The rematch everyone has been waiting for is official. Reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Nico Carrillo will defend his belt against former bantamweight Muay Thai king Nabil Anane at The Inner Circle 43 on Friday, December 18, as confirmed by ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong through his Facebook account.
Their first encounter at ONE 170 left a mark that neither fighter has forgotten. Carrillo arrived on a four-knockout winning streak, but Anane’s relentless pressure and finishing ability told a different story.
The Algerian-Thai dropped the Scotsman three times to end the contest via TKO, handing Carrillo the only promotional loss of his career and delivering Anane the ONE Interim Bantamweight Muay Thai World Championship in one of the year’s most memorable performances.
What has happened since tells you everything about both men’s character.
Carrillo channelled the pain of that defeat into one of the most impressive runs in the featherweight division. The 28-year-old Scottish knockout artist moved up a weight class and defeated Thailand’s Shadow Mavinn via unanimous decision across five rounds to claim the interim featherweight title in February 2026.
He was elevated to undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion when Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the crown in July. His 31-4 career striking record speak to a fighter who has used the Anane loss as rocket fuel.
Anane, 22, has had his own battles since that career-defining night. After a long unbeaten run from September 2023 to November 2025, the Venum Training Camp and Team Mehdi Zatout product endured back-to-back losses for the first time in his career.
But a statement victory over Yuki Yoza earlier this month has rebuilt his momentum ahead of the biggest fight of his career, and the 22-year-old arrives carrying a 9-3 ONE record and a 42-7 career mark into the rematch.
One man looking to prove his first win was no fluke. Another determined to show his reign is just beginning. December 18 cannot come soon enough.
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