3 UK Muay Thai Stars To Watch In ONE Championship In 2024

ONE Championship made a point of placing a spotlight on Muay Thai throughout 2023, and many new stars have risen to global recognition as a result, including multiple talents breaking through from the UK.

Two-sport ONE World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty leads the pack after a monumental year in the bantamweight realm. The Brit picked up the ONE bantamweight Muay Thai and kickboxing crowns in back-to-back outings, and he’s laid the blueprint for more British stars in 2024.

With that said, let’s look at three Muay Thai stars from the UK that are worth keeping an eye on in the coming year.

Nico Carrillo

Nico Carrillo quickly ascended the ladder in ONE’s Friday Fights series by scoring two consecutive knockouts.

The Scottish slugger arrived in the world’s largest martial arts organization in April and immediately made his presence felt with a third-round knockout of Ferkan Karabag at ONE Friday Fights 13 in April. He followed that up by shocking Muay Thai fans worldwide when he finished Muangthai PK Saenchai in the second round of their clash in June.

Carrillo has previously stated he’s coming for bantamweight superstardom and the division’s Muay Thai gold in 2024. And if the past year suggests anything, it’s that he must be treated as a serious contender to his fellow Brit’s throne.

Ellis Badr Barboza

Ellis Badr Barboza is certainly not one to underestimate despite being the youngest of the British bunch. 

He arrived in the promotion at ONE Fight Night 17 earlier this month after catching the organization’s attention by amassing a four-fight winning streak between May and September.

The Birmingham bruiser made his debut against Thongpoon PK Saenchai on 9th December and showcased his brutal Muay Thai en route to a knockout win in the third round.

Barboza’s promotional bow against a veteran of the game was something of an acid test, and he passed it with flying colours. And given that he left the bout relatively unscathed, it would come as no surprise to see him return for more in early 2024.

Jacob Smith

Time wasn’t kind to Jacob Smith following his debut loss to ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion Rodtang Jitmuangnon 18 months ago. 

The Liverpool-based slugger dealt with injury after injury as he prepared for his sophomore fight, and he had multiple bouts cancelled as a result.

But on return at ONE Fight Night 17, Smith made up for lost time in style by dispatching #2-ranked flyweight Muay Thai contender Walter Goncalves with a beautiful knee in the opening round of their matchup.

The British striker believes the victory has placed him right back up there in the World Title conversation, and it’d be hard to deny him if he puts in another impressive showing in his next fight.