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GLORY 53: Azize Hlali anticipates career-defining test against Serhii Ad...
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- Apr 24, 2018
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Azize Hlali (99-16-1) has a tough challenge ahead of him in the GLORY 53 LILLE Featherweight Contender Tournament.
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Not only are GLORY four-man tournaments some of the toughest tests in all of the sporting world, he also has former world champion Serhii Adamchuk (35-8) in the semi-final stage.Â
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The tricky Ukrainian went 5-0 in GLORY before suffering back-to-back losses to former champion Gabriel Varga and dangerous karateka Giga Chikadze).Â
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Heâs now 2-2 in his last four GLORY outings, with the losses being to current champion Robin van Roosmalen and top contneder Petchpanomrung.
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Adamchukâs only losses are to top-flight opposition and thus this semi-final match is as much about Hlaliâs place in the pecking order as it is about the tournament outcome itself.
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âHeâs a very good fighter and I am not really focusing on his latest results. You canât read anything into that. A weakness that somebody found previously does not mean that fighter wonât be a force today,â he says.
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âThe strategy is simple: to win. And I must adapt my Muay Thai style for these rules.â
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Fitness is also a key part of Hlaliâs arsenal for this tournament.Â
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âItâs important to be in very good shape for a tournament. Generally I prefer not to fight in tournaments because I prefer to be able to plan a strategy for a single opponent,â he says.
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âTournaments are more difficult because it requires double the effort on every level: mental and physical. But I will make sure I am in shape for this challenge.â
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The other semi-final bracket has Victor âLeoâ Pinto facing Turkish newcomer Buray Bozaryilmaz.Â
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Hlali doesnât have a prediction for the outcome but, as he expects to face the winner, he does know one thing: âI hope that fight is a complete war and it goes all three rounds!â
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GLORY 53 LILLE takes place Saturday, May 12 at the Zenith de Lille, in Lille, France.Â
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The headline bout sees lightweight champion Sitthichai defend his title against Dutch-Moroccan challenger Tyjani âThe Wonderboyâ Beztati.