ONE Fight Night 40: “He was scared of the power by then”

‘King of the North’ Nico Carrillo knew the moment Shadow Singha Mawynn’s resistance crumbled—and it happened well before the final bell.

The 27-year-old Scottish powerhouse defeated the Thai striking maestro via unanimous decision to capture the ONE interim featherweight Muay Thai world title in the co-main event of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, Feb. 13.

The Glasgow native was largely outplayed in the first two rounds and weathered a tricky third round before his trademark right hand dropped the Singha Mawynn affiliate in the fourth canto.

Heading into the fifth, his knockdown of Shadow shifted the momentum of the championship clash decisively in his favor.

During his exclusive backstage interview with Nick Atkin, Nico Carrillo explained why the fifth round was never the danger it appeared from ringside.

“He was never going to finish me in the fifth. He was already hurt, and he was scared of the power by then. And then I was really in control. I was just doing my thing, weren’t I?” Nico Carrillo told the combat sports journalist.

Watch Carrillo’s one-on-one interview with Atkin here:

Nico Carrillo says patient approach was key to victory against Shadow

Nico Carrillo’s knockout power and all-out style have powered him to some smashing highlight-reel moments inside the ONE Circle.

However, the Scotsman revealed that he planned to take a different route against someone of Shadow’s caliber.

“We planned to go in not fast, and just feel, you know, a different approach that you are probably used to seeing. But it was a five-round fight, so I think it was important that I did that,” the Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy standout shared during the same interview with Atkin.

Though he dropped his perfect 100 percent finishing rate in wins, Carrillo’s five-round display against Shadow was nothing short of brilliant. He showcased his ability to hang with Thailand’s most elite until the final bell.

North American fight fans who missed any of the action from ONE Fight Night 40 can watch the full event replay for free on Amazon Prime Video.

ONE Championship returns to the Lumpinee Stadium with its next American primetime card, ONE Fight Night 41: Rodrigues vs. Phetjeeja on Prime Video, on Friday, March 13.