"You're using your brain and using IQ" - Jonathan Di Bella on why knockouts don't come easy at the highest level

Former ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion Jonathan Di Bella has found great success throughout his career, but has yet to earn a knockout victory in ONE Championship. Speaking exclusively with ONE, the 28-year-old explained why notching a finish at the highest level of the sport is extremely difficult:

"When you're [at a] high level, it could be either a close match or you can get caught with something in the exchange."

He continued:

"It's hard to get knockouts at the highest level, because you guys are two top [athletes], and you have the highest IQ, especially when you're two of the smartest fighters fighting each other. You're using your brain and using your I.Q. It's hard to finish somebody at a high level."

Jonathan Di Bella's comments came after his 125-pound kickboxing war with Portuguese star Rui Botelho at ONE Fight Night 26 this past Friday, Dec. 6.

The Team Di Bella Kickboxing product had ample opportunities to finish Botelho throughout their three-round encounter, but Di Bella just narrowly missed out on landing the knockout blow.

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Jonathan Di Bella unsatisfied with win over Rui Botelho

Jonathan Di Bella might have claimed the unanimous decision victory over Rui Botelho, but it was an outing that he is not too proud of.

The Italian-Canadian told ONE analyst Mitch Chilson in his post-fight interview:

"I'll give my performance a six plus, a seven maybe, nothing great. But his style is tough. He's been in there with the top [fighters] in the higher divisions and he's like close to number two in the world, so we're both at the top out there. But it could have gone better, could have had some more activity, but yeah, some room for improvement and training, for sure."

Fans in the United States and Canada with an active Prime Video subscription can rewatch ONE Fight Night 26 on demand.