Hemmers: “Kiria and Ristie set the standard for title fights”

Davit Kiria (22-9, 7 KO’s) and Andy ‘The Machine’ Ristie (41-4-1, 21 KO’s) set the world of fight-sports alight with their incredible five-round war at GLORY 14 ZAGREB on Saturday night.

The epic encounter saw Kiria almost finished in the second round only to grit his teeth and battle on for unbelievable comeback KO in the dying seconds of the fifth and final round.

Reports of the fight have likened it to those in the ‘Rocky’ movie franchise, with the underdog emerging victorious after his heart and spirit bring him through round after round of hell.

It was the first of six GLORY World Series title fights taking place this year and, as GLORY Head of Talent Operations observes, the lightweight duo have set an example for their colleague contenders to follow.

“I think this was one of the best fights we have ever seen in GLORY and it was exactly the kind of fight that a GLORY World Championship title belt deserves,” he says.

“Davit Kiria and Andy Ristie are both champion-level fighters and they should be very proud of themselves. They have set the standard for what GLORY World Championship fights should be.

“GLORY World Championship titles are the most prestigious in the sport of kickboxing - indeed, one of the most prestigious in all of fight sports - and I can say that we will see more wars like this one as the belts go on the line this year.”

All six weight classes had vacant titles at the start of the year. We are now one down with five to go. The belts will be contested in one of two ways.

“This year we will crown a champion in each weight category. Some will be single title fights and others will be tournaments with the world title on the line,” explains Hemmers.

“At GLORY 15 ISTANBUL we have a four-man light-heavyweight tournament. Tyrone Spong, Gokhan Saki, Nathan Corbett and Saulo Cavalari are fighting. The winner will be our first light-heavyweight champion.”

One look at that line-up is enough to confirm that GLORY 15 promises to be one of the most explosive tournaments in the organization’s history. - Spong (90-5, 60 KO’s) faces Cavalari (28-2, 18 KO‘s) in the semi-finals while Saki (79-16, 56 KO‘s) faces Corbett (57-4, 45 KO‘s).

The tournament reserve fight also has two world-class talents in it.

Remy Bonjasky student Danyo Ilunga (54-5, 41 KO‘s) - formerly ranked #1 at light-heavyweight - faces Andre Stoica (32-5, 21 KOs), the Romanian standout who has been hand-picked by UFC contender Alexander Gustafsson to be his highest-caliber stand-up sparring partner.

GLORY 15 ISTANBUL will air in the US on SPIKE TV and will be broadcast to over 150 territories worldwide