Thian de Vries once again showed what resilience and perseverance mean. The Enfusion ECE title he captured on Sept. 27, 2025, marks a new high point in his undefeated streak.
The victory itself, however, was far from a foregone conclusion. During the fight, he broke his left hand in the first round, an injury that forced him to continue fighting with one hand for the rest of the confrontation. Despite the immense pain and disability, he managed to maintain his focus and win the title, a feat that is a testament to his exceptional mentality and fighting spirit.
The surgery on his broken hand, which took place on Oct. 3, 2025, proved more complex than initially thought. The double fracture complicated the surgery considerably. The surgeons faced quite a challenge to correctly bring the broken bone pieces back together. What was initially estimated to be a one-hour operation ended up taking a whopping four hours. This illustrates the severity of the injury and the meticulousness with which the surgery had to be performed.
Remarkably, just one day after the radical surgery (Oct. 4, 2025), Thian de Vries was already back on the sidelines, not as a fighter, but to show his support for Branco Verheye, the son of kickboxing legend Luc Verheye, at a kickboxing gala. Thian’s presence so soon after his surgery shows his loyalty and support to the kickboxing world and his fellow fighters. Branco Verheye managed to win his fight, following in the footsteps of his legendary father.
Thian de Vries’ recovery period looks promising. In about six months, the plates placed during surgery can be removed. In addition, certain bones were removed from his wrist during the surgery to further strengthen the hand and minimize the risk of future injuries. This surgery is intended to make his hand stronger and more resistant so that he can step into the ring even stronger than before after his recovery. Thian de Vries is determined to continue his undefeated streak and add many more titles to his record. His fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the ring.
