‘It’s More Complete Now’ – Why Nico Carrillo’s World Championship Training Camp Is Better With His Dog Cali
For Nico “King of the North” Carrillo, his Springer Spaniel, Cali, isn’t just a pet. She’s family and an indispensable member of his fight camp, both in Glasgow and now, 6,245 miles away in Phuket.
The Scotsman has been in Thailand since late last year, preparing for his ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship battle against Shadow Singha Mawynn at ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.
Their clash unfolds live in U.S. primetime, on Friday, February 13 from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
Having spent his past camps there without his bestie, the 27-year-old made sure that Cali was by his side leading up to his highlight-reel win over Luke “The Chef” Lessei last November. And now that he is set to face Shadow for the World Title at ONE Fight Night 40 on February 13, Cali’s stay has been extended.
The journey bringing Cali to Thailand was far from smooth, though. That being said, every logistical hurdle and penny spent was worth it because some things are non-negotiable:
“The process to bring Cali here was very stressful, for sure. It was also expensive. We had to get some things checked back home. Then we had to take a seven-hour drive to London from Glasgow, the only place that ships [directly] to Thailand.
“I had to leave her there and go on a different plane. It was pretty sad, but it was for the best. It was a long journey. I couldn’t leave her back home. Now, thankfully, I’m back in action soon, so we just decided to keep her here with us a bit longer than initially planned.”
Through every grueling training session at Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA, Carrillo’s five-year-old pup has been right there beside him.
Cali’s wagging tail and boundless energy have become the heartbeat of his daily life. And in the demanding world of professional fighting, where sacrifice and distance are constants, having that unconditional love waiting at home makes all the difference.
She isn’t just a companion — she’s family, as the Deachkalek Muay Thai Academy standout puts it:
“There’s no better way to come home after training than just to be with my wife, Aimee, and Cali. Cali goes crazy every time I’m back. It brings me to tears most times.
“She’s always there, greeting me. And that’s one of the best messages there is, like it shows how a human can share a really close bond with a dog. Cali is mine and Aimee’s little first child.”
Carrillo’s love for Cali has grown tremendously since the very first day when he locked eyes with her as a pup. Being someone who grew up with dogs all his life, the connection was natural and instinctive.
Over the years, his beloved canine has served as his running partner, his emotional anchor, his unofficial training buddy.
She’s built for it — Springer Spaniels are energetic, tireless, and loyal — and she thrives in those moments where man and dog move together in perfect rhythm:
“I’ve always been a dog person. I grew up with dogs in my mum’s house. My grandparents had a dog too. My cousins had dogs. I’ve always been around dogs all the time.
“So yeah, we spend loads of time together. There’s plenty we have done over the years. She’s even my running partner back home. She runs up all the mountains and all the hills with me.”
Why Dogs Truly Are A Man’s Best Friend
Nico Carrillo and Cali’s dynamic, however, has shifted in Thailand due to the unforgiving heat, especially for a dog bred for cooler climates. But they’ve adapted.
Walks happen before the sun climbs too high. Beach trips are saved for the evenings, when the temperature drops and Cali can splash through the waves, her tail wagging furiously as she explores the sand.
Carrillo told onefc.com:
“She absolutely loves it here. We still go for walks normally from 7am to 9am when the sun isn’t too hot. She still goes out for a full hour everyday and then we take her to the beach in the afternoon when it gets cooler. She loves her time out on the beach, too.”
It’s Cali’s first time in Thailand, and despite the logistical nightmare of getting her there — the paperwork, the veterinary checks, the expensive flights, the heartbreak of leaving her at the London facility — she’s thriving.
And for Carrillo, that makes every stressful moment worth it.
He continued:
“Having Aimee beside me for my camps is special, but I’d say it’s more complete now with Cali out here, as well. Like, I can just focus on my training, and then head home to be with them. It’s just as if I’m back home.”
Beyond running the Scottish trails for hours or stopping by Phuket’s finest beaches, Carrillo spends his down time with Cali and Aimee cuddled up together binge-watching their favorite films.
It’s moments like these that define what his four-legged friend means to him. Cali is a living, breathing reminder of what matters when the four-ounce gloves aren’t strapped on.
“King of the North” reflected:
“Dogs are the purest form of anything in the world. I don’t believe that we deserve to have dogs. I think the human race doesn’t deserve dogs.”
Carrillo’s upcoming ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship tilt against Shadow at ONE Fight Night 40 represents everything he has worked for.
It’s the perfect opportunity to erase the heartbreak of his previous title loss and to solidify his legacy as one of the world’s most dangerous strikers.
But when the fight is over and the adrenaline dissipates, Carrillo will return to his accommodation in Phuket. And Cali will be there, tail wagging, ready to greet him.
He concluded:
“There’s that old saying, ‘A dog is a man’s best friend. And it’s true, absolutely. My dog is like my little daughter.”
