The UK has always been considered one of the hot bed markets for stand up fighting, which makes GLORY’s absence felt all-the-more by the residents of the area that have been hungry for combat sports. The UK has a thriving MMA, muay thai and kickboxing scene and after a five year absence GLORY will once again run the UK on Saturday, June 2nd with GLORY 54. The card that they have lined up thus far is a doozy, as well, with Rico Verhoeven facing off with Mladen Brestovac in a rematch from 2016 that saw Brestovac challenger Verhoeven for the [read more]
Tag: glory
GLORY 53 SuperFight Series: Thongchai Replaces an Injured Danenberg
When it comes to professional kickboxing fans have become accustomed to fights falling apart and replaced. GLORY 53’s SuperFight Series will be no different as Eyevan Danenberg was originally slated to face off against former GLORY Welterweight Champion Cedric Doumbe, but due to an injury, will be forced to drop out. Replacing him will be the man that Danenberg defeated in a contender tournament, Thongchai Sitsongpeenong. Thongchai still has a solid month to prepare for Doumbe, meaning that this is last-minute but not exactly last-minute and should have a solid camp leading into this fight and ample time to prepare [read more]
Former K-1 and GLORY Fighter Koichi Watanabe Passes Away
Earlier today it was reported that former K-1 and GLORY fighter Koichi Watanabe — best known as Koichi Pettas — passed away after a traffic accident in Japan. Watanabe, who retired in November of 2017 to focus on family and working as a trainer, was driving a scooter when he was struck by another vehicle. Koichi was recently active in K-1 Japan’s heavyweight division, participating in the K-1 Japan Heavyweight World Grand Prix in November where he fought against Ibrahim El Bouni. He retired after his bout and dedicated himself to training. His Instagram feed shows him training with children [read more]
GLORY 53 Fight Card: Sitthichai Fights Beztati and More
After some movement, GLORY has cobbled together the full card for the upcoming GLORY 53 event, featuring Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong defending his Lightweight Championship against Tyjani Beztati. It’s an interesting choice and a new fight for Sitthichai, although it’ll be interesting to see if Beztati is ready for this level of challenge just yet in his young career. Stoyan Koprivienski defeated him in December in a contender tournament and was slated to fight Sitthichai if he could get by Josh Jauncey, which he couldn’t, and now Beztati, who’s only loss in GLORY is to Kopri, steps in. The Lightweight division is [read more]
GLORY 52 and SuperFight Series Live Results
Tonight GLORY makes its return to sunny California with GLORY 52. GLORY 52 will see a unification bout for the GLORY Featherweight Championship between champion Robin van Roosmalen and interim champion Kevin VanNostrand. Simon Marcus takes on Zack Wells, Chris Camozzi faces his toughest challenge to date in Mike Lemaire, while Stoyan Koprivlenski will look to make a name for himself in the lightweight division against Josh Jauncey. The SuperFight Series begins at 9pm eastern/6pm pacific on UFC Fight Pass, while GLORY 52 airs at 11pm eastern/8pm pacific on ESPN3. GLORY 52 Los Angeles Featherweight Unification Bout: Robin van Roosmalen (c) [read more]
GLORY 52 Weigh-in Video and Results
Tomorrow night GLORY returns with GLORY 52. The four-fight GLORY 52 Los Angeles card will be carried live tomorrow on ESPN3 at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT, with a replay next Friday, April 6 on ESPN2 at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT. The five-fight GLORY 52 SuperFight Series card will stream live and exclusively tomorrow on UFC FIGHT PASS at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. GLORY 52 LOS ANGELES WEIGH-IN RESULTS Featherweight Title Unification Headline Bout: Robin van Roosmalen (142.4 lb / 64.6 kg) vs. Kevin VanNostrand (142.6 lb / 64.7 kg) Middleweight Co-Headline Bout: Simon Marcus (185.8 lb / 84.3 kg) vs. Zack Wells (186.4 lb / 84.5 kg) Middleweight Bout: Mike Lemaire (187 lb / 84.8 kg) [read more]
Follow Simon Marcus for a Day While He Prepares for GLORY 52
Originally slated for a one-night tournament this coming weekend at GLORY 52, plans have changed for Simon Marcus, but he still has a fight and is still in preparation mode. Watch as the GLORY cameras follow Simon Marcus for a day to see how he prepares for a fight.
Artem Vakhitov Ready for His Return, Open to Challenges at Heavyweight and More
I’m a person that truly believes that the eyes are the mirror to the soul. Naturally I was extremely excited to meet and interview current light heavyweight champion, Artem Vakhitov. I wanted to catch a glimpse of what his opponents see in their staredowns, what makes him tick. Fortunately, prior to the grand slam Glory 51 I had that opportunity to meet and speak with him. If nothing else I can say, he is more than meets the eye. Artem Vakhitov, like many practitioners of the sport began at an early age, beginning with karate at age six and later [read more]
GLORY 52 Loses Its Tournament, Sees Match Shuffling Galore
Who knew that all it took to send an event into chaos was one of the tournament fights suffering a concussion? It was reported by GLORY today that Robert Thomas suffered a concussion in training and had to be pulled from the GLORY 52 middleweight tournament. Instead of finding a replacement, GLORY opted to scrap the tournament altogether and here we are with the entire GLORY 52 and SuperFight Series re-ordered. Simon Marcus now fights Zack Wells on the main card, Mike Lemaire vs. Chris Camozzi and Stoyan Koprivlenski vs. Josh Jauncey is on the main card, while Meksen vs. [read more]
Ismael Lazaar Suspended For Four Years on Doping Violation
There was a time when I personally felt that drug testing athletes was imperative and that taking performance enhancing drugs was the largest sin possible in combat sports. The years have helped to erode those beliefs, especially when young, promising athletes, who often times are paid poorly for their sacrifices, are heavily fined and prevented from making a living for looking to science to help them prepare for their fights. Perhaps if there were common-sense punishments and oversight it would make a lot more sense, but there isn’t and to say that testing is inconsistent is to be kind. The [read more]