I need to pay attention to so as not to be surprised. But I believe his strong point is his speed. He moves very well. And his weak point is that he can’t take many hits. He’s very good at hitting, but when it comes to defending himself, protecting himself, he’s not so good,” the bantamweight challenger stated.
With so many possibilities, the 30-year-old is preparing for everything. Lobo is not predicting anything other than a lot of output from both men. He expects to shine and take home the gold after a highlight-reel KO, whether it comes fast and furious or from a methodical showdown.
“Like I said, I think there will be a lot of striking in this fight. I’m preparing myself for everything, walking backward, moving forwards, to suppress, but I keep in mind that I can’t let him get comfortable in the fight. But my prediction is to win this fight by knockout. I’m going to knock him out – that’s my prediction,” Lobo said.
ONE Fight Night 19 airs live on Friday, February 16. The action begins at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST on Prime Video. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
