Regian Eersel has been perfect in ONE Championship. So much so that he has claimed both the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Titles. On Friday, April 5, “The Immortal” will defend the kickboxing gold against Alexis Nicolas at ONE Fight Night 21.
After incredible result after incredible result, it would be easy for Eersel to look past his next challenger. But that is not what has made him great. The two-sport titleholder still sees his next title defense as his biggest threat.
“I look at everybody they put in front of me as the most dangerous guy because the one in front of me is the one who is trying to beat me. My opponent is gonna do everything in his power to get the win and to get the belt. Nobody is an easy fight. Everybody is dangerous,” Eersel told ONE.
Eersel is not expecting an easy fight. “The Immortal” saw Nicolas’ skills up close and realized the dangers that await him in Bangkok. The ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion believes his next title defense will see both men scoring with their offense in a five-round thriller.
“I was watching live when he had his first fight for ONE. He’s a smart fighter, good with his kicks, and he throws good combinations. It’s gonna be a good fight for me, and I’m gonna put my name to the test again. It’s also good for him that he gets to fight for the belt in his second fight in ONE. I think we are both gonna score a lot of points and throw lots of combinations. And I hope I’m gonna catch him. But in my mind, I’m preparing for five rounds of war,” Eersel stated.
For Eersel, the high-level championship experience is what will set the two apart on April 5. Eersel has been competing on this level for years with thunderous results. Eersel feels he knows how to break his opponent, and Nicolas will wilt under his pressure at ONE Fight Night 21.
“My biggest advantage I think is my experience, my pressure going forward, and my aggression. I think he will struggle with that. I would say I’m a different kind of fighter. I am really going to put the pressure on him, and he will feel it,” the two-sport king said.
ONE Fight Night 21 will mark Nicolas’ first time under the bright lights as the main event. Eersel is adamant that the pressures of headlining an event could play a vital role in the outcome. He noted that not everyone can handle the outside pressures of promoting a title match.
While he doesn’t claim it will be an issue for Nicolas, he will keep a close eye on his opponent inside the ring. If he notices any weakness, “The Immortal” will exploit it and finish his opponent. Eersel is looking to keep his impressive winning streak alive and remain one of the world’s pound-for-pound best on April 5.
“You will not notice it from the fighter, but inside his head, it’s sometimes a lot. If he can handle it, good. If not, I will notice. I will notice in the fight, and even before the fight. Because sometimes you see it in the eyes, the hesitation. So, I’m going to recognize it if he has it,” Eersel said.
ONE Fight Night 21 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, April 5. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers based in the U.S. and Canada.
