Haggerty Vs. Yoza: 4 Keys To Victory In Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title Fight At ONE SAMURAI 1

Haggerty stays light on his front leg, allowing him to stab his push kick into his opponents’ midsections with lightning speed to disrupt their rhythm and block any attempts to close the distance.

Against an aggressive pressure fighter like Yoza, Haggerty’s linear weapon will be his first line of defense.

By consistently pumping his stiff jab and firing the teep — exactly as he did to neutralize Wei — the British superstar can keep the Japanese challenger on the outside, forcing him to take severe risks to enter striking range.

That’s where “The General” is most dangerous: controlling the action from the outside with a variety of techniques.

#2 Yoza’s Calf Kick Attacks

While many fighters utilize calf kicks, Yoza has turned them into a destructive art form. In ONE, a staggering 62 percent of his significant strikes are low kicks — the highest rate in promotional history. His unique application of them makes him a nightmare to defend.

The Japanese star is famous for the “Yoza Kick,” a specialized attack targeting the opponent’s rear leg. Because Haggerty is constantly light on his lead leg to prepare for teeps or cross-checks, Yoza will need to use his Kyokushin Karate background to cut underneath that check and blast the weight-bearing back leg.

If Yoza chops down Haggerty’s base early, it will alter the trajectory of the fight.

Compromising “The General’s” legs will rob the British fighter of his elusive footwork, exactly as Yoza did when he kicked the legs out from under Superlek last November.

Fans should ready themselves for an outstanding kicking battle when Yoza and Haggerty finally trade leather in the ring.

#3 Haggerty’s Evolved Heavy Hands

What makes Haggerty so dangerous is how he has evolved his game to maximize his knockout power in the larger gloves. With 16 of his 23 career wins coming by knockout, “The General” is a certified finisher.

Once he establishes his jab and teep, the 29-year-old builds his offense on a lightning-fast one-two combination. He is also not afraid to plant his feet, step into the pocket, and rip a lead left hook to the body or fire an overhand right directly over his opponent’s guard.

Yoza relies on absolute mental conviction, never hesitating when he marches forward to attack. Haggerty can use that aggression against him.

If the defending divisional king can time his concussive right cross as the challenger steps into the pocket — just as he did against Fabricio “Wonder Boy” Andrade and Nong-O Hama — he has the power to shut the lights out instantly.

When Haggerty senses an opponent is hurt, he comes to finish, so expect a high-octane onslaught from “The General” the moment he sees an opening.

#4 Yoza’s Close-Quarter Exchanges

To claim the coveted gold, Yoza must smother Haggerty’s 73-inch reach and drag the World Champion into a grueling, close-quarters brawl.

The Japanese standout is entirely unorthodox, opting to fight without hand wraps due to his bare-knuckle Kyokushin background. This lack of tape gives him incredible wrist mobility, allowing him to turn his wrists freely and land whipping body shots and fluid hooks in tight spaces where other fighters get tied up.

While the world views him primarily as a kicker, Yoza has stated that his boxing is his sharpest tool.

If he can navigate past Haggerty’s long-range weapons and force the action into a phone booth, his heavy hands and punishing knees to the body could overwhelm Haggerty and crown a new bantamweight king in Tokyo.

It all comes to a head at ONE SAMURAI 1 at Ariake Arena on April 29.

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