‘It’s About Time’ – Nico Carrillo Vows Historic Reign After Being Crowned Undisputed Featherweight Muay Thai King

For months, “King of the North” Nico Carrillo has confidently carried the aura of an undisputed World Champion. Now, ONE Championship has officially made it a reality.

The Scottish knockout artist temporarily pivots from “the art of eight limbs” to return to action against dangerous Chinese newcomer Zhou “Kylin” Jiaqiang in a featherweight kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 46: Hemetsberger vs. Diachkova on Prime Video, broadcasting live in U.S. primetime from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, August 14.

That high-stakes fight comes on the heels of a massive, landscape-shifting update at the absolute top of the featherweight Muay Thai ranks.

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Thai superstar Tawanchai PK Saenchai has officially vacated the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title as he undergoes extensive rehabilitation following a severe leg injury sustained in his clash against “Spirit Dragon” Liu Mengyang last December.

With the throne now officially cleared, Carrillo has been rightfully elevated from interim titleholder to the undisputed divisional king — a massive promotion the bruising Glaswegian views as long overdue.

He told onefc.com:

“It’s about time. Tawanchai broke his leg a couple of months before Shadow, and I fought for the interim belt, which, in my opinion, should have been made for the undisputed belt anyway.

“He hasn’t defended it since January 2025, then broke his leg, so that would make another year out. Now, it turns out to be two years out. Honestly, for me, I became undisputed that night when I defeated Shadow.”

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That unforgettable night came at ONE Fight Night 40 this past February, when “King of the North” authored one of the most defining performances of his entire career.

Shadow Mavinn made life incredibly difficult in the early going, aggressively chopping away with heavy leg kicks and badly rocking the Scot with a blistering left hook. But Carrillo brilliantly weathered the storm, eventually found his lethal range, and completely turned the fight on its head over the back half. He ultimately dropped the Thai standout en route to a hard-fought unanimous decision to claim the interim gold.

Now, with Tawanchai stepping aside, that gritty victory carries even greater historical significance for the newly minted, undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion.

The 27-year-old continued:

“It means the world. For a long time, I’ve always said, once I get the belt, I’ll be one of the best champions that there ever is.

“And what I mean by that is – I’ll be an active champion who’s willing to defend the belt at any given time. I want to leave an impression as the best there ever is and will be.”

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A Reign Built To Last

Nico Carrillo — who has already cemented his legacy as Scotland’s first-ever ONE World Champion — is certainly not interested in simply holding onto the crown while shying away from top contenders. Instead, he wants his undisputed reign to be universally remembered as one of the most dominant in the division’s rich history.

It is an incredibly bold ambition, but one heavily backed by results. The Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy representative has scored devastating knockouts in six of his seven promotional victories, a spectacular stretch that includes a star-making finish of former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and Thai living legend Nong-O Hama.

As such, he sees absolutely no reason that trend should slow down with the undisputed gold now firmly secured around his waist, and that same confidence carries over to how he currently views the rest of the featherweight landscape.

Carrillo did not hold back for a second when asked who could realistically challenge him first:

“I don’t see any potential fighters that could step up and challenge me.

“Superbon’s injured, while Shadow has a broken jaw thanks to me. The rest of the division are a bunch of suckers.”

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Without an obvious, healthy frontrunner to point to, “King of the North’s” immediate attention remains locked on Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46. But the Scottish superstar is already incredibly eager to get moving on his broader, multi-sport plans as a ONE World Champion.

True to his word, he does not intend to sit idle atop the featherweight mountain.

He concluded:

“First things first, when I get this kickboxing fight out the way, I want to defend my belt in November. Then, hopefully defend my belt in February or March next year, too.

“Maybe I’ll even eye an MMA debut in April or May next year.”

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Source: ONE Championship