Nico Carrillo's Kickboxing Gamble Could Lead Him to Historical Heights
Freshly crowned as the undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion, Nico Carrillo is embracing an immediate challenge in a new discipline rather than resting on his recent victory.
The 27-year-old Scottish fighter is set to make his ONE Championship kickboxing debut against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46. This event will be broadcast live in US primetime on Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. Carrillo ascended to the undisputed champion status last month after Tawanchai PK Saenchai relinquished the belt due to a persistent leg injury.
Carrillo earned his shot at the Muay Thai title by defeating Shadow Mavinn in a five-round bout at ONE Fight Night 40 in February. Now, with an impressive 29-4 professional record and a reputation for decisive finishes, he is venturing into kickboxing. A victory against Zhou would position Carrillo to pursue championship status in two sports, adding a kickboxing belt to his current Muay Thai reign.
"Nothing has changed. I have an opponent in front of me that I have to deal with, and I’m locked on that task. The news of me being officially crowned has nothing to do with this fight camp," Carrillo stated.
Nico Carrillo Focuses on Long-Term Goals Beyond This Friday's Fight
Carrillo's ambitions extend far beyond this upcoming weekend. He plans to defend his Muay Thai title later this year before potentially making his MMA debut in Qatar as early as March. This aligns with a renewed three-year partnership between ONE Championship and Visit Qatar.
Stepping into a new combat sport immediately after securing undisputed gold is a significant decision, but it aligns with Carrillo's career trajectory of consistently seeking out the most challenging opponents rather than opting for easier paths.
"I’m already a ONE World Champion, and the next obvious step is to become a two-sport World Champion, kickboxing or MMA alongside Muay Thai. For now, it’s one step at a time," he added.
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