\n
![\"close\"](\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\"){kind=icon}
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reigning ONE interim featherweight Muay Thai world champion Nico Carrillo of Scotland has a stark warning for fighters chasing aesthetics over athleticism.<\/p>\n
According to “King of the North,” carrying too much muscle will cost you in a fight when it matters most.<\/p>\n
Carrillo possesses one of the most imposing physiques in the promotion. Still, he has built his reputation on explosive, sustained aggression across multiple rounds. It\u2019s a quality he credits entirely to functional conditioning rather than appearance-driven training.<\/p>\n
The Glasgow-based striker has spoken openly about the importance of developing the right kind of physical attributes for combat sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/template><\/p>\n Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings<\/a> at Sportskeeda and more<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For Carrillo, the distinction between bodybuilder muscle and fighter muscle isn’t just academic. It’s the difference between performing at full capacity in the championship rounds and falling apart when the fight gets deep and desperate<\/a>.<\/p>\n The interim king told ONE Championship<\/a>:<\/p>\n “Bodybuilder muscle is built for show, not for speed. It soaks up oxygen fast. It tires quickly. It makes you stiff and slow. In a real fight, that muscle becomes a burden. By round three, your arms feel like bricks and your feet won’t move. The other guy might be smaller, but he’s still sharp. Still fast. Still breaking you down.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Nico Carrillo credits his endless gas tank to his love for running and the outdoors.<\/p>\n “King of the North” is confident when he reaches the championship rounds because he always puts the work in every single day<\/a>.<\/p>\n The interim ONE featherweight Muay Thai world champion told ONE:<\/p>\n “Running really is a beautiful thing. I just love it. I do it on my own, or sometimes I even bring my little dog with me, too, for some quick runs around my home. I’d say it’s a perfect way for me to disconnect from everything else for a bit while you just soak up the atmosphere or whatever you come across during a run.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nNico Carrillo on why he fell in love with running<\/h2>\n