‘Not When I’m Champion’ – Regian Eersel Shuts Down Nabil Anane’s Multi-Division World Title Ambitions
Ten-time ONE World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel remains the dividing line between ambition and reality at lightweight.
The former longtime ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion and reigning lightweight Muay Thai king has established himself as the benchmark in the division. Any long-term plan that reaches the division summit must pass through him.
That includes reigning and undisputed ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion Nabil Anane.
While the Algerian-Thai superstar prepares to defend his belt against Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon at ONE Friday Fights 147 on March 20, Anane has openly declared his desire to become a three-division, three-sport ONE World Champion, aiming to capture six belts from bantamweight to lightweight.
Eersel said:
“First of all, he called my name out in the media and said he wants to fight me. I thought maybe in months, not in two or three years. But later he said in another interview, it’s going to take two or three years. I’m here, so I’ll just wait.”
Still just 21 years old, Anane’s trajectory has been deliberate. After losing his promotional debut at flyweight, he rebounded with two wins before moving to bantamweight, where he went undefeated across six Muay Thai and kickboxing appearances, capturing interim Muay Thai gold along the way before being elevated to undisputed ruler.
Most recently, he stepped into featherweight kickboxing and dominated former K-1 Champion Hiromi Wajima at ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri.
The Amsterdam-based Muay Thai king does not dismiss the ambition, but he draws a line when discussing the present.
“The Immortal” offered:
“He has the potential for sure, but not when I’m champion. I have to be gone first. After that, yes, he definitely has the potential to become a three-weight World Champion.”
A potential clash between the two has drawn interest from the global ONE Championship fan base, given how dominant both have been in the world’s largest martial arts organization. Between them, Eersel and Anane have gone unbeaten in 22 of their 24 combined appearances in ONE.
Observers often compare the pair’s physical advantages, with Eersel’s 6-foot-2 stature just 2 inches shorter than Anane’s.
However, Eersel believes that comparison only tells part of the story:
“Height and reach are not the most dangerous weapon. First you have to know how to use the reach and how to move as a tall person. You have to know how to fight long distance and short distance.
“There are a lot of tall fighters who cannot fight in short distance. They close up and don’t know what to do. I think Nabil and I are a few of the tall fighters who can fight in short distance.”
Regian Eersel Weighs Potential Future Move From Nico Carrillo
While Regian Eersel waits for the next contender in the lightweight division, he has also taken note of neighboring ONE World Champions who could eventually test themselves in his weight class.
One name that stands out is Nico “King of the North” Carrillo, who recently delivered a commanding performance to defeat Shadow Mavinn and capture the ONE Interim Featherweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE Fight Night 40.
Before claiming featherweight gold, Carrillo tore through the bantamweight division with four finishes. He later fell short in his interim Muay Thai title clash against Nabil Anane before moving up to featherweight.
There, he reignited his momentum by stopping seven-time Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong and finishing American technician Luke Lessei.
Despite that surge, Carrillo dismissed the idea of moving up another division when asked during a post-event media scrum.
For now, the Scot’s focus remains on unifying the featherweight belt against reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion Tawanchai PK Saenchai, who is sidelined with a leg injury.
Eersel, however, acknowledged Carrillo’s trajectory and did not rule out the possibility of welcoming him to lightweight in the future.
“Yeah, I like it. He’s a good fighter. He already moved up one weight class, so it’s not surprising for me that he said no. Moving up two weight classes is maybe a little bit too heavy for him — but yeah, just wait for that one.”
