​Reigning ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico “King of the North” Carrillo is moving full throttle toward conquering a second striking discipline, and he is wasting no time getting started. The Scottish knockout artist makes his promotional kickboxing debut against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang in a featherweight kickboxing bout at ONE Fight Night 46 on Prime Video, scheduled for Friday, August 14, from the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, with live coverage in U.S. primetime.
Carrillo’s ascent in ONE Championship has been built on domination. The 27-year-old Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy product arrives with a 30-4 professional record, including 16 finishes, and a 7-1 mark in ONE’s ring heading into this clash. His emergence in ONE began with two epic knockouts over Furkan Karabag and Muangthai PK Saenchai, performances that earned him a $100,000 main roster contract. From there, he pressed on with brutal stoppages of former long-reigning ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nong-O Hama and Saemapetch Fairtex, proving himself as a legitimate threat at the highest level of striking.
An earlier interim title challenge against towering Nabil Anane from Algeria ended in a TKO defeat, momentarily stalling his momentum. Carrillo responded with his characteristic resilience by moving up to featherweight, where he thrived, scoring knockout wins over Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and Luke “The Chef” Lessei to secure another interim title opportunity. At ONE Fight Night 40 in February, he defeated Thai veteran Shadow Mavinn to claim the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship, a milestone that satisfied a dream he had chased since his promotional debut. With this belt now in hand, the Scot carries 26 pounds of gold and the confidence of a fighter who has proven he can compete with and finish the sport’s elite.
Now, with the interim strap secured, Carrillo is pursuing a new frontier. The ONE Fight Night 46 bout will mark his promotional kickboxing debut, representing the next evolution in a journey that could eventually crown him kickboxing gold as well. Standing opposite him is Zhou Jiaqiang, a Chinese newcomer who also arrives on the big stage of ONE Championship for a high-profile debut.
A victory over the reigning ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion in his first promotional appearance would instantly thrust Zhou into a position of serious relevance within the featherweight kickboxing division. It would signal to the entire roster that a fresh, dangerous name has appeared, capable of challenging the established hierarchy and demanding respect from top contenders alike. For Carrillo, the stakes are a blend of continuing his legacy in ONE and testing his skills in a new code of combat, with everything to gain and little to lose as he chases another path to global glory. The clash promises to be a pivotal moment in both men’s careers and a compelling chapter in the ongoing evolution of ONE Championship’s multi-discipline platform.