ONE Championship 157 flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix preview: Jonathan Haggerty drops out, but expect action galore

Quarter-final round of ONE’s first Muay Thai Grand Prix commences at ONE 157 on Friday evening in Singapore

Tournament features reigning champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon, former champion Jonathan Haggerty, and Thai star Superlek Kiatmoo9

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Rodtang Jitmuangnon (left) and Jacob Smith pose before the ONE flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix. Photos: ONE Championship

Published: 1:31pm, 20 May 2022

Friday evening’s ONE Championship 157 event in Singapore will feature two Muay Thai title fights, the promotional debut of BJJ stars Tye and Kade Ruotolo, and lots more. Yet it’s arguable the most talked about component of the card is the opening round of ONE’s flyweight Muay Thai Grand Prix.

It will be the promotion’s first Muay Thai Grand Prix after a procession of action-packed tournaments contested under the MMA and kick-boxing rule sets. It will feature eight of the best flyweight Muay Thai fighters on earth, including the division’s reigning champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon — though his title will not be up for grabs in the tournament.

Keep reading for a preview of the four Grand Prix quarter-final bouts on the ONE 157 line-up, each of which will be contested over a maximum of three three-minute rounds.

Rodtang Jitmuangnon vs Jacob Smith

As ONE’s reigning flyweight Muay Thai champion, Thailand’s Rodtang will enter the imminent Grand Prix as one of the favourites to win the whole thing. Yet England’s Jacob Smith, who trains alongside top bantamweight Muay Thai contender Liam Harrison, should pose some serious problems for the champion.

The Briton is well-rounded, aggressive and durable — much like Rodtang — and could kick off the tournament with a huge upset with the right mix of strategy and risk-taking.

The champion seems to recognise this, telling ONE Championship that Smith is the “most dangerous” fighter in the tournament, and the he is “a little worried” about the matchup.

Josue Cruz vs Walter Goncalves

Walter Goncalves was originally set to face the United Kingdom’s Jonathan Haggerty. But ONE’s former flyweight Muay Thai king, who has wins over Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, Joseph Lasiri, and fellow Grand Prix competitor Taiki Naito, withdrew from the fight on Friday morning, citing “health reasons”.