With this Friday being a day off ahead of the League Divisional Series in the MLB Playoffs, one may think that it’s a day without big hits and walk-off victories. Happily, this isn’t the case. While ballparks in Major League Baseball will fall silent on this first Friday of the year’s 10th month, combat sports saves the day once again.
On the eve of UFC 307, ONE Championship has a hard-hitting affair that may be even better than playoff action on the diamond. Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok serves as the setting for the Friday night show, although it’ll already be well into Saturday morning when showtime hits in Thailand.
ONE on Prime Video 25 begins at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on Amazon Prime Video inside North America only. If you’re watching from the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sky Sports carries the event (also titled ONE Fight Night 25) at 1 am London time Saturday morning. Elsewhere, ONE Fight Night 25 will be accessible as a pay-per-view event on ONE’s Website.
Kickboxing Rematch Serves as Focus of ONE on Prime Video 25 Main Event Friday Night
Barring any last-minute setbacks, the final version of ONE on Prime Video 25 features 11 fights across the disciplines, including MMA, Muay-Thai, and the focal point of the main event of the evening, kickboxing. We’ll have a rematch on our hands in the headlining affair.
Current ONE Lightweight (170 lbs.) Kickboxing World Champion Alexis Nicolas (24-0 kickboxing, 2-0 ONE) defends his title against the man he won it over earlier this year, challenger and incumbent ONE Lightweight Muay-Thai Champion Regian Eersel (61-5 kickboxing, 10-1 ONE Championship).
As with all kickboxing/ Muay-Thai championship fights in ONE, the ONE on Prime Video 25 main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at three minutes per round to close the show. One note: The three-knockdown rule is in effect for this headliner. Should a fighter knock his opponent down three times in a round or four times in a match, that fighter is declared the winner by technical knockout.
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ONE on Prime Video 25 Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into the ONE on Prime Video 25 main event on Friday night, Regian Eersel stands as the taller man at 6-foot 2 1/2, compared to Alexis Nicolas’ frame of six feet even. Eersel owns a 77-inch reach, with no such information accessible for Nicolas.
Currently, the oddsmakers have yet to release money lines for ONE on Prime Video 25 on Friday. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
The Series So Far…
Heading into the rematch over the weekend, the all-time series stands at 1-0 in favor of Alexis Nicolas. Back in April, he bested Eersel by unanimous decision to become the new champion during ONE on Prime Video 21. How will chapter two of this story play out?
Nicolas Wants Rematch To End Before Final Bell
Alexis Nicolas enters the ONE on Prime Video 25 main event having yet to lose in his career as a kickboxer. Before the unanimous decision victory over Eersel in the spring, he scored a unanimous decision last January against Magomed Magomedov in ONE Friday Fights.
Recently, Nicolas talked to ONE about facing Eersel for the second time in six months this Friday night.
“I felt good, like 12 years of hard work,” Nicolas began. “It took a long time, but I showed the world who I am. But I wasn’t happy because I wanted to win by KO. So it was a good win, but I want more.”
He hasn’t had a victory by way of knockout since last November, so can he finish inside the distance here? Tune in Friday and find out.
Revenge on Eersel’s Mind
In the other corner, Regian Eersel has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five fights. Prior to the original match vs. Alexis Nicolas in April, he had been on a 24-fight winning streak dating back to 2021, including a three-year stint as the first-ever ONE Lightweight Kickboxing Champion.
Back in March of last year, he stopped Sinsamut Klinmee (88-18-3 kickboxing, 4-3 ONE Championship) with a body shot in round four to defend the 170-lb. Muay-Thai championship. Having had six months to stew over his defeat, what adjustments has Eersel made in his training camp to make certain that he’s a two-sport champion at lightweight once again?
Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Although the calendar will read Oct. 4, expect fireworks rivaling those launched on July 4 in the ONE on Prime Video 25 main event.
Nicolas Can Bring the Pain
Statistically speaking, Alexis Nicolas has knocked out five of his adversaries, including his 2022 fight vs. Mohamad Amir. During the second round, Nicolas landed a few punches before scoring with some kicks to his opponent’s leg.
While Amir remained standing after the referee ordered Nicolas back to his corner, the former couldn’t survive the 10-count administered by the referee. If Nicolas can chop away at Eersel’s legs this Friday, the rematch will be his and the rivalry will be over.
Eersel May End This With One Blow
In the other corner, Regian Eersel is no slouch when getting in the ring, either. Just look at the tape of his fight versus Anthony Njokuani from 2022. Throughout the fight, Eersel threw a flurry of strikes to knock his opponent off of his gameplan.
Smelling blood in the water in round two, Eersel continued to hammer away, putting Njokuani down and out with a right hook. Njokuani was no match for Eersel that night.
Look for Eersel to come out swinging in the ONE on Prime Video 25 main event. As long as he establishes control from the early going, he’ll get the revenge he wants.
Final Thoughts
Get your popcorn ready. While there may not be baseball on Friday, this main event will surely be a home run.
Prediction: Regian Eersel by Second-Round TKO.
