Nico Carrillo defends ONE featherweight Muay Thai championship against Nabil Anane

The Glaswegian's first defence as undisputed ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion is a rematch with the man who stopped him in the first round in January 2025.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Mon 26 Oct, 12:09 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Post by @ONEChampionship on X

Nico Carrillo will make the first defence of his undisputed ONE featherweight Muay Thai world title against Nabil Anane at The Inner Circle 43 on Friday 18 December.

The Scot gets the chance to settle the only score that has followed him through his rise at featherweight. When the pair met at ONE 170 in Bangkok in January 2025, Carrillo was on a 15-fight winning streak, but Anane, then 20, stopped him in the first round to win the ONE interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title.

Victory for Carrillo would level the series at one win each and open the way to a third fight. Anane, the #3-ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contender, would take the featherweight title and a 2-0 lead over Carrillo if he wins again.

Carrillo moved up to featherweight after that loss and has won four in a row in ONE. He finished Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Luke Lessei, then beat Shadow Mavinn over five rounds at ONE Fight Night 40 in February to win the interim title. He was elevated to undisputed champion in July when Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the belt.

The Glaswegian is also chasing a world title in a second sport. He made his ONE kickboxing debut in August with a second-round knockout of Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46.

Anane's form since beating Carrillo has been mixed. He outpointed Superlek and was later elevated to undisputed ONE bantamweight Muay Thai world champion, but lost the title to Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon over five rounds at The Inner Circle 7. Suakim Pongsuphan PK beat him by split decision in August, before he returned to winning ways this month with a unanimous decision over former K-1 champion Yuki Yoza in a bantamweight kickboxing bout at ONE SAMURAI 4.

The Inner Circle 43 also features a ONE strawweight Muay Thai world title unification bout between champion Prajanchai Pongsuphan PK and interim titleholder Aliff Sor Dechapan.