“It’ll be ready” - Nico Carrillo confident KO power will be dialed in for Saemapetch showdown at ONE Fight Night 23

Nico Carrillo is confident his power will be fully restored by the time he steps back into the Circle on Friday, July 5.

Returning to the legendary Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, ONE Fight Night 23 will feature a high-stakes bantamweight Muay Thai clash as Carrillo, the division's No.1 ranked contender, puts his spot at the top on the line against Saemapetch Fairtex.

Following his impressive second-round knockout against Nong-O Hama at ONE Friday Fights 46, the 'King of the North' was shelved with a hand injury.

Speaking with Sky Sports MMA Club, Carrillo confirmed that he has already returned to sparring and believes he'll be good to go by the time fight night arrives.

"My hand is good. I feel good. I’ve been back at sparring this morning," Carrillo said. "I’m nearing the fight, I’m twelve weeks out, but obviously, I’ve not been able to be punching as much before this, but right now it feels good.

"I’m feeling the power and I’m just happy to be training Thai boxing again. It’ll be ready by the time I need to fight for sure."

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Nico Carrillo puts his No. 1 ranking on the line against Saemapetch on July 5

As it stands, Nico Carrillo is sitting in the top spot in the bantamweight Muay Thai division, having scored three straight knockouts against Furkan Karabag, Muangthai PK. Saenchai, and the aforementioned Nong-O Hama.

But instead of sitting back and waiting for a potential fight with the division's reigning champion, Jonathan Haggerty, Carrillo will put it all on the line against one of Thailand's most dangerous strikers.

With 127 wins to his credit, Saemapetch will make his 15th career walk to the Circle at ONE Fight Night 23.

During his run, he has gone toe-to-toe with some of the best Muay Thai practitioners the sport has ever seen, including Nong-O, Tawanchai, Rodlek, and Felipe Lobo.

Saemapetch will step inside the Mecca of Muay Thai fresh off a big first-round knockout of Mohamed Younes Rabah at ONE Fight Night 19.

Will the Thai make it back-to-back wins in his home country, or will Nico Carrillo continue his meteoric rise up the ranks and bank another highlight-reel finish?

ONE Championship fans in the United States and Canada can watch ONE Fight Night 23 live and for free via Amazon Prime Video in U.S. primetime on Friday, July 5.