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Andrew Whitelaw

Nico Carrillo showed exactly why he was considered one of the most dangerous finishers in Muay Thai after dispatching Luke “The Chef” Lessei in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok last Saturday.
The Scottish contender survived early adversity, switched stances and tore through Lessei with a ruthless second-round barrage to maintain his 100 per cent finishing rate inside ONE Championship.
Carrillo weathered a difficult opening round, absorbing a steady diet of low kicks and teeps, or push kicks, that visibly compromised his lead leg. But even as Lessei found success early, the No 4-ranked featherweight refused to panic.
Instead, he steadied himself, stalked patiently and waited for the moment that mattered.
That moment came with a clean right-punch and right-knee combination that dropped Lessei for an eight count near the end of round one. It was the beginning of the end.

In round two, Carrillo pounced. He ripped hooks to the body, hammered knees into Lessei’s midsection and connected with sharp uppercuts that left the American trapped in the corner with no escape. The referee stepped in at 2:35 of round two to halt the punishment.
The victory pushed Carrillo’s professional record to 29-4 and strengthened his case for a showdown with ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion, Tawanchai PK Saenchai.
Speaking after the fight, Carrillo admitted the performance was not the flawless display he wanted, but he took pride in finding another way to win.
“I’m a perfectionist,” he said. “When fights don’t go exactly how I want them to go, I beat myself up a little bit. Maybe in a day or two I’ll be happier. My leg was compromised and that was my own fault, starting too slow. But it shows you it is not over until it is over. You can still come back and be victorious.”


Carrillo said he relied on instinct and experience once he adjusted mid-fight. Unable to rely on his usual stance, he surprised himself by shifting to southpaw.
“I was pleased with my boxing out of southpaw because we didn’t practise that at all in fight camp. It just shows [how good I am] as a fighter, to be able to do that.”
Once he had Lessei hurt, Carrillo refused to rush the finish, instead showing composure that he believed was a key strength.
“I’ve always been able to hurt somebody and not just go right away,” he said. “I stalk and stalk and stalk, and I always get the finish. People are most dangerous when they are injured.”

With another stoppage delivered, attention now shifts to what comes next. A showdown with the No 3-ranked Thai Shadow Singha Mawynn was an increasingly likely top-contender bout, especially after both men faced off earlier this year in the Lumpinee Stadium car park.
“I watched Shadow before ONE Friday Fights. He was rugged and I always rated him. It will just be another one for me to tick off my hit list.”
But the bout he wanted most was undeniable. Carrillo had been open about his admiration for Tawanchai, a man he once travelled to train alongside. A future clash for the world title was the ultimate dream.
“To beat someone like Tawanchai would be incredible,” Carrillo said. “He was already super famous when I went to PK Saenchai to train. He was great to spar with.”


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Nico Carrillo had to switch  stances before tearing through Luke Lessei with a ruthless second-round barrage in Bangkok. Photo: ONE Championship

Nico Carrillo (right) trapped Luke Lessei into the corner before the referee stopped the fight. Photo: ONE Championship

Tawanchai PK Saenchai is the fighter Carrillo most wants to take on. Photo: ONE Championship

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Nico Carrillo faces American Luke Lessei at ONE Fight Night 37 in Bangkok next month. Photo: ONE Championship

American Luke Lessei is 2-2 in ONE and is after a win over a ranked fighter. Photo: ONE Championship

Sport

Martial Arts

Muay Thai

Scotsman overcomes damaged leg at ONE Fight Night 37 to extend finishing streak, aims to face Shadow next before possible Tawanchai match


Scotsman overcomes damaged leg at ONE Fight Night 37 to extend finishing streak, aims to face Shadow next before possible Tawanchai match.


Tawanchai PK Saenchai

Nico Carrillo

Shadow Singha Mawynn

ONE Championship: Nico Carrillo doubles down on title push after dismantling Luke Lessei

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Scotsman overcomes damaged leg at ONE Fight Night 37 to extend finishing streak, aims to face Shadow next before possible Tawanchai match

Scotsman overcomes damaged leg at ONE Fight Night 37 to extend finishing streak, aims to face Shadow next before possible Tawanchai match