Regian Eersel helped build the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title. Now he wants it back.
ONE Championship has reshuffled the ONE Fight Night 42 card following a training injury to Shamil Gasanov, which has pushed Tang Kai’s ONE Featherweight MMA World Title defense back to ONE Fight Night 43 on May 16.
In its place, a mouth-watering new main event has emerged. Eersel will clash with Thailand’s Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong for the vacant ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title on April 11 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The storyline writes itself. Eersel won the inaugural ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title, establishing himself as a two-sport ONE World Champion alongside his Muay Thai crown before losing the kickboxing belt on the scales.
The 33-year-old Surinamese-Dutch superstar has never stopped being the most dominant force in ONE's lightweight landscape, and his return to kickboxing competition carries the unmistakable energy of unfinished business.
His record demands respect at every turn. A 64-5 career mark and a 13-1 ONE record built on victories over the best the lightweight division has produced make Eersel the most accomplished champion in ONE's heavier weight categories.
He won both inaugural titles the promotion offered at lightweight, a feat that speaks to just how completely he has dominated this era of the sport.
Rungrawee, however, is not a fighter who will be overawed by reputation. The 30-year-old Thai has compiled a stunning 158-48 striking record over a long and battle-tested career, earning the nickname "Legatron" for the kind of leg kick artillery that has systematically broken down opponents throughout his journey to and through ONE.
His 6-2 ONE record reflects a fighter who has learned to operate at the elite level, and the vacant title represents the greatest opportunity of his career.
Leave a comment
Please login to leave a comment.