Jonathan Haggerty’s bantamweight kickboxing title defense vs. Wei Rui headlines ONE’s return to Qatar at ONE 171

ONE Championship announced its headlining act for its return to the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar, and it's definitely a big one fans won't want to miss.

Jonathan Haggerty will defend his bantamweight kickboxing world title for the first time against Chinese sensation 'Demon Blade' Wei Rui on Feb. 20, 2025.

The world's largest martial arts organization received a rousing welcome to Lusail Sports Arena for ONE 166: Qatar last March.

By the looks of it, the promotion wants to top that massive event with an even bigger spectacle in its long-awaited return to the Middle East.

Haggerty, a former two-sport world champion, is indeed one of the premier strikers in the world. 'The General' took over the bantamweight kickboxing division when he viciously knocked out Fabricio 'Wonder Boy' Andrade last year.

The British KO artist, though, is coming off a major setback after losing his bantamweight Muay Thai world title against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver in September.

After seeing his seven-fight winning streak snapped, Haggerty is on a quest for redemption and is hellbent on keeping his remaining bantamweight kickboxing belt.

Looking to send the UK striker to his second straight defeat is Wei Rui, who took out a former bantamweight kickboxing kingpin Hiroki Akimoto in his impressive promotional debut last May.

China's first-ever K-1 world champion proved the hype surrounding him was real when he displayed a well-rounded arsenal to edge out the Japanese star at ONE Fight Night 22.

'Demon Blade', who owns an astonishing 70-3 career record, will seek the biggest win of his career and collect 26 pounds of gold in the process at ONE 171.

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Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks' trilogy also confirmed for ONE 171

Two world title bouts are already set for ONE 171, as the co-main event will feature the grudge match between heated rivals Joshua Pacio and Jarred Brooks.

This strawweight MMA world title unification bout is as big as it gets considering the history these two share.

'The Monkey God' dethroned 'The Passion' in his home soil in the Philippines when they first met back in 2022. The rematch also took place at Lusail Sports Arena at ONE 166.

Unfortunately, it ended in controversy after Brooks inadvertedly slammed Pacio on his neck and lost the belt via disqualification.

Follow this link for exclusive first-access tickets for ONE 171.