ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel expects a tougher match in his rematch against Nieky “The Natural” Holzken.
The rematch between the Dutchmen takes place at ONE: Dawn of Valor at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia this Friday, October 25.
Eersel outpointed Holzken in their first meeting at ONE: Enter the Dragon last May in Singapore and walked away with a clear-cut decision victory.
But Eersel anticipates nothing but the best from his compatriot this time around.
“I think this will be a harder fight for both of us because we know better how the other one fights now – he knows a little bit about how I fight, and I know about him too,” Eersel said.
“I think he’ll come in a different style, and I’ll come to fight with a different style too. He wants to win of course, and I want to prove that I am the better fighter, so it will be a harder fight than the first one.”
The 26-year-old might have beaten Holzken in their first meeting, but Eersel knows he needs to improve.
He had a chance to finish Holzken in the fourth round of their first bout, but he did not have enough in the gas tank to score the TKO.
“I worked more on my conditioning because I felt in the last round, I didn’t push him,” Eersel said. “I was sure I would win, but we were both tired by then. I just scored my points, stood back, stepped to the side – not moving forward as much. I worked more on the conditioning [this time] so I can push him in the last round, too.
“I think Nieky will try to go harder this time also, but I don’t think he can hold on until the later rounds with me.”
Statistically, rematches have been good for “The Immortal.” He has always scored more finishes during second encounters.
Eersel does not promise anything grand, but he believes the stats will be on his side once again.
“In my whole career, I fought three guys twice. And in the second fight, I knocked out all three of them,” he said.
“I’m going to try it, but I’m not going to say I will finish him. When you fight the best guys, it is not so simple.”
ONE Championship returns this Friday, October 25 for ONE: Dawn of Valor at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The main card airs live on ABS-CBN S+A at 9:30pm.
The Home Of Martial Arts then returns to the Mall Of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines for ONE: Masters of Fate on November 8.
Get your tickets here and use the code ‘onewarrior’ for a 20-percent discount.
Watch both shows for free by downloading the ONE Super App.
Read More From ONE Championship:
How Regian Eersel Took Nieky Holzken’s Best Shots And Struck Gold
Regian Eersel’s Inspirational Journey To World Title Success
