ONE Friday Fights 46: Nong-O Determined To Silence Doubters Against Nico Carrillo

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The fight game is a fickle world. One minute you're the best. You're untouchable. The next minute you're beyond your best years. Former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion Nong-O Hama has had that perception dropped on him this year. But he's out to silence his critics this week.

Nong-O meets rising Scottish star and #5-ranked Nico Carrillo in a pivotal bantamweight Muay Thai battle this Friday, 22 December, at ONE Friday Fights 46 in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium with plans to get back on track after parting ways with his crown earlier this year.

After Nong-O defended his ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title seven consecutive times, Jonathan Haggerty took the crown from him in April at ONE Fight Night 9. The Thai's presence, according to some, shifted from overlord to outdated in an instant. But Nong-O feels there's still plenty of fight left in him.

"Every time I have a fight coming, I'll try to motivate myself that I can do it. There's still fire burning in my chest," Nong-O said.

"I read some comments and some of them say I'm old, I'm going to lose again. These insults fueled my determination to win even more. I will prove to them that even though I am old, I'm still strong and hungry for victory."

Nong-O's World Title reign saw him dispatch many talents. Felipe Lobo, Alaverdi Ramazanov, Liam Harrison - they all fell to the now 37-year-old. But Nong-O thinks people have already put his notable run as king behind him.

The world of combat sports is ever-changing. If you're not first, you're last. And if you're not winning, you're an afterthought. In 2024, Nong-O is out to change that. He wants the World Title back. But to get the plan in motion, he must topple the deadly Carrillo this Friday.

"My goal is to get my belt back. I won't say his name. I just want my belt back. Because everyone keeps saying his name. They already forgot that I used to be a 7-time world champion," Nong-O said.

"I'm a warrior, fighter, and striker. I don't have the right to choose who I want to fight. I can fight anyone in my division. But the important thing is that I want my gold back."