Nico Carrillo will step into the kickboxing ring for the first time under the ONE Championship banner when he faces Zhou Jiaqiang on August 15, with the featherweight contest broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The Scottish striker, representing Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy, will compete at ONE Fight Night 46, held at the legendary Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Carrillo, nicknamed the "King of the North", brings a fearsome reputation as a heavy-handed striker to his new discipline.
After establishing himself as one of Europe's premier Muay Thai competitors, Carrillo constructed an 11-fight winning streak that saw him dismantle opponents across the United Kingdom and continental Europe. His accolades during that run included capturing the WBC Muay Thai European Championship.
His dominance caught the attention of ONE Championship, and Carrillo continued to impress on the ONE Friday Fights platform. Two devastating knockout victories—one against Furkan Karabag and another over Muangthai PK Saenchai—showcased his destructive striking power and earned him a $100,000 contract with the world's largest martial arts organisation.
Carrillo's path to this kickboxing debut has been marked by significant milestones in Muay Thai. He challenged for the ONE Interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title in January 2025, though he suffered a setback against Nabil Anane. Rather than dwell on the loss, Carrillo extracted valuable lessons and made the strategic decision to move up to his natural weight class.
That shift proved transformative. The Glasgow native defeated the legendary Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and American prospect Luke Lessei, earning a shot at the ONE Interim featherweight Muay Thai world title in February 2026. Over five rounds, Carrillo defeated Shadow Singha Mawynn by unanimous decision to claim world title gold and realise his championship ambitions.
His success in Muay Thai has continued to grow. Carrillo was elevated to undisputed ONE featherweight Muay Thai champion on July 21, 2026, after Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the title, cementing his status as the division's top fighter.
Now, Carrillo transitions to kickboxing to test his striking arsenal in a fresh format. His opponent Zhou Jiaqiang is a new signing to ONE Championship, and the featherweight bout promises to showcase Carrillo's power against a fresh challenge. Carrillo knocked out Zhou Jiaqiang in his kickboxing debut at ONE Fight Night 46, with the finish coming at 2:37 of round two, announcing his arrival in the sport with a devastating performance.
Fans can watch Carrillo's kickboxing debut live on Sky Sports on August 15 as he looks to extend his winning ways into a new discipline.
