As soon as Gokhan Saki announced he would be dropping to light-heavyweight, fans clamored for a match with Tyrone Spong.
Spong had made the drop from heavyweight to light-heavyweight with success. He and Saki were instantly the top contenders for the world title in their new weight class.
Fan prayers were answered when Spong and Saki entered the GLORY 15 ISTANBUL Light-Heavyweight Championship Tournament.
They started in separate brackets but met in the final as expected. An epic encounter was expected but fate had a different idea.
Spong threw a hard outside low kick at Saki’s lead leg and was met with a knee-block. Spong’s shin lost the contest, breaking in half. He staggered backwards before sitting down to the canvas, where he sat looking at his broke leg.
“Fight sports celebrate many things: Skill, power, courage, aggression and so on. They also celebrate sportsmanship, class and honor. In this moment between Gokhan Saki and Tyrone Spong we got all three of the latter,” says GLORY lead photographer James Law.
“Saki was shocked and upset by the injury. His first reaction was not to celebrate but rather to console Spong and wait with him while doctors made their way into the ring to stretcher him out to a waiting ambulance.
“There are tons of action shots to choose from during any fight card but this moment is significant because its a side of two world-class fighters that we rarely get to see.”