On 6 July 2024, ONE Championship, an internationally renowned sports IP, will bring fans "ONE: Pinnacle Series 23," where the bantamweight Muay Thai No. 1 Nico Carrillo will take on fourth-ranked Thai sensation Saemapetch Fairtex.
A former MTGP welterweight World Champion and bantamweight Muay Thai World Title challenger, Saemapetch is a true Muay Thai tough guy, but the 25-year-old Carrillo is confident in himself, and this isn't the first time he's faced a Thai star. Since coming to ONE Championship, Carrillo has racked up three straight victories. At "ONE Friday on Prime Video 13," he scored a 350,000-baht performance bonus by TKO Furkan Karabag. "ONE Friday on Prime Video 22" Carrillo knocked out Thailand's Muangthai "Zombie Elbow" Saenchai three times with a stormy attack to earn another 350,000 baht performance bonus. Carrillo knocked former Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama out with a 1:28 elbow in the second round of "Friday Fight Night 46" and earned a 350,000-baht performance bonus with a beautiful knockout, just one step away from a title challenge.
Carrillo: "I knew I had a strong contender in front of me. I didn't underestimate him at all. He's a top heavy gunner, but I haven't been beaten for a long time and I'm very confident in my ability and I can handle all kinds of situations in the game. As I've gotten older, I've gotten better and better. I'm like a bottle of wine. "Carrillo sees Saemapetch's weaknesses, and although he is fierce in attack, he is not outstanding in defense and resistance." He's great when he's pressing his opponents. But when he was hit hard, he collapsed. My opponents will collapse at the touch of a button in front of me. He will also fall like everyone else. I'll find the time to knock out my opponent.
Carrillo is looking to earn a shot at the Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title with a beautiful victory. "Jonathan Haggerty knows I'm the toughest guy in the bantamweight division. He wouldn't say my name because he didn't want to accept my challenge. He knew he would be doomed if he met me. I feel like I'm the best fighter in the world. I'm just waiting for ONE to put together the right fights and give me a chance to prove myself, because I've proven myself in every fight so far. ”
Haggerty's next match has been confirmed. On 7 September 2024, ONE Championship will land in Colorado and host ONE 168 at Ball Stadium. In a bantamweight Muay Thai World Title bout, Haggerty will take on ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Superlek "The Kick Machine" Superlek Kiatmoo9. Carrillo is ready to face off against the winner between them. "When I beat Saemapetch, all I needed was a belt to prove that I was the best in the world. I'm definitely going to get a chance against the winner between Haggerty and Superlek. ”
Do you think Carrillo can lock up a title shot and become the next Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion?