Regian Eersel, the reigning ONE lightweight Muay Thai world champion from Suriname, has transformed his challenging upbringing in the Netherlands into a source of strength. At 33, he reflects on the subtle discrimination he faced as an immigrant, noting that despite living in the country for years, he still encounters judgmental looks. Eersel believes these experiences have shaped his resilience and confidence. In an exclusive interview with ONE Championship, he expressed, "You notice things, the way people look at you... Those small things shape you." Rather than allowing these challenges to deter him, Eersel uses them as motivation to succeed in the ring. He is preparing to reclaim his two-sport status as he faces Rungrawee 'Legatron' Sitsongpeenong for the vacant ONE lightweight kickboxing world title on April 10 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok. To cope with his tough childhood, Eersel turned to hip-hop, particularly the works of Tupac and DMX, whose lyrics resonate with his experiences and inspire him to pursue his dreams.