Thian de Vries, known for his devastating finishes, returns to action on December 14 to take on Rui (16-14, 8 KOs) in Tokyo. While the K-1 debut of the undefeated Dutch light heavyweight (25-0, 23 KOs) leaves a lot to be desired, it could serve as a crucial step toward positioning him for a future title shot.
Fans of "Tarzan" had high hopes that 2024 would be the year he elevated his competition, especially with his signing to one of the sport’s premier organizations. Unfortunately, this upcoming bout suggests otherwise. Rui, his opponent, is on a six-fight losing streak within the promotion, with four of those defeats coming by knockout.
This fight is one of five already scheduled for de Vries in the coming months, most of which are against similarly questionable opposition. The standout bout will be against fellow undefeated Dutch prospect Max Weekers (12-0), whom he will face on March 29 at Enfusion 147.
De Vries showed flashes of his potential in a notable win over the ranked Nikita Kozlov in late 2023. However, since then, his recent matchups have done little to bolster his standing as one of the sport’s top rising stars. Of course, the main responsibility lies with major promotions like K-1 and GLORY to provide him with compelling opportunities — and compensation — that align with his abilities. For now, de Vries’ future remains in his hands.
