Levin and Marcus exchange words during GLORY 21 Countdown filming

Things got heated during a recent video conference call between Artem ‘The Lion’ Levin (50-4-1, 33 KO’s) and Simon ‘Bad Bwoy’ Marcus (42-2-1, 24 KO’s).

Levin will make his first defense of the GLORY World Middleweight Championship on Friday, May 8, facing his Canadian bitter rival in the main event of GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO.

As part of the build-up to the event he sat down for an interview with ‘Countdown to GLORY 21’ host Bill Goldberg and at one point Marcus was brought online to join them. The conversation quickly turned to their first fight, which took place under Muay Thai rules in 2013 and ended with a decision win for Marcus.

“You know and I know that I am the best. There is no doubt about that. I am going to prove it again to you, me and the world. Regardless of who thinks you are the best, you and I know that I am the best. I am going to beat you again on May 8,” Marcus told Levin.

Levin shook his head. “It wasn’t my fault, it was judge’s decision. It was a close fight. Nobody beat me. I didn’t lose by punches or kicks in the last fight. What are you talking about? It was a very close fight and it was clinching, clinching, clinching,” he said.

“What is this? I am not even going to say this was a fight. It was a clinch-fight.”

Marcus was not interested.

“That’s loser talk. You lost the fight, own up. Now I am going to beat you again,” he said. “You can make excuses about judging in our first fight, whatever. I beat you then, I will beat you again. No backing down, no excuses.”

Scowling deeply, the Russian champion had a clear note of anger in his voice as he snapped back at Marcus.

“Everybody knows who is the highest level. I am the best of the best and this is my title,” he said. “It will be a war. It will be an aggressive fight. It will be a very interesting fight, I promise, and I will win.”

Levin recently relocated from Russia to San Diego and took the opportunity to remind his opponent that the Californian city is now home soil for him.

“I feel very good. This is a big opportunity to show the people around the world who is the best of the best. This is my home town now, this is my arena, this is my world. Welcome to San Diego, Simon,” he said.

That got a shake of the head from Marcus.

Addressing host Goldberg instead of Levin directly he said, “I fight everywhere in the world, in everybody’s home town, home country.

“Anywhere I go, I dominate and I destroy. It doesn’t matter where his home town is, Russia or here in San Diego, I am coming in to dominate and destroy like I always do.”

Part One of the Countdown to GLORY 21 special is out now, with the remaining two installments due to be released over the course of this week. You can watch Part One below or click on the video title to go through to our YouTube channel and watch it there.

GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO takes place Friday, May 8 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. Aside from the main event the show features Raymond ‘Real Deal’ Daniels looking to get back on the title trail and hosts a four-man Heavyweight Qualification Tournament with the winner going through to the next Heavyweight Contender Tournament.

GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO airs in the US on Spike TV at 11pm ET/10 PM CT.