Reigning two-sport kingpin and hard-hitting Frenchman will add another chapter to their epic World Title feud live in U.S. primetime this Friday, April 4.
That night, in the co-main event of , the Surinamese dynamo will put his ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title on the line in the pair바카라s deciding rubber match.
The bout will go down at Bangkok바카라s Lumpinee Stadium 바카라 the same iconic venue where the strikers traded victories against each other in two of 2024바카라s most electrifying battles.
Before fans across the globe tune in to this high-stakes trilogy fight, both Eersel and Nicolas spoke to about their heated rivalry.
Eersel: 바카라You Will See A Sleeping Nicolas바카라
When Regian Eersel first collided with 바카라Barboza바카라 in April 2024, he was a reigning two-sport ONE World Champion, riding an incredible eight-year winning streak, and widely considered one of the planet바카라s best pound-for-pound strikers.
While Alexis Nicolas was a talented undefeated fighter in his own right, few expected him to take the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title away from the Surinamese superstar.
, however. He racked up critical damage points with punishing low kicks and unleashed venomous boxing combinations to secure a unanimous decision win.
Looking back on that crushing defeat, Eersel admitted that he didn바카라t have the right mindset going into the match and became complacent about his success.
바카라The Immortal바카라 said:
바카라I was undefeated for eight years. And yet, honestly, I lost the fire because it became normal. You know, you have a fight, you win, you have another fight. So, it becomes normal.
바카라And I think by losing to Alexis, I regained the fire because, yeah, I lost. It바카라s part of the job, of course. But for me, it was years that I didn바카라t lose a fight. So, for me, it was good to have a loss.바카라
That loss to Nicolas would ignite a new passion in the Surinamese knockout artist.
In the pair바카라s rematch six months later, Eersel delivered one of the finest performances of his career. He turned up the aggression to a fever pitch while employing fast movement to earn a unanimous decision win and reclaim his gold.
That victory, he said, was all about redemption:
바카라I was very happy to get my belt back and get revenge. I proved to myself, to my team, to all the fans, that I바카라m still the World Champion.바카라
Eersel said that he바카라s now poised to win the rubber match and close the door on his rivalry with Nicolas.
바카라The Immortal바카라 is ready for another 15-minute war, but if the opportunity presents itself, he knows he바카라ll jump on the chance to finish 바카라Barboza바카라 in emphatic fashion.
He offered:
바카라A win in this trilogy means to me that I can end this, once and for all. I hope I can open a new chapter in my career, and we will go forward from there.
바카라I am preparing myself for the five rounds. But when I have the chance to finish him, you will see a sleeping Nicolas.바카라
Nicolas: 바카라This Fight Should Be Legendary바카라
For his part, Alexis Nicolas was quick to praise Regian Eersel and all that he바카라s accomplished across kickboxing and Muay Thai. However, 바카라Barboza바카라 is building his own legacy, as well.
After two unforgettable wars in 2024, the Frenchman believes their trilogy bout at ONE Fight Night 30 is sure to deliver even more drama.
He said:
바카라Eersel바카라s a very good fighter. Everybody says and knows that Eersel바카라s a legend. I바카라m starting to become a legend, too. So, now, this fight should be legendary.
바카라Our two fights were crazy, maybe the best of 2024. It바카라s always a pleasure to give this kind of fight for the fans.바카라
While Nicolas entered his first clash with 바카라The Immortal바카라 loaded with the well-deserved confidence of an undefeated rising star, he confesses that he didn바카라t have the same drive in their second encounter last October.
Even though he held the 26 pounds of gold, something was missing.
He explained:
바카라Going into the rematch as the defending champion, it was different for me. I didn바카라t get the same fire in my heart. When I watch the rematch, I바카라m not confident in the same way that I was in the first fight. When I look at my eyes, I know that I바카라m not the same guy.
바카라Eersel was the best version of himself during the second fight, but I was not.바카라
With six months to sharpen his mind, hone his technique, and fix any mistakes he made, Nicolas is determined to recapture the ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Title.
바카라The Frenchman바카라 has nothing personal against Eersel 바카라 he바카라s just the man standing between him and 26 pounds of ONE Championship gold. And like his rival, Nicolas is plenty ready for another five-round firefight and believes he can even score the KO.
바카라Barboza바카라 said:
바카라I have nothing against Eersel. He바카라s in my way, and I just want to take the belt. I just want the belt. I바카라m ready for five rounds against him, but I바카라m ready to put him out, too.바카라
