Nico Carrillo battled inner demons after first ONE loss, needs to beat legend Sitthichai so “life can resume”

Loss is something all fighters deal with, especially in Muay Thai, a sport where fighters routinely rack up over 300 fights in a career.

Proud son of Scotland, Nico Carrillo has faced loss in and out of the cage, but his first defeat in ONE Championship, in an interim title fight against Nabil Anane, hit him hard.

“After my loss to Nabil, my life has stood still.”

“It’s been really tough mentally for me,” Nico admitted. “So getting back in the winner’s column, you know, for me, I’ll just feel human again. And, you know, I can give back to my fiancée who’s been with me every step of the step of the way here.”

Fighters are human, and its good to see when they are vulnerable about their struggles.

What motivates the Scotsman most at present is the future with his soon-to-be wife.

“I just wanna give back to her, we’re getting married, so I just wanna give her all my attention,” he told me. “No fighting. No nothing for a month or two. She deserves it. And then after that, I’m going to be really, really active [as a fighter] after the wedding.”

He used a notable turn of phrase to describe the rough time period she supported him through, “Life stood still.”

Carillo was coming off a series of exciting knockout wins, including against the legendary Thai Nong-O Hama, when he faced Nabil Anane at ONE 170 for the interim bantamweight Muay Thai championship, and had bigger goals on his mind as well.

The knockout loss, to a fighter who just beat one of the world’s best in Superlek at ONE 172, changed all of that.

“It made me reevaluate reevaluate a lot of things,” Carrillo said. “I had a lot of things planned, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything in the world, and the only thing that mattered to me was getting back in the winner’s column.. And it just kind of took over…hijacked my brain and my mindset.”

“That’s why I had to get back in there so soon, which I’m thankful to ONE Championship for,” he continued. “That’s what I mean when life stood still, nothing else mattered. I had loads of things planned and everything had to get canceled.”

However, Nico only sees one way to fix things.

“Just beating Sitthichai for me…my life can resume after that.”

Carrillo can still achieve big things in combat sports, but he is now focused on his mindset and on staying in the present.

“I just read books, I’m reading another book right now,” he said, when asked how he will keep his cool under pressure. “It’s just the kind of books I like to read, about mindset and other athletes and how they strive so well at the top…just taking a look at some of the greats’ brains. And that’s kind of been helping me, to be honest.”

As for which legendary athlete inspired him the most?

“[The book is] like Kobe and stuff, that I’m reading about right now. But, you know, it’s all relevant.”

Learning from an icon with a mentality tougher than steel such as Kobe Bryant is one way to prepare for a legend like Sitthichai, but Nico knows one of the greatest 70-kg kickboxers of all time will be no layup, no matter what ruleset they compete under.

“I totally agree [that he’s one of the greatest]. Was it eight-time world champion? GLORY world champion, Lumpinee, and all the rest of it, K-1 Max. There’s not more much you need to see is there?’

“He’s an absolute legend. He’s beaten the absolute biggest names in the sport, including Tawanchai, so I’ve got my work cut out for me, I’m under no illusion. I’ve put in the work, and we’re ready for it.”

Nico declined a prediction, closing the interview with a no-nonsense, cold-blooded answer when asked for one.

“Win at all costs.”

Nico Carrillo takes on Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong at ONE Fight Night 30 in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand on Friday, April 4th, 2025, live on Prime Video.

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