The GLORY 63 SuperFight Series featured a pivotal featherweight match-up as England’s Bailey Sugden (12-3, 1 NC, 2 KO’s) took on New Zealand’s Quade Taranaki (8-7).
Sudgen cracked Taranaki with a body kick and followed with punches in the pocket. Taranaki responded by kicking out the Brit’s back leg. Sugden went back to work with his punches, showcasing his hand speed.
Near the end of the first round Taranaki brought a right hand over the guard of Sugden. The pair exchanged short strikes in the center of the ring before Taranaki missed with a spinning kick.
Taranaki traded punches with Sugden at the beginning of round two. Sugden fired a flying knee that missed the mark. A low kick from Sugden connected, but Taranaki countered with a left hook.
A heavy leg kick from Taranaki put Sugden on a knee for a moment. Sugden stayed busy, throwing his punches with volume.
The body work of Sugden started showing its effectiveness in the final round. Taranaki was able to land a big left hand, but a knee from Sugden wobbled him badly. Taranaki tried for a spinning attack and needed the ropes to stay upright.
Sugden returned to assaulting the body of the Kiwi, but he could not put him down. There was a sense of urgency from Taranaki in the final minute, but he could not find an opening as the fight went the distance.
Sugden swept all three rounds from each of the judges at ringside.
Bailey Sugden def. Quade Taranaki by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
