ONE Championship: Regian Eersel Unfazed By Dmitry Menshikov’s Recent Run of Form

Bangkok, June 1: Two-sport ONE World Champion Regian Eersel has long been a promotional stalwart at the mountaintop of the striking arts, but his latest challenge may be his toughest when he returns to action in the main event of ONE Fight Night 11.

"The Immortal" meets hotshot newcomer Dmitry Menshikov at the top of the billing on Saturday, 10 June, when his ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title will be up for grabs for the second time at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Eersel silenced all doubters in his World Title rematch with Sinsamut Klinmee following a narrow victory over the Thai slugger in their first match. After their initial bout went the distance, he stopped Sinsamut in the fourth frame of their second bout with a picture-perfect left hook to the body.

The punch rendered Sinsamut unable to continue, further cementing Eersel as the top dog in the lightweight realm. Having already beaten Sinsamut once before, the Amsterdam resident took the opportunity as a chance to solidify his status, and Eersel felt he could see the finishing sequence awaiting him.

"I think the main change was, of course, the experience. I already fought him, so I already felt his power. I already knew a little bit what he can do. So, that was my advantage, but that's also his advantage, of course," he said.

"Secondly, he was a little bit bigger than the last time in muscles, so I knew when you are bigger, your muscles need more oxygen. I know in the later rounds you will feel it, then you have to start throwing bombs at the engine instead of the computer. Instead of going to the head, you have to go to the body. And I did. And I only needed one shot."

With his duels versus Sinsamut now behind him, the test awaiting him is not only a fresh face in ONE, but a person who is sure to be a battler aiming to stun the Muay Thai world in June.

What makes this battle with Menshikov such a dynamic bout is that, while Eersel has been a dominant force inside ONE, his Russian foe has done all he can do to meet the champion's standards outside of the organization.

Eersel currently sits unbeaten inside The Home of Martial Arts in 11 contests and rides a 21-fight winning streak altogether. Menshikov, however, is also unbeaten in his last 11 bouts, with 19 knockouts in 27 respective matchups.

But while Menshikov plans to be "the 1" in 21-1, Eersel believes his recent run and collective victories won't mean much when the bell sounds for the pair to square off in Bangkok, Thailand's Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.

"A fight is a fight. When we step in the ring or the door of the cage closes, the record doesn't matter. It's still a fight," Eersel said.

"It doesn't matter if he has a thousand fights or two fights, he is coming to beat me and my goal is to beat him, so may the best man win."

Source: Media Release