Nabil Anane delivered three rapid knockdowns to overpower Scotland’s Nico Carrillo and seize the ONE interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title in Thailand.
Competing before a packed Impact Arena in Bangkok on Friday, the 20-year-old faced a significant test.
Carrillo came into the fight on a 15-win streak, with four knockouts against top-level opponents in ONE Championship.
However, Anane controlled the fight from the start, effectively using his reach and overwhelming Carrillo with strikes. He landed a powerful right hand to knock Carrillo down.
Carrillo was knocked down again shortly after by a head kick. Despite getting back to his feet, a barrage of punches sealed his fate, sending him down for the third and final time with just 25 seconds left in the first round.
With this technical knockout victory, Anane extended his winning streak to six, boosting his record to 39-5. He also received a $50,000 bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
He is now set to face Superlek Kiatmoo9, the only fighter to have defeated him in ONE Championship, in a title unification match at ONE 172 in Japan on March 23.
Haggerty Shows Resilience in Fight Against Estupinan
England’s Freddie Haggerty demonstrated great effort in his ONE 170 fight against Jordan Estupinan, an undefeated newcomer from Colombia, but ultimately could not secure the win.
Haggerty, 20, who moved up in weight after a 3-0 record in ONE’s strawweight division, aimed to set the pace against the unpredictable Estupinan. The Colombian frequently changed stances and used sharp kicks to keep Haggerty at a distance.
However, as Haggerty increased his aggression in the second round, Estupinan countered with a strong right hand, sending Haggerty to the mat.
Haggerty showed toughness by beating the count but was knocked down again moments later by a similar punch.
Haggerty pressed forward in the final round, targeting Estupinan’s body with sharp combinations before aiming for the head, but Estupinan withstood the attacks.
After three competitive rounds, the judges awarded Estupinan the victory by unanimous decision.
What is ONE Championship?
ONE Championship is considered the largest platform for martial arts globally. Its events showcase various disciplines, including mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, with world titles awarded in each sport.
ONE founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong described it as ‘the Olympics of martial arts,’ featuring the best martial artists in the world across multiple disciplines, similar to the Olympic Games.
