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This Saturday night, December 7, will see the biggest kickboxing event of the year as GLORY COLLISION 7 takes place inside the GelreDome football stadium in Arnhem, Netherlands.
This event will feature twelve incredible bouts headlined by a five-round title fight between GLORY champion Rico Verhoeven (64-10, 21 KO) and his challenger Levi Rigters (19-2, 9 KO). Headlining the GLORY superfight prelims will be a much anticipated fight between rivals Tayfun Ozcan (87-10-3, 28 KO) and Younes Smaili (41-3, 19 KO).
Both men made their anticipated debuts in the GLORY ring earlier this year having both enjoyed success outside before joining the world’s number one kickboxing organization.
The well-traveled Tayfun Ozcan built his reputation all around the world before competing in his 100th professional fight in his GLORY debut over the summer. A true veteran of kickboxing, ‘The Turkish Turbine’ still has a lot more in the tank and at only 33-years-old, he is looking straight at the GLORY welterweight world title.
On his road towards the belt, he encounters the brash Younes Smaili. The young Moroccan prodigy made his GLORY debut in August at GLORY 94 where he defeated the very tough James Condé.
Ozcan and Smaili have engaged in words for quite some time and it has been one of the most anticipated local rivalries on the Dutch scene in recent years. It is quite fitting that they will meet on the biggest stage in kickboxing at COLLISION 7.
Although Smaili has a lot of fights under his belt, it is fair to say that Ozcan has more experience when it comes to big stages. Not one to be easily impressed, Smaili has stated that he sees Ozcan as a declining fighter and he is looking forward to establishing his name on December 7.
This matchup already produced fire outside of the GLORY ring but when the bell rings, fans can expect a real barnburner. Both fighters are always looking to push the rhythm and are hunting for the finish at every instant. This should be a highly paced affair between two very exciting athletes.
Ozcan publicly questioned Smaili’s stamina and believes that the Moroccan won’t be able to handle the pace he is going to bring. Smaili did look dynamic all three rounds against Condé displaying his confidence and his power shots.
We are looking at a very fun fight between two excellent fighters and it is really hard to clearly pick a winner here. The experience of Tayfun Ozcan will no doubt be a factor in this one but Younes Smaili is there to bring fire to the Gelredome.