Reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Gaiyanghadao is bracing for a tough challenge when he takes on red hot Liam Harrison in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II on the morning of August 27 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
The Singapore-based Thai legend doesn’t expect his next World Title defense to be easy, especially against Harrison.
Harrison has won his last five bouts, including what might’ve been one of the greatest rounds of the year when he stormed back from being knocked down twice to finish Muangthai PK.Saenchai via the three-knockdown rule earlier this year.
Though he knows that he’s up for a tough night against Harrison, Nong-O is confident that he can be the brick wall that Harrison runs into.
“Yes, he really has good momentum now. He is now riding a multi-fight winning streak. He is completely filled with confidence. But throughout his winning streak, he has never fought a true Muay Thai fighter like me before,” he said.
“This time, he will find out what the real challenge is. I don’t care how much momentum he built. I’m not afraid of him at all. I’ll stop his momentum.”
Nong-O and Harrison have exchanged barbs on social media over the past few days, but the Evolve MMA star insists there’s no bad blood between the two.
He expects, though, that the fight will get ugly when they meet in the middle of the Circle.
”I just want everyone to wait and see if there will be any bloodshed or a knockout in this upcoming fight. And, I am sure it will definitely be a bloody war,” he said.
ONE Fight Night 1: Moraes vs. Johnson II will air live on One Sports and One Sports+ starting with the lead card at 8 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (PHT) on Saturday, August 27. The main card will follow on One Sports and One Sports+ at 10 a.m. PHT.