“Taper time” - Scottish sensation Nico Carrillo wraps up training camp for ONE Fight Night 23 showdown against Saemapetch

If Nico Carrillo isn't ready now, he never will be. After scoring three-straight knockouts, including an insane come-from-behind KO against former ONE world champion Nong-O Hama in December, the 'King of the North' will return to the Circle on Friday, July 5 for a high-stakes bantamweight Muay Thai clash with division standout Saemapetch Fairtex.

Closing out his training camp, Carrillo is feeling confident and ready to bag his fourth win in a row under the ONE Championship banner. Taking it to Instagram, Carrillo said:

"Camp complete. Taper time. If I am not ready now I will never be. Thank you to everyone who has played they’re part in this camp. It’s show time."

As it stands, the Scottish superstar is sitting as the No. 1 ranked contender to Jonathan Haggerty's bantamweight Muay Thai world championship. Now he'll attempt to defend the top spot against a 127-win veteran determined to score his another opportunity at 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold.

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Saemapetch gunning for his own ONE world title opportunity against Nico Carrillo

Making his 15th career walk to the Circle, Saemapetch has gone toe-to-toe with a slew of ONE's top stars, including the aforementioned Nong-O, Alaverdi Ramazanov, two-time Muay Thai champion Rittewada, reigning ONE featherweight Muay Thai titleholder Tawanchai, and the 'Demolition Man' Felipe Lobo.

It's been nearly five years since Saemapetch last challenged for the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai belt, coming up short against then-champion Nong-O at ONE: Edge of Greatness.

If he can land a big win over the division's top-ranked contender, Saemapetch will likely thrust himself back into the top spot in the rankings and find himself in pole position for a shot at 'The General.'

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.