ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian “The Immortal” Eersel fights with a chilling composure that borders on intimidating.

Whether stepping into the ONE Championship ring or the Circle, the 33-year-old Surinamese-Dutch powerhouse has dominated across two striking disciplines, racking up 13 victories in 14 appearances in the world’s largest martial arts organization.

A former six-time ONE Lightweight Kickboxing World Champion and now the reigning Muay Thai king, “The Immortal” has cemented his legacy as one of this generation’s most lethal strikers. But step away from the bright lights, and Eersel’s fierce fighting persona yields to something far deeper — his quiet devotion to his family.

He explained:

“I’m a father of two kids, two daughters. When my wife’s not around, I have to do everything – drop them off at school, pick them up from school, pick them up from daycare, cook for them, shower them, everything.”

With his wife working as a flight attendant, the Amsterdam-based World Champion frequently navigates long stretches of solo parenting. While many fighters choose to isolate themselves and focus solely on their careers, Eersel takes pride in being a constant, everyday presence for his kids.

The structure of his home life is a stark contrast to the grueling realities of a fight camp. Technical drilling is traded for building Legos, and pad work is exchanged for reading fairytales. There are no three-minute sparring rounds — just school drop-offs and afternoon routines.

Eersel finds the quiet moments in between to recharge, and then he does it all over again:

“Now both are in school, so I have a little bit more rest during the day because they’re at school. So I can focus a little bit on my own things. After that, in the afternoon, I pick them up and they spend the rest of the day with daddy.

“I would describe myself as a devoted father. I see my kids every day and I try to be there for them. I try to spend as much time with them as I can. Besides my training, I’m just at home with my kids. So if my wife is not around, I’m almost 24 hours with my kids.”

The exact same focus Eersel brings to a grueling training camp translates directly into the little things he does for his girls. He has mastered the art of dedicating his life to martial arts without ever letting his responsibilities at home slip.

As one of the best fighters in the world, he knows better than anyone that the smallest details matter most. Eersel said:

“Being a father changed my perspective on fighting. You’re not alone anymore. I need to take care of my kids. They see me as an example.”

How Responsibility Sharpened Eersel’s Edge

The weight of responsibility didn’t just begin for Regian Eersel when he became a World Champion, or even when he became a father.

After he was born in Paramaribo, Suriname, his mother made the difficult choice to move to the Netherlands to build a financially stable future for their family. Raised by his grandparents in her absence, Eersel learned resilience early on before eventually reuniting with his mother in Europe.

The pain of that early separation left a lasting mark on his soul, teaching him that family requires more than just shared DNA — it requires absolute presence.

Today, as a multi-time ONE World Champion with a staggering win rate, the grueling demands of the gym dictate his professional life. Yet, his true discipline is found at home.

Long before he was a global superstar, Eersel made his living as a full-time cook. He still puts those skills to use, making meal prep a daily ritual with his daughters. It might seem like a simple household chore, but for Eersel, cooking is a profound way of guaranteeing his children never have to question their father’s presence.

When “The Immortal” talks about providing, he isn’t just talking about making money:

“Food has to be put on the table. I literally have to feed them — it’s my responsibility.

“When I step in the ring or cage, it’s also my responsibility to give my all and be victorious. I have to show them that their father is fighting to put food on the table.”

That commitment to providing isn’t just a metaphor for Eersel — it’s literal. Drawing on his culinary background, he bridges the gap between a fighter’s strict diet and a father’s daily duty to nourish his children, ensuring his daughters learn the value of health firsthand.

He added:

“I like food. Food is life. Of course I have to cook for the kids also.

“What you put in your body is more important than how you train. I have to put healthy food in my body. It’s important for you to understand that nutrition is important.”

Source