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“I’m The One To Do It” – Liam Nolan Believes He Can Dethrone Regian Eersel

Following 14 months of frustration, British lightweight Muay Thai star Liam Nolan returned to action at ONE Fight Night 18 this past Saturday, 13th January. 

Though his comeback fight against Ali Aliev may not have produced the finish he’d been hoping for, the unanimous decision win over his debuting foe should prove to serve “Lethal” well in his quest to enter the division’s upper echelon. 

Liam Nolan was well on his way to reaching the top spot in the lightweight Muay Thai realm until a loss to Sinsamut Klinmee at ONE 159 in July 2022 derailed his momentum slightly. 

A year of injuries and illness in 2023 further frustrated the Londoner, but now that he’s returned with a bang, he wants to wipe the slate clean and get redemption against his old rival.  

“If you can see my performance today, I feel like you know I’m fighting differently now. I’m adapting well, and my style is changing,” Nolan said in his post-fight interview. 

“It’s still the same, but it’s changing up. I’m adding stuff to my game, so I think you’ll see a different fighter and definitely a win for myself when I get a rematch with Sinsamut.”

Should he get his wish to face Sinsamut next, Nolan believes it will be the final hurdle to a shot at ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Champion Regian Eersel. 

In the leadup to ONE Fight Night 18, the British banger made it clear he hadn’t been sitting around since his win over Eddie Abasolo 14 months ago at ONE on Prime Video 4. 

Despite not competing, he gave each part of his game meticulous attention, which showed against Aliev this past weekend.

Nolan is hungry to end 2024 with gold over his shoulder. That may be a big ask, given Eersel’s dominant run that includes 10 straight wins and two ONE World Titles. But “Lethal” believes he has the ability to end the Surinamese superstar’s stronghold over the division. 

“I believe so. I believe I’ll fight once more before that. But I reckon, this year that fight has a good potential of happening,” he said.

“I’ve got a good style to beat him under the Muay Thai ruleset. Yeah, I don’t want to give too much away. But I, definitely, I got the style, the power, the everything to do that, and I think I’m the one to do it.”