Nico Carrillo Rises To Undisputed Featherweight Muay Thai Throne As Tawanchai Steps Aside
A changing of the guard rarely happens without a fight, but this one arrived with a signature instead.
Tawanchai PK Saenchai has officially vacated his ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title while he continues to rehabilitate an injury. Scottish knockout artist Nico Carrillo has been elevated from interim titleholder to undisputed champion of the division as a result.
Tawanchai’s reign was defined by dominance rarely seen in the sport. The 27-year-old claimed the crown at ONE 161 in 2022 with a five-round war over Petchmorakot, then defended it against Jamal Yusupov and twice against Superbon.
He also beat Jo Nattawut in two different sports along the way, building a 10-3 ONE record that cemented his legacy as one of the most stylistic and ruthless strikers the promotion has produced. Few champions have defended a belt with that level of range and consistency.
The reign came to an abrupt halt in December 2025. A calf kick from Liu Mengyang ended a kickboxing bout in a shocking 52 seconds and left Tawanchai needing surgery and an extended rehabilitation period, forcing him to step away from the title he had defined for nearly four years.
Carrillo, meanwhile, earned his opportunity the hard way. The 27-year-old carried a 29-4 record and a relentless finishing instinct into his interim title shot against Shadow Mavinn at ONE Fight Night 40 earlier this year, outworking his opponent across the distance to claim the belt and cement his place at the top of the division.
He is now the division’s undisputed king, but the newly crowned champion has no plans to sit still with his gold. Carrillo makes his ONE kickboxing debut against Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46 on Friday, August 14, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The move signals genuine ambition rather than a simple showcase. Success there would place him firmly on course to join the exclusive club of two-sport ONE World Champions, adding kickboxing gold to a resume already built on featherweight Muay Thai supremacy.
It is a bold step for a fighter who has barely had time to celebrate his elevation, but Carrillo has never been one to wait for opportunities when he can chase them instead.
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