Muay Thai stylist Leo Pinto (72-27-0) had a hard debut against the GLORY veteran Giga Chikadze (37-5-0) in the opening fight of the Superfight Series.
During fight week interviews the young prospect said that the body kick would be his key weapon against Chikadze. He said he saw openings for the blow when Chikadze switched his stance, something he does with regularity.
Initially that prediction seemed true as he found a home for his body kick several times. Chikadze fired back with venom and the fight quickly heated up. The contrast between their demeanors was notable – Chikadze looked almost angry, while Pinto kept smiling whenever a strike was landed on him.
Pinto's defense initially was extremely tight. But when Chikadze set up his trademark 'Giga Kick' at the two-minute mark, the smile was wiped off his face. Chikadze's left kick to the body is a savage weapon. It stopped two of his past GLORY opponents and tonight it claimed a third victim.
The instant the kick landed, Pinto spun away and fell the canvas, where he convulsed in agony. For nearly twenty seconds he was locked in his own private hell, barely registering Chikadze's celebrations or the noise from the crowd.
Now 5-2 in GLORY and with a recent win over former champion Serhiy Adamchuk, Chikadze used his post-fight speech to outline his case for a title shot and declare himself “the real champion”.
