“He was the best in the world” - Jonathan Haggerty admits he was at a disadvantage when he fought Superlek in 2018

Jonathan Haggerty admits he might have bitten off more than he could chew when he first faced Superlek Kiatmoo9 in 2018.

The pair of now-ONE world champions first squared off in the United Kingdom under the Yokkao banner in a match that Superlek took via doctor's stoppage.

Almost six years since that meeting, Haggerty gets his rematch against Superlek when he defends his ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title in the main event of ONE 168: Denver on Sept. 6 at Ball Arena.

Haggerty told ONE Championship in an interview that his first match against Superlek, the now-ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion, was a virtual mismatch since he had yet to face the best possible competition at that point in his career.

He said:

"The first fight against Superlek was about seven or six years ago. I shouldn't have stepped into that one. I had about 13 fights, he had about 200 to 300 fights. He was the best in the world, and I was just an up-and-coming fighter."

Jonathan Haggerty, though, has since risen to the same level as Superlek and many even argue that he already eclipsed what the Thai superstar has done.

'The General' is now a two-division and two-sport world champion for ONE Championship.

After relinquishing the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title to current holder Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Haggerty moved to bantamweight where he now holds the division's Muay Thai and kickboxing world titles.

Jonathan Haggerty also holds wins over ONE bantamweight MMA world champion Fabricio Andrade, and Thai legends Nong-O Hama and Sam-A Gaiyanghadao.

He now plans to avenge that 2018 defeat to Superlek and retain his ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 168.

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Jonathan Haggerty says it feels surreal taking Superlek on in Denver

Jonathan Haggerty isn't new to headlining ONE Championship cards, he's already had several main events under his belt, but the one at ONE 168 feels a little more special.

The two-sport king was already in Denver nearly a month before his world title defense against Superlek and he would often take the morning runs that go past Ball Arena.

Haggerty told the South China Morning Post that he would sometimes see people lining up outside the Denver Nuggets' home stadium, and he felt a sense of pride to see those same crowds watch him on Friday:

"We're actually not too far away from the Ball Arena. So every time before training, I run past it, and after training, I run past it, and there are always queues outside, people queuing up. I'm just thinking to myself, people are going to be queuing up, coming to watch me for the main event. So not only just me, but the whole fight card. But it's a little bit surreal, and it's exciting, and I can't wait to get in there now."