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Andrew Whitelaw

Kickboxer Nico Carrillo got married in June and is done waiting: after a career-defining move to featherweight and a knockout win over one of the sport’s icons, the Scot is desperate to stay active and keep stopping opponents as he pushes towards a ONE Championship title shot.
Carrillo faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month, and while he expects an entertaining contest, he is more focused on momentum and making a statement.
“I’m just buzzing to be fighting again,” Carrillo said after landing in Thailand to begin camp at Bangtao Muay Thai. “I had the wedding [to Aimee McIlhinney], got that done, lived it up a bit. Now I want to fight every chance I get. I’d fight every month if they let me.”
Since joining ONE, Carrillo has won five of his six bouts, all by stoppage. His only loss came against bantamweight champion Nabil Anane, a loss that he says confirmed the need to change divisions.
“I was killing myself to make that weight,” he said. “Now at featherweight I’m way faster, way stronger and I can actually fuel properly. I’m enjoying food again. Steak, Italian, all of it. My gas tank is through the roof.”


His featherweight debut could hardly have gone better. Carrillo stopped kickboxing legend Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong, immediately establishing himself as a title contender in one of the organisation’s deepest weight classes. The win propelled him to No 4 in the rankings and put him firmly in the conversation for a title eliminator.
Lessei, however, is chasing his own breakthrough. One of the most technical Muay Thai talents to come out of the US, he is 2-2 in ONE and knows a win over a ranked fighter could push him into the top five. He stopped Cody Jerome in the second round in his most recent outing, but Carrillo was not too impressed.
“That Canadian boy [Jerome] should never have been in a ONE ring, to be honest,” Carrillo said. “Lessei’s good, don’t get me wrong. Slick hands, nice mechanics. But I don’t think he’s had the tests that I’ve had.”
That said, Carrillo sees stylistic appeal in the match-up, which has all the hallmarks of a “fight of the night” at Lumpinee Stadium on November.
“He’s a technician and that can bring the best out in me,” he said. “People get drawn into firefights with him. I’m not here to mess about. I’ll pick him off, punish mistakes and if there’s a chance to finish, I’ll take it.”

His attention is also fixed on the title picture. The current featherweight Muay Thai champion, Tawanchai PK Saenchai, has made it clear he wants revenge against Masaaki Noiri, who beat him under kickboxing rules, and he is chasing another shot at that title. That pursuit could stall the division.
“It puts me in the same spot as last time: waiting on a champion,” Carrillo joked. “If Tawanchai goes after kickboxing, I think ONE will just make me fight Shadow [Singha Mawynn] for a title eliminator. Then when Tawanchai’s ready to defend Muay Thai again, I’ll be there.”
Carrillo has already been eyeing fellow contender Singha Mawynn, whose recent win over Bampara Kouyate was brief but impactful. He believes the Chilean-based striker is legitimate but still sees himself as the next in line.
“If it’s not me, people say it’ll be Shadow who gets the belt. Nah. It’ll be me,” he said, laughing.
Carrillo’s confidence is backed by his track record. Since signing with ONE, he has beaten some of the most respected names in the sport, including Sitthichai, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao and Satya Chai. He has also consistently featured in the most talked-about fights on major cards.
“When you look at every fight I’ve had in ONE, I’ve always delivered. Fans know when I’m on the card it’s going to be a spectacle,” he said.
Now he plans to use Lessei as his next launching point.
“Top five or not, I want to stop him,” he said. “If it’s Shadow next, line it up. If Tawanchai’s off doing kickboxing, let’s do a title eliminator. I’m ready now. I’ve wasted enough time.”


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Sport

Martial Arts

Kickboxing

Scotsman faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month and expects to keep winning


Scotsman faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month and expects to keep winning.


ONE Championship: wedding done, next on list for kickboxer Nico Carrillo is a title shot

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Scotsman faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month and expects to keep winning

Scotsman faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month and expects to keep winning