Regian Eersel Reclaims ONE Kickboxing World Title, Open To Rungrawee Rematch Under Muay Thai Rules
Regian Eersel got his baby back. Seven years after claiming the inaugural ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title, the Surinamese-Dutch superstar reclaimed the belt he never lost in the ring, defeating Rungrawee “Legatron” Sitsongpeenong by unanimous decision in the main event of The Inner Circle on April 10 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium.
It was a hard-earned five rounds against a durable and dangerous southpaw who refused to fold, and Eersel was the first to admit it did not go entirely to plan.
“My game plan didn’t really come out, to tell you honestly,” he said. “The game plan was to move a lot to the left side, work on the legs, and do everything relaxed. But I went too greedy. I was hunting for the KO and attacked only through power shots. And yeah, we got hit a lot with the clean shots. Not the fight that I wanted. But I still got the win.”
Rungrawee survived a brutal third-round knockdown and came back hard in the championship rounds, pressing forward and forcing exchanges in the final minutes. Eersel met him head-on rather than retreat, settling into counter-fight mode and waiting for the Thai to come onto his shots.
“I was not really gassed out. I was like, ‘let him come,'” Eersel said. “Before the fight, I didn’t really think about giving him a knockdown or KO-ing him. I just think I wanted to hurt him as much as I could. And I think I did that.”
Respect for Rungrawee was genuine, and the door to a rematch under Muay Thai rules was left open. But Eersel made sure to attach a warning to the invitation.
“He punched harder than I thought. Of course [I’ll fight him again]. Why not? I never decline a fight,” he said. “To Rungrawee, if you get a rematch, I will KO you before the third round. Because you gave me this cut lip.”
Now a two-sport ONE World Champion once again, Eersel has no interest in slowing down. The king, as he promised before the fight, is back.
READ MORE: Sam-A Gaiyanghadao Calls For World Title Shot After Stopping Elmehdi El Jamari At ONE Fight Night 42
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