‘I Just Broke Down And Started Crying’ – How Regian Eersel Got Through His Darkest Moment In Martial Arts

For most professional fighters, an undefeated record represents the pinnacle of success. But for Regian “The Immortal” Eersel, being 7-0 as a 19-year-old prospect nearly became the reason he walked away from martial arts forever.

The current ONE Lightweight Muay Thai and Kickboxing World Champion’s journey to the top wasn’t paved with the typical success stories that fans often hear. Instead, it was marked by a period so dark that the Dutch-Surinamese striker found himself ready to abandon the sport that would eventually make him a global superstar.

As Eersel prepares to defend his Muay Thai gold against George “G-Unit” Jarvis in the main event of ONE Fight Night 34 on Prime Video on August 1 at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, his story serves as a powerful reminder that even the most successful athletes face moments when everything seems hopeless.

The Darkest Valley

Success can be deceiving, especially in combat sports where an undefeated record doesn’t always translate to financial security or career stability. Eersel learned this harsh reality long before he joined ONE Championship, when management issues and cancelled fights left him stranded without income or opportunity.

The Suriname-born striker was living independently, relying entirely on his fighting career to survive. When the fights stopped coming, everything began to unravel.

He recalled:

“A long time ago, I think I was 19 or 20, I was undefeated in the pros. I had seven fights. I cut ties with my manager because he wasn’t booking me fights, or he’d book fights for me but the opponents canceled the fight or didn’t want to fight me.

“I was living off my fighting. I was not living with my parents. I was on my own. For eight, nine months I didn’t have a fight, and for me it was a very long time because in the past I used to fight like once a month, or two times a month.”

What made the situation even more torturous was Eersel’s unwavering dedication to training despite having no fights on the horizon. Day after day, he maintained his rigorous gym schedule while watching his bank account dwindle to nothing.

The situation quickly spiraled from challenging to desperate. For a young fighter accustomed to competing monthly, the sudden halt in activity felt like career death.

He said:

“It was the worst period of my life because I had no income, no fights. I couldn’t do the things that I love to do, and I was still going to the gym once a day, twice a day. At some moment, I was thinking, ‘Oh, man, I can’t do this anymore. No fight, no income.’ And I still had to go to the gym every day, and I had no money. I was even so low that I didn’t have money to pay my rent.”

When Eersel Broke Down

The mental and emotional toll of pursuing a dream while facing financial ruin can break even the strongest individuals. For Eersel, the breaking point came during what should have been a routine training session.

The weight of his circumstances finally overwhelmed the young fighter as he worked the heavy bag, trying to channel his frustration into each kick and punch. But instead of finding release, he found himself at rock bottom.

Eersel remembered:

“One time I was training, I was kicking the bag and I was thinking harder, faster, harder, faster. And I just broke down and started crying. My trainer said, ‘What’s wrong?’ I told him I was at that point that was gonna quit. He said, ‘Listen, we’re going to talk. Sit down.'”

In that moment, years of sacrifice and dedication seemed meaningless. The undefeated prospect who had once fought twice a month was ready to abandon everything he had worked for.

Had it not been for his coaches, Paul and Vincent Pengel, he may not have become the fighter he is today.

He said:

“We had a long conversation. I told him I wanted to quit because there is no point for me [to train] anymore. I have no money, no fights, no income.”

The Power Of Belief

What happened next would change the trajectory of Eersel’s career and life forever. His trainer didn’t offer empty platitudes or false promises. Instead, he provided something more valuable — unwavering belief and tangible support.

“He said, ‘Listen, you have so much talent. The fights and the money will come. You just need to have patience.’ He told me he’d pay my rent that month so I can train for the month. Then they were gonna look for a fight. My trainers motivated me and pushed me through the situation.”

This act of faith – both emotional and financial – became the turning point that would eventually lead Eersel to ONE Championship gold. The coach’s investment wasn’t just in a month’s rent. It was an investment in a future ONE World Champion.

The impact of that conversation and gesture extended far beyond keeping Eersel in the gym for another month. It planted the seeds of the international career that would follow.

Eersel said:

“Now we’ve been all around the world together. From that point on I started to fight international. And everything went sky high from there.”

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