Nico Carrillo is the top-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender in ONE Championship for a reason, and he wants to show it in his next promotional outing.

This Friday, July 5, “King of the North” will take on #4-ranked Saemapetch Fairtex in pivotal a bantamweight Muay Thai showdown at ONE Fight Night 23 inside the iconic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Nico Carrillo hands Saemapetch Fairtex a warning ahead of their clash

The hard-hitting Scotsman is undefeated in three outings in ONE, and he has knocked out everyone who has stood opposite him. His success has left him with the utmost faith in his skills, but that doesn’t mean Carrillo is discounting what his upcoming opponent brings to the ring.

“I know I have a serious contender in front of me. I don’t overlook him in any way. He’s up there as one of the hardest hitters in the division,” he said.

“But I’m at a stage in my career where I haven’t been beaten in a long time, and I’m very confident in my ability that I can handle anything in my fights. I’m only getting better with age. I’m like a fine wine.” 

Saemapetch is a seasoned veteran in the world’s largest martial arts organization, having started his tenure in 2018. A former World Title contender, he has built a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting fighters on the planet’s most elite roster of strikers through 14 bouts in ONE. 

Carrillo studied the Thai superstar’s fights intently to prepare for their bout at ONE Fight Night 23. And he believes he has found a winning strategy. 

“When he’s the aggressor, he’s awesome. But when he’s pressured, he crumbles. They all crumble when they face me. Saemapetch will, just like everyone else. They all fall. Nobody has survived me yet,” he said. 

“A knockout is coming. It will be calculated and it will come. I will find it. I always do.” 

Carrillo needs to make a statement about his title aspirations

“King of the North” may be risking more than he stands to gain this weekend, given that he’s putting his unbeaten run and top-ranked position on the line.

However, with reigning bantamweight Muay Thai king Jonathan “The General” Haggerty set to defend the belt against “The Kicking Machine” Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 168: Denver in the U.S. this September, he doesn’t want to sit on the sidelines and wait. 

Picking up another impressive win will cement the Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy athlete’s position as the undeniable next challenger to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, so fans should expect him to be out to impress this weekend.