“I Really Want to Do These Kinds of Fights More”- Nieky Holzken Aims for More “Special Rules Fights” After ONE 165 Win

Dutch striking superstar Nieky Holzken certainly enjoyed making history this past weekend and wants to be part of more innovative fights in the future.

At ONE 165: Superlek vs Takeru, “The Natural” squared off against Japanese legend Yoshihiro Akiyama in a first-of-its-kind special rules super-fight that featured boxing, Muay Thai, and MMA.

Nieky Holzken opens up about his experience in fighting a special rules fight

Fans were certainly eager to see how the pair would do under all three rule sets, but Holzken’s superior boxing skills were too much for “Sexyama” and the match ended in a first-round knockout. During the in-ring interview, the 40-year-old revealed how the match came about and expressed his desire to take part in similar bouts moving forward.

Holzken stated, “I feel very good. I trained three weeks for this fight. Mr. Chatri (Sityodtong), my friend, he called me when I was on vacation. I was in Dubai on vacation with my family. [I told him] I want to fight Akiyama. It’s very good for the fans and for the show. I really want to do these kinds of fights more. This is entertainment. First round boxing with shoes, then we take the shoes off, go Muay Thai, then go MMA. I think this is very exciting for everyone who loves combat sports, and I would like to thank ONE Championship and Mr. Chatri.”

Having previously dipped his toes in boxing before, Holzken wasted no time showcasing his skills in “The Sweet Science” while wearing small gloves. He dropped his rival twice in the opening round, and the referee had seen enough after the second knockdown.

The Dutchman’s impressive win earned him a cool US$50,000 bonus, which no doubt only motivated him to compete in more super-fights.

What does “The Natural” plan after his win at ONE 165?

For now, though, he is focused on going on with his family vacation before thinking about his next challenge. He also acknowledged Akiyama and thanked him for the fight.

Also Read: 3 Reasons Why Takeru Segawa Could Pose Serious Dangers for Superlek at ONE 165

Holzken said, “I [will] go home, celebrate with my family, take a week off, then I go train again. We [will] talk with ONE Championship to see what’s next. I want to thank Akiyama. He’s a big legend in the sport, and I wish him all the best. Sexyama, you are a good guy!”

Given that Nieky “The Natural” Holzken is interested in participating in more Special Rules Fights in the future, Who would you guys like to see the Dutchman compete against next?

Also Read: Nieky Holzken Believes Special Rules Super-Fight With Yoshihiro Akiyama to Be Fought on Even Ground