ONE Fight Night 9: 3 Keys To Victory For Nong-O Hama vs Jonathan Haggerty

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ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama's accolades in ONE Championship have made him a phenom in his weight bracket, as his performances have continued to become more and more exciting.

His relentless output and indomitable prowess have seen him maintain a stronghold atop the bantamweight division over the course of his eight championship bouts for the Singapore-based martial arts promotion.

Awaiting him this Saturday, 22 April, is former ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champ Jonathan Haggerty in the main event of ONE Fight Night 9 at Bangkok's fighting temple, Lumpinee Stadium. With that, let's look at three keys to victory for Nong-O Hama at ONE Fight Night 9.

Countering Haggerty's Signature Teeps: If there's a staple of Haggerty's output, it's the thunderous power he projects in his rangey teeps, or front push kicks. The teep has become a well-known asset of the 26-year-old's repertoire.

Across the Englishman's combative career, he has utilized these strikes very well against the likes of Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Mongkolpetch Petchyindee, and current ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

The best way for Nong-O to manage the long legs of "The General" is to catch and use them as an entryway into Haggerty's close quarters to then unleash his ferocious handiwork.

Nong-O is already notoriously dangerous when deciding to step inside his opponent's range. However, being able to catch Haggerty's signature striking kicks will allow him precious moments to hurt the challenger.

Utilize Entries Into The Pocket: In similar fashion to catching Haggerty's kicks, Nong-O has to make sure he has the patience to wait for the right moment to enter Haggerty's space and attack with punches.

The long reach of Haggerty will allow the Engishman to utilize his jabs and kicks, but when the Thai legend times his entries to perfection, his flurries are unbelievably tough to withstand.

That said, getting on the inside of his British foe will allow him big opportunities to damage Haggerty in a similar fashion that saw Nong-O finish Alaverdi Ramazanov this past January.

Exploit Haggerty's Body: In polar opposite dynamics, Haggerty's last championship fight saw him fall following numerous brutal combinations to his body when he attempted to take back his flyweight Muay Thai crown from Rodtang.

Nong-O's most recent victory came from him unleashing body shots on Russia's Ramazanov back at ONE Friday Fights 1 in January. It's clearly a weakness of Haggerty's and a strength of Nong-O's.

If the striking king can blister the body of the British battler, then he will find himself right on track and on his way to victory in front of his home crowd.