Being the smallest guy in the gym gave Freddie Haggerty something to prove.
After scoring three straight knockouts in his first three appearances with ONE Championship, the 20-year-old Haggerty returns to martial arts' biggest global stage this Friday, January 24 2 for an epic showdown with Colombian newcomer Jordan Estupinan at ONE 170.
Ahead of his highly anticipated return to the Circle, Haggerty spoke about what it was like being seen as the little guy in the gym and the chip it placed firmly on his shoulder.
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"Being the smallest, it was tough," Haggerty said during an appearance on the Goated Combat podcast. "But it made me tough as well. I sort of had to be tougher than the rest to be able to take everything and push through everything. But it made me who I am. I'm still the littlest, but I'm still the hardest."
After going 3-0 with a 100% finish rate in ONE, it's hard to imagine anyone is still giving Haggerty a hard time about his size anymore.
Freddie Haggerty expects Jordan Estupinan to be the spitting image of his brother inside the Circle
Freddie Haggerty's fourth appearance for the promotion will see him square off with Jordan Estupinan, the twin brother of undefeated star Johan Estupinan, who will also feature at ONE 170.
While it will be Jordan Estupinan's first appearance in ONE, Haggerty feels like he's got a pretty good beat on what the 22-year-old's strengths will be after seeing his brother put together a string of impressive wins on martial arts' biggest global stage.
"I've just been basing it off his brother's style mainly, like taking little things from his brother - assume they're going to be the same," Haggerty said of his opponent. "They got the same coach, they're brothers, they're twins - so yeah, I'm guessing they're gonna be identical.
"So yeah, just taking things from his brother, but obviously not taking everything just in case he is a little bit different."
ONE Championship fans can catch ONE 170 live on Friday, January 24 at watch.onefc.com.