ONE Fight Night 23 results: Nico Carrillo vs. Saemapetch Fairtex
The co-main event of the exciting ONE Fight Night 23 saw two ranked bantamweight Muay Thai contenders throw hands inside the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, as number one-ranked Nico Carrillo and number four-rated Saemapetch Fairtex on Saturday morning.
It was an all-important match for both athletes because it could determine their respective fates in the weight class. For Carrillo, it could cement his case as the next challenger for the belt, and for Saemapetch, a win can bolt him into the top three spot in the division.
See the blow-by-blow action and official result below.
Round 1: Carrillo opened up with a front kick. Saemapetch answered with a three-piece combination that landed on Carrillo's body and legs. But Carrillo responded with his own combination that cornered the Thai star. Carrillo marched forward. Saemapetch fired elbows and punches to fend him off.
The left hook Carrillo was finding its home to Saemapetch's chin, and Carrillo ended the round with powerful knees and solid right-hand punches on Saemapetch's head.
Round 2: Carrillo continued to march forward and haunted Saemapetch, who is backing off. Carrillo floored Saemapetch with a left hook in under a minute in the second round. Saemapetch responded with straight left hands to momentarily stun Carrillo.
Another left hook dropped Saemapetch at the 1:15 mark of the round, and moments later, Carrillo finished him off with a ferocious combination of punches to end the match via second-round TKO.
ONE Fight Night 23 - Nico Carrillo vs. Saemapetch Fairtex official result
The hype train of Nico Carrillo continues to run on its track after he defeated fellow top-five contender Saemapetch Fairtex via a second-round TKO finish in their bantamweight Muay Thai contest. This was his fourth straight victory, and he maintains his 100% finish rate.
'The King of the North' used his atomic punches to floor the Thai star three times in the second round and forced referee Olivier Coste to call off the fight in his favor. Furthermore, Carrillo secured an additional $50,000 performance bonus from ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.
Nico Carrillo defeated Saemapetch Fairtex via second-round TKO during their bantamweight Muay Thai match.