“All the high-level guys are here” - Jonathan Di Bella says signing with ONE Championship pits him against the world’s best

Jonathan Di Bella knows that to be the best, you have to beat the best. The former ONE strawweight kickboxing world champion is on a mission to become the best fighter he can be, and he knows that ONE Championship provides him with an opportunity to do just that.

In an interview with Combat Sports Today, Di Bella said ONE Championship's stacked roster of kickboxers and Muay Thai fighters was what made him decide to join the promotion in 2022.

Jonathan Di Bella said:

"I signed up for ONE Championship because there's all the names, all the big names, all the high-level guys are here. That's what I want."

Di Bella first made a name for himself in Glory before he arrived at ONE Championship in October 2022 to face Zhang Peimian for the then-vacant ONE strawweight kickboxing world title at ONE 162.

The Italian-Canadian could not have asked for a better debut as he dealt Zhang a crushing defeat to capture the vacant strap. Di Bella then retained his throne against three-sport phenom Danial Williams with a near-perfect showing at ONE Fight Night 15.

Bad luck, however, fell upon Di Bella after he was stripped of the ONE strawweight kickboxing world title after failing his hydration test during the official weigh-ins for ONE Friday Fights 58.

He was also unsuccessful in recapturing the throne when he fell short against ONE strawweight Muay Thai world champion Prajanchai PK Saenchai in a match many believe could have gone either way.

Di Bella can restart his path to the throne when he takes on Portuguese sniper Rui Botelho at ONE Fight Night 26 on Dec. 6 at the historic Lumpinee Stadium.

ONE Fight Night 26 is available live and free to all Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.

Watch Di Bella's entire interview below:

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Jonathan Di Bella moves past his world title loss to Prajanchai

Jonathan Di Bella knows it's beyond his power to change what has happened in the past. In the same interview with Combat Sports Today, Di Bella said that he believes he still won the fight against Prajanchai, but he's moved past it and chalked it up as a vital experience in his career.

He said:

"Yeah, in my opinion, it was a good fight. A great experience. I believe I won. But like many of the fans believed I won. But what do you want me to do, man? It's life. It happens and we move forward, move on and we go on to the next."