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Nong-O Hama doesn't consider his losses against Jonathan Haggerty and Nico Carrillo to be "bad luck."
In April 2023, Nong-O was on the wrong side of a massive upset, as Haggerty knocked him out for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world title. Eight months later, the Thai superstar suffered another setback, as rising superstar Nico Carrillo knocked him out in round two of their bout at ONE Friday Fights 46.
Some people questioned how much gas was left in his tank, as he hadn't had a defeat under the ONE banner before Haggerty. The 37-year-old silenced the doubters with a unanimous decision win against Kulandam earlier this year.
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During an interview with the South China Morning Post, he was asked about his two-fight skid and responded by saying:
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"I understand I got sick and (when I got beat by) Haggerty and Nico Carrillo, but I don't think I would consider it bad luck."
Nong-O could retire tomorrow and be considered a ONE Championship legend. With that said, the eight-time ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion isn't ready to hang up the gloves, as he looks to continue building momentum later this year.
Watch his entire interview with the South China Morning Post below:
What's next for Nong-O under the ONE banner?
On Sept. 27, the former divisional king will return at ONE Friday Fights 81, which goes down inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. The former bantamweight Muay Thai world champion's latest opponent is a Russian rising contender named Kiamran Nabati.
Nabati has fought three times under the ONE banner, starting with unanimous decision wins against Pongsiri and Avatar. In June, the 29-year-old made a massive statement by securing a first-round knockout win against Suablack.
With a win against number two-ranked Thai, Nabati would solidify himself as a top contender in the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai division. It'll be easier said than done for the undefeated Russian, as Nong-O has the experience and fighting style to emerge victorious and continue working toward a title shot.
ONE Friday Fights 81 can be seen for free on the promotion's YouTube channel.
