Challenger Focused on Redemption at ONE Fight Night 40

Just a year removed from falling in his first bid at interim gold, Scottish knockout artist Nico Carrillo has earned his way back to a second shot at glory.

He will face Shadow Singha Mawynn for the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 40 on Friday, February 13, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ahead of the showdown, Nico Carrillo, the 27-year-old striker emphasized the importance of discipline over fleeting motivation. He framed his championship pursuit as a collective victory for everyone who supported his journey.

Nico Carrillo brings a 29-4 record, with six promotional victories via knockout, into this Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Title clash at ONE Fight Night 40. The Scottish destroyer aims for both interim gold and his 30th career victory after rebounding from his January 2025 TKO loss to Nabil Anane in an ONE Interim Bantamweight World Title bout.

Scottish Striker Nico Carrillo Embraces for Redemption Ahead of ONE Fight Night 40

Reflecting on his journey from championship defeat to second interim title opportunity, Nico Carrillo highlighted the inspirational value of resilience and perseverance. The “King of the North” framed his story as proof that setbacks don’t define careers when fighters refuse to surrender their dreams.

“I think it’s an even killer story that I’d done that – got to the pinnacle, fell off, had to restart, and do it all over again to prove to people that as long as you don’t give up,” Carrillo said.

After his successful promotional debut in 2023, the Scottish striker claimed three more victories to earn his first crack at interim gold against Anane in January 2025. The Algerian-Thai tower of power shattered Carrillo’s championship aspirations with a devastating TKO in less than one round at ONE 170.

Nico Carrillo Values Discipline Over Temporary Motivation

The Scottish destroyer dismissed motivation as unreliable while crediting discipline as the driving force behind consistent performance. Carrillo explained that daily discipline rather than emotional highs produces the work ethic necessary for championship success.

“Listen, motivation is crap. Motivation comes and it’s gone in the blink of an eye. It’s the discipline that gets you up out of bed. I ain’t a motivated person. I’m a disciplined person,” he said.

The 25-year-old Shadow presents formidable challenges with his 81-14 record built through phenomenal Muay Thai performances. The Singha Mawynn representative has proven his finishing ability with three stoppages while showcasing technical expertise necessary to compete with the division’s best strikers.

Scottish Contender Dedicates Title Pursuit to Support System

The “King of the North” framed potential title victory as collective achievement shared with everyone who supported his journey. He specifically mentioned his wife, coach, team, and longtime sponsors as deserving credit for believing in his championship dreams.

“If I win this belt, it’s a victory for everyone who’s been involved in this journey. It’s a victory for my wife, my coach, my team, sponsors from years ago – everyone who believed in this dream. This moment is for all of us,” Nico Carrillo explained.

The interim title opportunity arose after Tawanchai suffered a leg injury during his shocking 52-second TKO loss to China’s Liu Mengyang in December. His return date remains unconfirmed, making the interim belt holder the clear next challenger once the Thai megastar receives medical clearance.

ONE Fight Night 40 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, February 13. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.