Kongolo retains contender ranking top-spot in Superfight Series main event

Headlining the Superfight Series card was a clash between #1-ranked contender Yoann Kongolo (65-9, 46 KO's) and his French counterpart Yoann Lidon (123-35, 77 KO's). This fight was originally scheduled for GLORY 22, two years ago, but Lidon had to honor a prior commitment and pull out.

His place that night was taken by Cedric Doumbé, who has since gone on to win the title. Lidon said in pre-fight interviews that he thinks Doumbé stole his place. He didn't mean at GLORY 22, he means as welterweight champion, and he said he was coming into GLORY to try and capture the belt.

Kongolo, meanwhile, came into the fight off the back of an unsuccessful attempt to do that at GLORY 39 and he needed to win this fight to retain his top contender spot and stay in position for another shot.

Stylistically the two matched up well. Although both are well-rounded kickboxers, Lidon comes out of a Muay Thai-based gym and has a prediliction for kicks and knees. Kongolo is also a professional boxer as well as kickboxer and so he likes to throw long hand combinations.

It was a spirited encounter, fast-paced and competitive from the first seconds to the final bell. Combination work was good from both in the opening round, and though Kongolo's control of the fight became more apparent with each round that followed, Lidon was never out of the fight and more than proved his quality.

By the end of the third round it was clear that Kongolo had the win in the bag and would retain his top contender spot.

With the evening's other welterweight non-title fight being an official contender elimination match – Murthel Groenhart won, albeit in controversial circumstances – Kongolo now has to decide whether to sit out and wait for the winner of Groenhart/Doumbé or take a fight in the meantime.

Yoann Kongolo def. Yoann Lidon, Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)