GLORY’s World Featherweight Championship was the only belt yet to have an owner going into 2015. Mosab Amrani and Gabriel Varga would contest it in the division’s inaugural title fight for the co-main event of GLORY 20 DUBAI.
It was a prestige bout and it resulted in a prestige performance from both fighters. They brought career-best form to the United Arab Emirates and left it all in the ring over five rounds which tested both their mind and body.
An intense staredown at the start of the fight set the tone; no mercy would be asked or given by either side. It was clear here that Varga enjoyed a significant height and reach advantage but once the bout was underway Amrani also made clear that it was not an issue; he was getting inside and rattling Varga’s ribcage with his trademark body shots off.
The exchanges in the first two rounds were furious. Varga could have tried to keep Amrani at range and play a long game but he is notoriously fond of being drawn into wars and he gave Amrani the kind of fight he - and the crowd - really wanted.
Amrani’s power is impressive, especially at this weight, but power comes at a price. In the third round he started to tire but Varga was just getting started. As the fight went into the championship rounds Amrani’s workrate slowed and his guard became looser; Varga was landing more and more frequently.
A cut opened up on Amrani’s face and blood was flowing freely as the fight turned into something of a rearguard action for him, Varga stalking him around the ring and unloading huge combinations as he looked for a big finish. Amrani is made of stern stuff - he took some shots which would have put a lesser fighter away. Amrani only smiled and tried to answer back.
Amrani’s toughness meant the fight went the distance, and he did rally in the fifth as he looked to make it a photo finish. But it wasn’t enough. Varga was the clear winner of the encounter and looked like he could go several more rounds at the same pace if needed. The judges awarded him the unanimous decision win and the GLORY World Featherweight Championship.
“It means a lot to me to beat a guy with a name like Mosab Amrani. You are talking about a guy who has been at the top level for years. I used to watch him back in the day before I was anyone. To fight and beat him is a big thing for me,” said Varga afterwards.
“I am tall in this weight class and usually I could keep a guy out at range and fight from distance, and that is what my coaches want me to fight like. But I don’t know, I just like getting into wars and if someone steps in and wants to do that then I will usually oblige him and have a short-range battle.”
