GLORY 44: Doumbé/Groenhart rematch potentially a career-defining bout fo...
- News
- Aug 21, 2017
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No fighter in the history of GLORY Kickboxing - indeed, in the history of the sport - has succeeded in uniting his rivals in the way that welterweight champion Cedric Doumbé has. To a man, the other welterweight contenders hate him.
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The reason? DoumbĂ© (67-4-1, 39 KOâs) trolls his opponents relentlessly, haranguing and ridiculing them on social media and angering them with trash-talk, memes and disrespect. Generally they are incensed by the time they enter the ring with him - and thatâs right where he wants them.
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An angry opponent isnât thinking straight. That makes them more predictable, and predictability allows DoumbĂ© to work his magic. So he baits them still further, showboating in front of them, baiting them, daring them to hit him and then mocking them when they miss.
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Itâs an approach which contrasts sharply with the usual standard in kickboxing, where professions of mutual respect are the norm and trash-talk is a relatively unusual occurrence.Â
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His peers are not a fan of it: Yoann Kongolo fairly lost his mind at GLORY 39 and while Nieky Holzken professes not to care about DoumbĂ©âs antics, but itâs clear much of it did indeed cause him annoyance.Â
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In Chicago this week DoumbĂ© will rematch Murthel Groenhart (66-22-3, 38 KOâs) and make his third defense of the welterweight title in the process.Â
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Groenhart too has history with DoumbĂ©, losing his temper with DoumbĂ©âs tricks in their GLORY 28 PARIS meeting and then losing a unanimous decision. If DoumbĂ© can make him do that again, Groenhart will fall right into the trap.
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Will it happen? Groenhart, 31, is certainly experienced enough to recognize the danger and avoid it. His coach Mike Passenier also has a large body of knowledge on which to draw in order to get the gameplay right. Forming tactics isnât the issue; having Groenhart stick to them is.Â
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One interesting question is just how much injury was a factor when they fought at GLORY 28 PARIS. Groenhartâs team said he carried a bad rib injury into that bout and it got worse early in the first round, leaving him fighting wounded for rest of the match.
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On the other side, DoumbĂ© is just 24 years old and only getting better. Lots of his fellow fighters feel like we may be entering a period in which he dominates the welterweight division and holds the belt for some time.Â
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Friday nightâs rematch with Groenhart will be a key career moment. Having beaten Nieky Holzken twice and then beaten Yoann Kongolo in their GLORY 39 rematch, a second win over Groenhart would cement him as the worldâs top welterweight kickboxer at present.
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Fight week is now underway and we are just a few days away from seeing whether Groenhart achieves his dream of winning the world title or whether Doumbé silences the last of his doubters with another perfect performance.
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GLORY 44 Chicago will be carried live on ESPN3 at 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT on Friday, Aug. 25.
Tickets for GLORY 44 Chicago and GLORY 44 SuperFight Series are on sale now, available for online purchase at searscentre.com and at the Sears Centre Arena box office.Â