In the pre-fight build-up, Verlinden noted that he and Bouzidi had styles which would make for a good fight, due to their both being forward-pressure fighters who like to throw in combination. He wasnât wrong; the two veterans went all-out as they sought to lay claim to Fight of the Night honors.
Verlinden has fought at heavyweight, light-heavyweight and middleweight in GLORY but considers the middleweight division his best weight. This fight with Bouzidi became available at light-heavyweight though and with it being on the border of his Belgian homeland he decided to take it.
Even though Verlinden was giving up a little weight advantage to Bouzidi, he was considered the favorite by most pundits. He has had a good run in the middleweight division and was at one point ranked #2. Middleweight champion Artem âThe Lionâ Levin won a decision over him in the LAST MAN STANDING tournament but was able to do very little actual damage.
This fight was a lot different. Verlinden found himself facing a newly-resurgent Mourad Bouzidi who is finding a run of career-best form. Anybody who thought that the KO loss to Saulo Cavalari at GLORY 12 marked the start of twilight closing in on Bouzidiâs career has had to eat their words as he has gone 3-0 since.
Verlinden was as surprised as anyone as Bouzidi came out of the gate at speed and started hammering hard power shots in. Good power and speed in his hands set up a hard low kick which he landed over and over, often almost overbalancing Verlinden.
The Belgian fighter spent most of the first round weathering the storm and only got into it near the end when he landed a counter knee to Bouzidiâs jaw which staggered him and may well have won him the round on the scorecards. Verlinden went after Bouzidi but couldnât find the shots he needed to capitalize on his opponentâs trouble.
The second round was a firefight in which Bouzidi really stepped up his output, demonstrating impressive speed and fitness in the process. Anyone who had expected Verlinden to be the faster fighter got a surprise as Bouzidi was able to unload and reload constantly, Verlinden throwing savage counters when he could find the opening.
The third round was a war like the second but was clearly in Bouzidiâs favor as Verlindenâs power faded; his output lowered and Boudizi took control. By the final bell it was clear that the decision was going to go Bouzidiâs way and so it proved. All three judges saw the fight for Bouzidi, giving him a unanimous decision win and putting him on a 3-0 run in the light-heavyweight division.
âI love this sport,â an ecstatic Bouzidi said afterwards. âI feel really good and I think I would love to take a shot at the title, who knows?â
Mourad Bouzidi def. Filip Verlinden, Unanimous Decision, R3, (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)Â Â
