Nabil Anane secured the ONE interim bantamweight Muay Thai world title in Thailand, stopping Scottish fighter Nico Carrillo with a series of three quick knockdowns.
Competing before a full house at the Impact Arena in Bangkok on Friday, the 20-year-old faced what was arguably his most challenging opponent yet.
Carrillo arrived at the fight boasting an impressive 15-bout winning streak, including four knockout victories against experienced competitors within ONE Championship.
However, Anane quickly asserted control from the outset, using his considerable reach effectively and overwhelming Carrillo with strikes. A powerful right hand resulted in the first knockdown.
Moments later, Carrillo was dropped again by a head kick. Although the Scottish fighter showed resilience to get back to his feet, a rapid succession of punches sealed his fate, leading to the third and final knockdown with just 25 seconds remaining in the opening round.
This technical knockout victory extended Anane`s winning streak to six, improving his professional record to 39-5. His performance also earned him a $50,000 bonus from ONE chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Furthermore, this win sets up a highly anticipated title unification bout for Anane against Superlek Kiatmoo9 at ONE 172 in Japan on March 23. Superlek is the only fighter to have previously defeated Anane in ONE Championship.
Haggerty Shows Resilience in Tough Fight Against Estupinan
England`s Freddie Haggerty displayed considerable heart during his ONE 170 fight against the undefeated Colombian newcomer, Jordan Estupinan, though he couldn`t secure the win.
The 20-year-old Brit, who moved up a weight division after establishing a 3-0 record in ONE`s strawweight category, attempted to dictate the early pace against the unpredictable Colombian, who effectively used stance switches and sharp kicks to maintain distance.
However, as Haggerty increased his offensive pressure in the second round, Estupinan responded with a powerful counter right hand that sent him to the canvas.
The London-based fighter showed resilience, beating the referee`s count to stand up, but was quickly knocked down again by a similar punch.
In the final round, Haggerty continued to press forward, targeting the body with clean combinations before moving towards the head. However, the Colombian successfully weathered the late push.
After three competitive rounds, the judges rendered a unanimous decision in favor of Estupinan.
About ONE Championship
Considered the world`s largest martial arts organization, ONE Championship events feature a range of disciplines, including mixed martial arts, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and more, with world titles contested in each sport.
ONE founder and CEO Chatri Sityodtong stated, “Beyond being the home of martial arts, we view ourselves as the Olympics of martial arts. Just like the Olympics feature multiple disciplines and sports that the world watches, we bring together the absolute best martial artists on the planet.”
