Regian Eersel Vs. Rungrawee: 4 Keys To Victory In ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title Fight At The Inner Circle
The vacant ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title will be on the line this Friday as 10-time ONE World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel looks to reclaim the belt he never lost against battle-hardened Thai contender Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong.
The main event bout airs exclusively for members of The Inner Circle at live.onefc.com on April 10 from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Eersel held the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title across two reigns, including four defenses in his first run, before being stripped on the scales ahead of his rubber match with Alexis “Barboza” Nicolas.
Since then, “The Immortal” has refocused, rattling off three straight wins capped by a stunning 84-second first-round blowout of George “G-Unit” Jarvis at ONE Fight Night 34. Standing across from him is Rungrawee, a slick southpaw who has not lost a kickboxing fight in nearly eight years.
A victory for Eersel would also equal ONE Hall of Famer Bibiano “The Flash” Fernandes‘ record of 11 ONE World Title wins — the most in the history of any sport in the organization.
These are each fighter’s biggest keys to victory.
#1 Eersel’s Relentless Pressure
Eersel has made a career out of breaking opponents with relentless forward pressure, and it will be his most critical weapon against a counter-fighter like Rungrawee.
“The Immortal” is a high-volume Dutch-style striker who reads opponents in the opening minutes before systematically turning up the heat. His combinations are long and varied, often five strikes or more, and they finish with a knee or kick that forces rivals to defend every weapon simultaneously.
His lateral movement off the jab creates angles that make counters nearly impossible, and his ability to change rhythm mid-combination leaves opponents perpetually guessing.
Against Jarvis at ONE Fight Night 34, Eersel absorbed the early game plan and responded with a relentless sequence of punches and elbows that left no room for recovery. If he can establish that same pressure here, Rungrawee faces an incredibly difficult night.
#2 Rungrawee’s Left Kick And Low Kicks
Rungrawee has one of the most reliable left kicks in the lightweight division, and using it early and often could be the key to neutralizing the most decorated striker in ONE history.
The Sitsongpeenong product is a slick muay mat stylist, precise and well-timed, with a left kick that is fast and accurate. It usually targets the body but can adjust to the head when a guard drops, and it accumulates damage even when partially blocked.
His inside low kicks are equally dangerous against an orthodox fighter like Eersel, targeting the lead leg to disrupt rhythm and force hesitation before charges are built.
Eersel has shown vulnerability to sustained leg attacks before, with Nicolas using low kicks to affect his movement across their trilogy. Because Eersel presses forward so aggressively, he does not check many low kicks, and a well-timed counter kick as he steps in can stop his momentum before combinations develop. If Rungrawee can make “The Immortal” respect the legs, he opens the door to the rest of his game.
#3 Eersel’s Conditioning For Championship Rounds
Eersel has a habit of finding another gear when his opponents have nothing left, and his conditioning over five rounds could prove to be his decisive edge.
“The Immortal” has gone the championship distance nine times in ONE and consistently outperforms rivals in the later rounds. He manages his output intelligently, staying busy enough to keep opponents honest without emptying the tank, then turns up the volume when he senses his opponent slowing.
After his rematch with Sinsamut Klinmee, Eersel noted that no one could survive his conditioning in the championship rounds, backing it up with a body shot knockout finish in round four at ONE Friday Fights 9.
Rungrawee absorbs a very high volume of significant strikes per round, and against Eersel’s quality and volume, that number could prove costly late in a five-round title fight.
#4 Rungrawee’s Distance Management And Counters
Rungrawee cannot afford to become a stationary target for Eersel’s combinations, and his ability to manage distance and punish forward movement on the counter could be his clearest path to an upset.
The Ubon Ratchathani native is at his best when he stands his ground, times his opponent’s entries, and fires back with his precise left cross and left kick rather than retreating to the ropes.
His piercing left knee is particularly effective as a stopper against aggressive fighters, and his Dutch-style forearm block allows him to deflect right kicks and immediately counter with punches.
Eersel is not invincible when opponents make him feel their power early. Nicolas landed a knockdown in their first fight at ONE Fight Night 21 by catching the Dutchman coming forward with a tight overhand.
If Rungrawee can force similar moments and make Eersel second-guess his charges, he has the tools to pull off one of the biggest upsets in ONE lightweight history.
