The SuperFight Series portion of GLORY 70 in Lyon, France was headlined by a heavyweight clash between France’s Nordine Mahieddine (24-9, 12 KO’s) and Russia’s Kirill Kornilov (15-4, 6 KO’s).
The smaller fighter Mahieddine went right to work, punishing the midsection of Kornilov with a kick. After a low kick from Kornilov, Mahieddine went back to the well with another body kick. Kornilov offset his straight punches with more low kicks. The length of the Russian fighter kept Mahieddine on the outside. Mahieddine damaged the legs of Kornilov with a barrage of low kicks in the rounds final seconds.
It was the body kick from Mahieddine that greeted Kornilov to start round two. His speed advantage allowed him to get in and out of boxing range, scoring with low kicks and avoiding damage from the punches of Kornilov. Mahieddine fired left hooks to the liver and head of Kornilov. Mahieddine used a high guard and Kornilov threw body shots of his own. Kornilov allowed Mahieddine to get inside along the ropes and absorbed a heavy right hand late in the frame.
A heavy left kick from Mahieddine went upstairs and caught the towering Kornilov on the jaw. Despite stumbling, the Russian did not go down. Kornilov picked up his output with his punches, delivering combinations. Mahieddine countered with a right hand and more low kicks. Kornilov finally found his rhythm in the fight’s final minute, landing with combinations. The pace slowed in the waning seconds and the fight was sent to the judges for a verdict.
The judges were split, but they handed Mahieddine the victory.
“I’m not satisfied with my performance. Much respect to my opponent,” said Mahieddine. “I wanted to work on combinations, but his boxing didn’t allow me to do that. He boxed well.”
Nordine Mahieddine def. Kirill Kornilov by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29, 28-29, 29-28)
