Eersel Vs. Nicolas III: The Road That Led To The World Title Trilogy Bout At ONE Fight Night 30
A ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title trilogy bout is set to go down at ONE Fight Night 30: Kryklia vs. Knowles on Prime Video, as reigning two-sport king Regian “The Immortal” Eersel will put the belt on the line against former champion Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas.
That hotly anticipated rubber match will air live in U.S. primetime this Friday, April 4, and if the pair’s first two encounters were any indication, fans should expect another high-paced, back-and-forth war.
Before Eersel and Nicolas share the iconic ring at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium one more time, we take a closer look at their first two World Title showdowns.
Nicolas Upsets Eersel In First Battle
Eersel and Nicolas initially met at ONE Fight Night 21 back in April 2024. At the time, “The Immortal” was a reigning two-sport titleholder who was riding an absurd eight-year winning streak and widely recognized as one of the planet’s top pound-for-pound strikers.
Meanwhile, France’s Nicolas was an undefeated rising star. Before making a successful ONE Championship debut earlier in the year, he largely dominated the ultra-tough European kickboxing circuit.
While many viewed him as a world-class striker with tremendous potential, Nicolas entered his ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title clash against Eersel as a significant underdog.
But that April night in Bangkok, he would shock the world. The challenger displayed supreme confidence and a masterful game plan from the opening bell, employing his speedy footwork to evade the Surinamese kingpin’s long-range weaponry while landing low kicks and heavy counter-punches of his own.
In the second frame, a massive right hand sent Eersel crashing to the canvas. And while the titleholder would regain his composure and mount some offense through the bout’s middle rounds, it was Nicolas who continued to get the better of the exchanges with his crippling low kicks and power shots.
After five rounds of intense action, “Barboza” emerged victorious with a unanimous decision. The awe-inspiring victory ended Eersel’s five-year reign at the top of the lightweight kickboxing division, snapped his 22-bout winning streak, and set the stage for an epic rematch.
Eersel Evens The Score
Six months later, in the main event of ONE Fight Night 25, Eersel would have his chance at revenge.
“The Immortal” returned to the scene of the crime, felt energized, and seemed to be in the finest shape of his career for that bout, as he was undoubtedly motivated to reclaim the 26 pounds of gold he previously held.
Indeed, the Sityodtong Amsterdam representative pressed the action early and often with a piston-like jab, thudding low kicks, and an extremely high work rate that kept Nicolas largely on the defensive through the contest’s opening minutes.
The Frenchman dug deep and appeared to be turning the tide through the middle rounds. But in a beautiful display of skill and fight IQ, Eersel changed his tactics to create a close-range battle, rarely giving his foe a chance to breathe or much space to work.
Eersel continued to dole out punishment with brutal leg kicks that robbed “Barboza” of his power and, ultimately, erased any doubt as to who would win the decision.
The ringside judges unanimously agreed. “The Immortal” reclaimed the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title and handed his French rival the only loss of his career.
Now, almost exactly one year after their first epic clash, Eersel and Nicolas will return to the Thai capital to throw down for the prestigious golden belt and bragging rights as the planet’s top lightweight kickboxer.
