ONE Championship

A newly crowned champion is stepping into unfamiliar territory instead of taking a victory lap.

Nico Carrillo makes his ONE Championship kickboxing debut against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46, broadcasting live in US primetime this Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. The 27-year-old Scot went from interim titleholder to undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion last month. This happened after Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the belt to continue rehabbing a serious leg injury.

Carrillo earned that opportunity by outworking Shadow Mavinn across five rounds at ONE Fight Night 40 in February. He now carries a 29-4 record and a relentless finishing instinct into this new discipline. A win over Zhou would put him on course to chase two-sport World Champion status. It would also add kickboxing gold to a Muay Thai throne he now holds outright.

“Nothing has changed. I have an opponent in front of me that I have to deal with, and I'm locked on that task. The news of me being officially crowned has nothing to do with this fight camp,†he said.

Nico Carrillo eyes bigger picture beyond Friday

Carrillo has already mapped out a path that extends well past this weekend, with plans to defend his Muay Thai title later this year before pursuing an MMA debut in Qatar as early as March, part of a renewed three-year partnership between ONE Championship and Visit Qatar.

Stacking disciplines immediately after inheriting undisputed gold is a bold call, but it fits a fighter who has built his career on seeking out the toughest available test rather than the safest one.

“I'm already a ONE World Champion, and the next obvious step is to become a two-sport World Champion, kickboxing or MMA alongside Muay Thai. For now, it's one step at a time,†he said.

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Gillian Robertson can make history at UFC 330.

Robertson is set to challenge for the UFC strawweight title against Mackenzie Dern in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Saturday. After Robertson's last win against Amanda Lemos, she thought she had done enough to get a title shot, and the UFC brass confirmed shortly after.

“I think I did do enough, but I wasn't happy with my performance,†Robertson said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “Coming out of the cage, legit, after my first couple of steps, Hunter Campbell was there and said I was getting a title shot. Then, they brought me back to Dana, and he told me the same thing. So, right after the fight, I knew it was solidified.â€

Heading into UFC 330, Robertson will be competing in her 21st UFC fight. It's been a long journey for the Canadian as she looks to become the first female Canadian UFC champion in history.

“I have had the longest journey for a female to a title in the UFC. It's been a crazy journey; I'm just here in the fights. Obviosuly the title is big; I just want to perform and fight. … Being the first female Canadian UFC champ, just saying that is unreal. And maybe we can get a surge in Canadians; we need more in the sport,†Robertson added.

Gillian Robertson eyes TKO win at UFC 330

However, to do that, Robertson will need to beat Dern, which is easier said than done.

Gillian Robertson knows Mackenzie Dern is an elite grappler. But she believes her aggression on the ground will be the difference.

“If Mackenzie and I competed in straight jiu-jitsu, she might be a better grappler than me. But when it comes to MMA, I'm the best on the ground. There is no pressure or aggression like mine; I feel like it will be a different world than hers,†Robertson said.

Ultimately, Robertson believes the aggression on the ground will lead to a TKO win and hearing Bruce Buffer say ‘And New.'

“I see this very much as an MMA fight, being all over the place. In the striking, the clinch, the ground, it won't solely be one aspect. … The way for me to win is to make it dirty, use ground and pound, elbows. She will be tough to submit; I will be looking for that, but I think a TKO is more likely for me,†Robertson said.

If Robertson gets her hand raised, she wants her first title defense to be against Zhang Weili.

“100 percent. Mackenzie is facing it right now, and I will face it as soon as I get the belt. Everybody doesn't call her the champ; everyone says Weili is the champ. You need to beat her to solidify yourself. It has to be the first fight after the belt,†Robertson concluded.

Do you think Gillian Robertson will beat Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330?

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Zuffa LLC

Islam Makhachev believes he will teach Ian Machado Garry how to be humble once UFC 330 is in the books.

Makhahcev is looking for his first successful welterweight title defense when he collides with Garry on Saturday. As fight night approaches, the athletes competing on this weekend's card in Philadelphia have been fulfilling media obligations. When Makhachev spoke to reporters during his scrum, he was asked what he thinks about his upcoming title challenger as a person.

The reigning 170-pound champion believes Garry's bravado will come back to haunt him when the lights are shining brighter than ever.

“I think he's good person, good guy, but he acts like he's bad boy or something like this,†Makhachev said. “I tell in the interview also, we will make him humble.â€

Garry has said that not only does he envision a knockout win at UFC 330, but he also plans to make it an emphatic finish and not a lucky shot. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier believes that “The Future†is making a mistake with that mindset, while others feel Garry is simply hyping up the fight.

There has been much speculation over Makhachev's future once Saturday's event has wrapped up. Longtime UFC color commentator Joe Rogan recently admitted that he wouldn't be shocked if Makhachev retires should he earn the victory over Garry.

Regardless of Makhachev's plans, Garry hopes to prove that the next generation of welterweights has arrived with him leading the charge. The Irishman told media members that Carlos Prates is the most deserving contender after UFC 330, and he claims he'd give “The Nightmare†a title shot if he is successful against Makhachev.

Will it be business as usual for Islam Makahchev at UFC 330, or will Ian Machado Garry give him problems on Saturday? Sound off in the comments below.

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