Nieky Holzken wants to prove that he can climb to the top of the lightweight kickboxing mountain once again, and his quest continues at “ONE Fight Night 11: Eersel vs. Menshikov” on Prime Video.
After amassing 94 victories and 50 knockouts in his illustrious career, “The Natural” will look to get back into the win column when he faces Germany’s Arian Sadikovic live in U.S. primetime on Friday, June 9.
Holzken has nearly done it all in his 22-year career and throughout his time in ONE Championship, he has proven to be one of the most dangerous men in the striking arts.
With his imminent return to the global stage, we analyze the Dutch superstar’s world-class skill set with a trio of must-see performances.
1. John Wayne Parr
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At ONE on TNT III in April 2021, Holzken added another legend to his laundry list of victims.
The 39-year-old took on Australian muay Thai pioneer John Wayne Parr in a fight that was years in the making, given the history between the pair’s iconic teachers.
Parr’s former trainer Kru Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj held a 2-1 advantage in a three-fight series against Holzken’s mentor Ramon Dekkers that dated back to 1990, meaning they were out to settle a historic rivalry by proxy.
In the end, “The Natural” claimed a degree of revenge with a second-round knockout win.
After being a step ahead of the aggressive Parr in the opening frame, the Dutch superstar landed a perfect left high kick to send “The Gunslinger” stumbling to the canvas in round two.
No count was administered as the referee stepped in, and Holzken was awarded the emphatic victory.
2. Elliot Compton
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Parr wasn’t the first Australian to taste defeat at the hands of Holzken, however. Brisbane’s Elliot Compton had already suffered a similar fate four months earlier at “ONE: Big Bang II.”
The heavy hands of the Dutchman were the story of the fight, as he stalked Compton and hunted for a knockout shot.
That came at the halfway mark of the first round, as a thunderous left hook to the body sent “The Dragon” crumbling to the canvas, where he couldn’t recover.
At just 96 seconds, it was Holzken’s fastest victory in ONE Championship.
3. Cosmo Alexandre
In a rematch that was eight years in the making, Holzken went two for two against Cosmo Alexandre when they clashed at “ONE: Warrior’s Dream” in November 2018.
Alexandre welcomed “The Natural” to ONE that evening, but the result was far from welcome for the Brazilian knockout artist, who was dropped twice in the opening round.
But the best was yet to come from Holzken. Just as “Good Boy” was rallying early in the second frame, the Dutch superstar turned the tide and proceeded to batter his foe.
A picture-perfect spinning hook kick from “The Natural” wobbled Alexandre, and then a vicious right uppercut closed the show in the dying seconds of the stanza to give Holzken an electric debut victory in ONE.
