Nico Carrillo Excited For ONE Fight Night 30 Return - 'Muay Thai Is The Only Thing That Makes Me Happy'

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Nico Carrillo is excited to return to ONE Fight Night 30 this weekend as the Scot makes his way to ONE Championship's talent-rich featherweight Muay Thai division to take on legendary Thai fighter Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong.

This fight marks his return after a devastating KO loss to Nabil Anane at ONE 170 in January, a loss that Carrillo attributes to the drastic weight cut to bantamweight.

"My body was under so much stress, and I took that into fight night. I barely made weight with half an hour to go. I lost six kilograms in nine hours. I started at 3am. It was brutal, using the sauna and going running in the heat," Carrillo said.

"The King of the North" called his cut ludicrous. But it taught him lessons that he will take into ONE Fight Night 30. Now feeling refreshed, Carrillo believes his body is ready to get back to his exciting action-packed style.

"I've gone back to how I used to fight, engaging in the full powers of Muay Thai with my heavy kicks instead of just boxing with MMA gloves on. But the biggest lesson was to listen to your body and never put it under that stress again versus people at the highest level," Carrillo said.

Operating at peak performance, the Scot is promising the best version of himself yet. However, his return is more than just about his body, it is also about his mind. The loss made him realize how deep his love for the art of Muay Thai that resides within him.

"The only thing I've realized is that I'm nothing without Muay Thai. My life stands still without it. Fighting is the only thing that matters in this life to me," he said.

Stepping back inside Lumpinee Stadium will be a monumental relief for Carrillo. To finally compete again and embrace the love of the sport will bring him back whole. All that remains is a three-round war against Sitthichai to satisfy his desire.

"I can't just disappear to Thailand, I have responsibilities here," Carrillo said. "It just made me realize that training and fighting Muay Thai is the only thing that makes me happy. It's all that has mattered to me since that day."