Jacob Smith reveals he didn’t give fellow Brit Jonathan Haggerty “one percent of a chance” in world title win over Nong-O

One can never fault Jacob Smith for feeling a bit skeptical when his compatriot Jonathan Haggerty challenged the legendary Nong-O Hama for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title in 2023.

Nong-O, at the time, was seen as an unstoppable force and Smith didn't see Haggerty, a former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion, taking that improbable win.

Haggerty, though, pulled the impossible and shocked the world when he knocked Nong-O out in the first round to claim the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Smith admitted that he practically didn't give Haggerty any chance of winning when saw the matchup.

Smith, however, ultimately had to throw away his predictions when he saw Haggerty channel an indistinguishable drive against Nong-O at ONE Fight Night 9.

"Mate, I’m going to be brutally honest with you, I didn’t give Haggerty one percent of a chance," said Jacob Smith.

Haggerty would reach double champion status when he claimed the vacant ONE bantamweight kickboxing world title after scoring another knockout win at the expense of bantamweight MMA king Fabricio Andrade at ONE Fight Night 16.

'The General' then retained his bantamweight Muay Thai strap when he knocked out Felipe Lobo in his first defense at ONE Fight Night 19 in February.

Haggerty, though, fell in his last world title defense and relinquished the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title to ONE flyweight kickboxing world champion Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168.

As for Jacob Smith, he has a chance to bring another piece of ONE Championship gold to Great Britain in his next outing.

The British slugger will challenge Rodtang Jitmuangnon for the ONE flyweight Muay Thai world title in the co-main event of the stacked ONE 169 card on November 8 at Lumpinee Stadium.

Smith's world title challenge against Rodtang and the entire ONE 169 card are available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

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Jacob Smith plans to rely on his strengths in world title challenge against Rodtang

Rodtang Jitmuangnon has an almost mythical aura when he fights, and it's evident when he casually shrugs off the punishment he receives from his opponents.

Jacob Smith knew of this phenomenon when he faced Rodtang in his ONE Championship debut at ONE 157.

In the same interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Smith said he believes he holds stronger kicks than Rodtang and he plans to use that perceived advantage in Bangkok.

"I probably kick harder I would say and I'm probably a little bigger than him. No, I can't do a list of what his strengths and weaknesses are. You're just going to have to wait and see."