The first GLORY event of the year is now in the books. GLORY 98 took place in the sold out RTM Stage in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on Saturday night, February 22, and we were treated to an absolute spectacle.
Heavyweight favourite Jamal Ben Saddik (37-9, 30 KO) made his much-anticipated return to the ring after thirty months on the sideline. ‘The Goliath’ was patient throughout, almost soaking in as much of the electric atmosphere as possible, before pushing hard and finishing the always dangerous Uku Jurjendal (20-10, 16 KO) by KO in the final round.
Ben Saddik already has his next assignment in place as he will enter the monumental GLORY Last Heavyweight Standing tournament, meeting Christian Ristea (44-25, 13 KO) in the opening round on April 5 at the Ahoy Rotterdam. Tickets are now on sale right now for ‘GLORY 99 : Last Heavyweight Standing’ through GLORYKickboxing.com.
GLORY welterweight world champion Chico Kwasi (44-5-1, 23 KO)Â retained his title in the co-main event with a masterful decision victory over a valiant Teodor Hristov (18-4, 7 KO).
Cem Caceres (19-1, 14 KO)Â won the battle of the light heavyweight prospects with a split decision over Mory Kromah (31-3-1, 18 KO). The bout showcased the top quality of both fighters in what could potentially develop into a rivalry over the coming years.
Elsewhere on the main card, Michael Boapeah (20-4-1, 7 KO) won his light heavyweight debut with a dominant victory over Ibrahim El Bouni (42-11-1, 22 KO), Mesud Selimovic (33-12, 18 KO) scored an incredible spinning backfist KO over Iliass Hammouche (34-8, 7 KO), Hamicha (42-2, 31 KO) improved to 6-0 in the GLORY ring with a KO win over Calmente Mendes (7-1, 4 KO), and Portugal’s Andre Santos (23-2, 10 KO) defeated Chris Wunn (35-7-1, 14 KO in the opening bout of the main card.
In the GLORY 98 preliminary card, Mehdi Ait El Hadj (35-4-2, 8 KO) secured a close decision win over Robin Ciric (23-9, 7 KO), top prospect Don Sno (5-2, 3 KO) defeated the experienced Ismail Ayaadi (31-5-2, 16 KO), Germany’s Denis Wosik (40-9-1, 9 KO) got back to winning ways with a win over Matthan Choinard (25-7-1, 11 KO), and Croatia’s Antonio Krajinovic (3-0, 2 KO) remained undefeated beating Soufiane El Hammouchi (21-7, 13 KO) in the opening bout of the night.
GLORY 98 Results
Main Event
Heavyweight
Jamal Ben Saddik (37-9, 30 KO) def. Uku Jurjendal (20-10, 16 KO) by KO, round 3, 2:59.
Co-Main Event
GLORY Welterweight World Championship
Chico Kwasi (44-5-1, 23 KO) def. Teodor Hristov (18-4, 7 KO) via unanimous decision (50-45 x2, 49-46 x 3).
Light Heavyweight
Cem Caceres (19-1, 14 KO) def. Mory Kromah (31-3-1, 18 KO) via split decision (30-27 x2, 29-28, 28-29 x2).
Light Heavyweight
Michael Boapeah (20-4-1, 7 KO) def. Ibrahim El Bouni (42-11-1, 22 KO) via KO, round 3, 2:06.
Middleweight
Mesud Selimovic (33-12, 18 KO) def. Iliass Hammouche (34-8, 7 KO) via KO, round 2, 1:32.
Welterweight
Hamicha (42-2, 31 KO) def. Calmente Mendes (7-1, 4 KO) via KO, round 3, 0:34.
Featherweight
Andre Santos (23-2, 10 KO) def. Chris Wunn (35-7-1, 14 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x 4).
Welterweight
Mehdi Ait El Hadj (35-4-2, 8 KO) def. Robin Ciric (23-9, 7 KO) via split decision (28-27 x 2, 29-27, 27-28 x 2).
Welterweight
Don Sno (5-2, 3 KO) def. Ismail Ayaadi (31-5-2, 16 KO) via KO, round 2, 2:05.
Featherweight
Denis Wosik (40-9-1, 9 KO) def. Matthan Choinard (25-7-1, 11 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 2, 29-28 x 3).
Welterweight
Antonio Krajinovic (3-0, 2 KO) def. Soufiane El Hammouchi (21-7, 13 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 4, 29-28)