The biggest event in kickboxing history is just two days away.
GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES and GLORY LAST MAN STANDING take place this Saturday June 21 at The Forum in Los Angeles, California.
Three world titles are on the line in the LAST MAN STANDING event, while the GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES card, which airs live on SPIKE TV, has Mirko “CroCop” Filipovic in a rematch with New York’s Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller, who has told the Croatian he intends to “whup him”.
Fans around the world have been hotly debating the match-ups and the possible outcomes. So have reporters. Read on for predictions for this weekend’s key fights from some leading fight-writers.
Who wins the Middleweight Championship Tournament?
“Very tough tournament, but it's hard to look past Simon Marcus, the Canadian is undefeated and already holds wins over Joe Schilling and Artem Levin.” - Andreas Giorgiou, The Daily Mirror
“Melvin Manhoef, because if he doesn't then I don't want to be inside the LA Forum when the riots happen.
“Every time I see Melvin Manhoef it's usually when I'm drunk and I always remind
him that he should have won his 2008 fight against Remy Bonjasky and the judges that night were horrible. I think my words of wisdom will lead him to victory on June 21st.” - Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“The big question mark for Simon Marcus is if he can adjust his style from traditional Muay Thai to the Glory rules. If he can, he wins this whole thing, and that's what I see happening. Marcus has great strength and beautiful skills, and he's going to show them off here.
“It's not a slam dunk by any mean - this is a tough tournament. But he's proven that he can beat most of these fighters outside of GLORY and tonight, he shows it inside the GLORY ring.
“For the rest of the tournament, I have Levin over Pereira by Dec, Verlinden over Manhoef by Dec, Marcus over Schilling by Dec, and Barrett by KO over Stoica. In the semifinals, Levin dec over Verlinden, and Marcus Dec over Barrett to set up the finals.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
“I think if Verlinden can outpoint Melvin Manhoef without getting brutalized too much in the opening round, then he's a good bet to go the whole way.
“Hard head and some of the best top-level experience of any of the fighters there. For pure entertainment value, I'd love to see Manhoef go on a rampage, but Filip gets my vote.” - Jay Furness, YourMMA.co.uk
Who is going to win this bitter grudge rematch between Rico Verhoeven and Daniel Ghita for the heavyweight title and why?
“Ghita is one of the top HW fighters of this era, but he's never been THE top HW. Two tries against Schilt, both losses, two tries against Saki, both losses.
“Here, I see Verhoeven joining that list. There's no doubt Ghita hits harder, and could end it suddenly, but Verhoeven has the stronger all around game and will control distance nicely to once again outpoint Ghita en route to the win.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
“Daniel Ghita for the sole reason of the world eventually seeing Verhoeven vs. Ghita III. Netflix is wrong, trilogies are the new black.”- Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“It's going to be a great fight, but I'm going with Verhoeven to use his slick, "points style" technique to take it.”
“Verhoeven gets by Ghita over the distance. He seems to be getting better with every outing and, though he doesn't have the KO power like some of the others heavies, he's shown he can beat Ghita before.
“In saying that, it was a very close fight last time out, and if this one delivers anything like the same action then I'll be happy to be wrong.” - Jay Furness, YourMMA.co.uk
Will Marc De Bonte defend the welterweight title or will ‘Bazooka’ Joe Valtellini take it from him?
“It's definitely a tough challenge for the defending champion. Valtellini had a fight of the year with Nieky Holzken last year and showed he is more than capable to stand with the best. I think Bazooka Joe leaves Los Angeles the new welterweight champion.” - Andreas Giorgiou, The Daily Mirror
“If looking like a Silicon Valley tech genius was congruent with kickboxing skills, then Marc De Bonte defends his title easily against Joe Valtellini. Even if it wasn't, Marc De Bonte
still wins this.” - Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“Such a great fight here that could go either way. Two technical masters means it will be the little things that win this fight.
“And in those little things, you've got the superior defense and heavier hands of Bazooka Joe, plus his ability to pour on the pressure as a fight goes on. I think de Bonte looks good early, but Valtellini overwhelms him in the end to take the belt by decision.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
“Valtellini inside the distance.” - Jay Furness, YourMMA.co.uk
On the SPIKE TV card we’ve got another heavyweight grudge rematch in the form of Mirko CroCop vs. Jarrell Miller - who takes that one?
“Cro Cop handed Miller his only kickboxing loss last year, a lot of people thought Miller won that fight, and he's got a point to prove in LA.” - Andreas Giorgiou, The Daily Mirror
“I'm going with Mirko Cro Cop because it's the favorite fighter of this chick I used to date. Hopefully she reads this and realizes that I just honored her in this feature and we could start dating again.” - Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“I think a lot of people have underrated Cro Cop in this run. He's not the Cro Cop of old clearly, but he knows how to use his veteran smarts.
“That said, Miller should have won the first fight, and he should win here. He's bigger, more powerful, and his heavy hands will be too much for the aging Cro Cop.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
“I hate to go against one of my heroes of combat sports, but Cro Cop hasn't looked all that dangerous in years. I think Miller can beat him this time as Mirko continues to fade. I'd love to see him turn up motivated and take a head off with a high kick, mind.” - Jay Furness, YourMMA.co.uk
Also on Spike TV, does California man Ky Hollenbeck beat Andy Ristie and earn a lightweight title shot or does he become another KO victim of The Machine?
“I can't imagine Andy Ristie losing to Ky Hollenbeck, but then again I couldn’t imagine him losing to Davit Kiria earlier this year.
“With that said I don't think the hometown crowd can put Ky Hollenbeck over the edge. However if you're reading this and are from California, then I never said that.”- Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“Either Ristie pushes the pace and uses his offense to take Hollenbeck out early, or these two unconventional styles meet in a grinding affair.
“That slow grind I think favors Hollenbeck, but I like a motivated Ristie to come in here guns blazing and get the job done.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
“As tough as Hollenbeck is, Andy Ristie is technically superb, if it wasn't for him tiring against Kiria he might still be champion. Ristie has stopped the best, and I feel he will do the same in LA.” - Andreas Giorgiou, The Daily Mirror
“This could be closer than people are giving Hollenbeck credit for, but a Ristie hooks ends it.” - Jay Furness, YourMMA.co.uk
Finally, who wins the Featherweight Contender Tournament and why?
“Sitmonchai takes this one for me, the most well rounded in the tournament, but anyone can take it on the night.” - Andreas Giorgiou, The Daily Mirror
“I have to go with Yodkhunpon Sitmonchai out of principle since MiddleEasy is based out of Thai Town in Hollywood and I don't want the price of my Pad Thai to raise out of spite.” - Zeus, MiddleEasy.com
“A lot of good fights in this tournament, with Varga vs. Yodkhunpon in the opening round being particularly good. Overall, I like Varga's experience edge, plus his high level of technique.
“I see him out-pointing the more single-shot oriented offense of his Thai opponent, then taking out Shane Oblonsky in the finals.
“The one hesitation I have on the finals is that the Varga/Yod fight is likely to be a war, so the winner there could come to the finals hurting. Should be a good tournament.” - Fraser Coffeen, BloodyElbow.com
GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES takes place this Saturday June 21 and airs live on Spike TV from 8pm ET.
LAST MAN STANDING airs on pay-per-view immediately afterwards and is priced at $34.95 in the USA.
