GLORY 23’s heavyweight co-main: “It’s going to be explosive, don’t blink”

A big heavyweight clash forms the co-main event of GLORY 23 LAS VEGAS on Friday night as California’s Xavier ‘X-Man’ Vigney (8-1, 8 KO’s) meets Britain’s Daniel ‘The Warrior’ Sam (25-10, 13 KO’s).

With a combined 500lbs of muscle in the ring, it is no surprise that the fight is not expected to go the distance. The only question is, who comes away with the win? Vigney won the recent Heavyweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO and has good momentum but the more experienced Sam is planning to derail him in spectacular fashion.

“I am here to take over the party. I am not here to make up the numbers, I am here to take over. The ‘party’ is to promote Vigney as the US #1 heavyweight and push him forward,” he says.

“Unfortunately that stops on fight night, he is going to have to take a step backwards. He’s a good fighter, he will come back from it, but on fight night I am taking the win.

“Two big heavyweights, big shots firing in - it’s going to be explosive. I am not going for the decision, I am here to knock him out. I am sure he is looking to do the same, so everybody at home watching - don’t blink. It’s going to be explosive.”

Vigney is undefeated in GLORY, riding a four-fight win streak with all four wins by way of stoppage. But he is humble when it comes to discussing his place in the division and he is aware that Sam represents a tougher tier of opposition.

“He’s a big strong guy, he’s a veteran. He has been around a while and fought a lot of the top guys on the European circuit so I am looking forward to the fight, it’s going to be a good test to let me know exactly where I stand,” he says.

“Just take a look at him, you can tell he has got a lot of power. He has got some good experience. He is a very strong solid guy in the body but that doesn’t mean his chin is as solid and that is what I will be going after.”

Vigney identifies his advantages as “height and reach… I think I have a speed advantage as well. It is just up to me to utilize my attributes keep my composure and pick him apart”. Sam does not disagree entirely, but thinks experience will be a key factor.

“He is big at 6’8”, long range, but compared to me that’s it. He’s inexperienced, he hasn’t fought anyone on this level and this is a step up for him. There’s heavyweights and there are elite heavyweights. I am one of the elite heavyweights and he is going to learn that on fight night,” he says.

Sam’s last fight in GLORY was against Romanian contender Benjamin Adegbuyi. The one-sided nature of it haunts him and is keen to make amends on Friday. “It was by far my worst performance. My head wasn’t in the game. I have gone away and trained different, ate different. I am different animal and you will see that in the ring. I am taking it serious - this is Las Vegas, the capital of fighting.”

Also motivating Sam is a desire to catch some attention from a city a few hours drive to the west - Hollywood, Los Angeles. With his imposing frame and muscular build, Sam thinks he can land a few movie roles as a henchman or villain.

“I have gotta make sure I am on point. After this I want to go Hollywood, I want producers to look at me and be like ‘we need this guy in the next kickboxer movie, the next Jet Li movie.’ So I need to look the part [on Friday],” he laughs.

Vigney’s goals - or at least, his stated goals - are a lot narrower. “A lot of my opposition has more experience so I am really taking it one right at a time one round at a time, building my experience and just keep moving forward,” he says. “I don’t want to look too far ahead because I have a lot to focus on right now.”

GLORY 23 LAS VEGAS takes place Friday, August 7 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and airs live in the US on Spike TV at 11pm ET, 10pm CT.

The main event sees Nieky ‘The Natural’ Holzken rematch Raymond ‘Real Deal’ Daniels for the vacant World Welterweight Championship. Former champion ‘Bazooka’ Joe Valtellini, who vacated the belt last month as he deals with a health issue, joins Mauro Ranallo and Stephen Quadros in the commentary booth for the fight.