Kickboxing promotion GLORY is set to mark a significant milestone with its 100th numbered event. Scheduled for June 14 in Rotterdam, this jubilee tournament promises a stacked lineup, even after initial plans for a two-day event were condensed into a single night of fights. While the exact reasons for the consolidation weren`t detailed, it certainly ensures that the one-night spectacle will be packed with action from top to bottom.
The Heavyweight Crown at Stake
Headlining the centennial event is a highly anticipated clash for the GLORY Heavyweight World Championship. Reigning champion Rico Verhoeven faces off against Artem Vakhitov. This pairing pits the long-standing king of the heavyweight division against a formidable opponent, creating a compelling main event for this landmark show.
Multiple World Titles on the Line
Beyond the heavyweight main event, GLORY 100 features several other championship bouts, underscoring the importance of the card. The GLORY Light Heavyweight World Championship will see champion Tarik Khbabez defend his title against Sergej Maslobojev. In the middleweight division, champion Donovan Wisse is scheduled to meet challenger Michael Boapeah. The featherweight title is also up for grabs, with champion Petch slated to face Miguel Trindade. The presence of multiple title fights ensures that significant divisional standings will be impacted in Rotterdam.
The Heavyweight Tournament Conundrum
Adding another layer of intrigue to the card are several segments labeled as `Last Heavyweight Standing` tournament finals and semi-finals. Interestingly, the card structure lists the finals for tournaments 4, 3, and 2, followed later by their respective semi-final matchups. This arrangement might leave some observers scratching their heads, perhaps a unique logistical approach or simply designed to build suspense for how the finalists will emerge on the night itself.
The scheduled semi-final matchups for these tournaments include:
- LHS Tournament 4: Jamal Ben Saddik vs. Sofian Laidouni
- LHS Tournament 4: Tariq Osaro vs. Luigi Gashi
- LHS Tournament 3: Bahram Rajabzadeh vs. Asdren Gashi
- LHS Tournament 3: Mory Kromah vs. Alin Nechita
- LHS Tournament 2: Milos Cvjeticanin vs. Cem Caceres
- LHS Tournament 2: Colin George vs. Nico ‘Big Sexy’ Horta
These tournament brackets promise high-stakes, rapid-fire heavyweight action leading into the finals later on the card.
Additional Bouts and Undercard Action
The GLORY 100 card is further filled out with other compelling matchups across different weight classes, including a middleweight clash between Mesud Selimovic and Iliass Hammouche, a catchweight bout featuring Serkan Ozcaglayan against Mohamed Touchassie, and a featherweight fight between Berjan Peposhi and Deniz Demirkapu.
The initial portion of the event, designated as the GLORY 100 Undercard, is announced to be available free on YouTube, providing accessibility for fans worldwide to catch the early action before the main card begins.
Overall, GLORY 100 presents a robust fight card for its milestone event in Rotterdam. Despite the shift to a single-day format, the lineup, featuring multiple world title fights and intriguing heavyweight tournament action, appears set to deliver a memorable night for kickboxing enthusiasts.
