There is a possibility that Fabricio Andrade may have experienced his first loss while competing under the ONE Championship banner to conclude his 2023. However, just nine months prior to that, the Brazilian athlete was at the top of the globe and joined a select group of athletes that can claim to be world champions in the promotion.
Their previous bout, which took place in October 2022, resulted in a no-contest due to an unintentional groin strike. In February of the previous year, “Wonder Boy” fought John Lineker for the vacant bantamweight belt. This was the second time that they had faced each other.
Fabricio Andrade grabbed control of the fight with a fierce stand-up display that eventually prompted ‘Hands of Stone’ to resign on the stools at the conclusion of the fourth canto. This occurred inside the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, where he had the opportunity to win one of the most coveted assets in mixed martial arts (MMA).
When he returned to the Mecca of Muay Thai to compete against Jonathan Haggerty for the vacant bantamweight kickboxing title in the main event of ONE Fight Night 16, however, the situation was different for the Brazilian athlete who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.
The Evolve Mixed Martial Arts and Tiger Muay Thai athlete suffered his first defeat of his professional career as a result of the Englishman’s knockout victory in the second round of the fight.
The resident of Fortaleza awarded himself a rating of seven out of 10 when he reflected on his existence in 2023, during which he had experienced both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In addition, he provided an explanation as to why he was unsuccessful in his fight against ‘The General.’
Fabricio Andrade disclosed the following information in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA:
It would be a seven out of ten for me to rate myself. I was struggling to recuperate from a partial tear that I sustained in November 2022 as a result of the battle against Lineker; nonetheless, I was able to rehabilitate and compete in February. A second time, I broke my hand while I was engaged in the fight. Nevertheless, I was able to win the world championship by virtue of that bout. After that, I was defeated by Jonathan Haggerty. It is for this reason that I would assign myself a score of seven”.
Fabricio Andrade’s options for a stacked 2024
However, Fabricio Andrade does not intend to slow down in 2024, despite the fact that he acknowledges that it will take some time for him to recover from the loss he suffered to Haggerty.
The fighter, who is 26 years old, has his sights set on defending his gold against a worthy bantamweight rival. Kwon Won Il and John Lineker are two fighters that he is considering.
Fabricio Andrade, on the other hand, is keen to enhance his kickboxing skills and have a shot at redemption against Haggerty for the Englishman’s kickboxing and Muay Thai strap. Furthermore, he is eager to compete against Haggerty.
Fans in North America who have an active subscription to Amazon Prime Video will be able to go back and watch ONE Fight Night 16 for free. You may watch the complete card on the YouTube account of ONE Championship, which is accessible to fans all over the world.
