‘X-Man’ joins GLORY 21 Heavyweight Tournament

Xavier ‘X-Man’ Vigney (6-1, 6 KO’s) has become the second fighter to be confirmed for participation in the four-man Heavyweight Qualification Tournament taking place at GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO on Friday, May 8.

Vigney debuted with a victory at GLORY 10 then returned at GLORY Superfight Series19 with an impressive stoppage of Everett Sims to go 2-0 in the organization and begin the process of marking himself out as one to watch in the heavyweight division.

The winner of the Heavyweight Qualification Tournament, which features an All-American line-up, will earn a place in the next Heavyweight Contender Tournament. That tournament confers a heavyweight title shot upon the winner.

“We liked what we saw from Vigney at GLORY 19, he looks like he has a lot of potential,” said Cor Hemmers, GLORY matchmaker and Head of Talent Operations.

“Earning a spot in the next Heavyweight Contender Tournament would put him straight into the mix with elite, international-level competition. Vigney has already said those are the kind of challenges he wants; now he has the chance to earn them.”

US fight fans may know Vigney from his recent participation in Nick Diaz’s training camp, helping the infamous MMA fighter prepare for a clash with former UFC middleweight champion Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva.

Along with Joe Schilling and Artem Levin, Vigney helped sharpen Diaz’s stand-up skills for his fight with the Muay Thai master. Diaz was unsuccessful in the fight, losing a decision, but the improvement in his kickboxing skills was widely noted.

Vigney describes himself as “a lifelong athlete” and is a former football player for De La Salle, where a review of his career as a defensive end noted that he had a tendency “to terrorize opposing quarterbacks”.

Vigney switched from football to martial arts competition in 2008 and has also competed as a professional boxer. He represents Team Black from the Bay Area in California and arrived in GLORY after winning an eight-man ‘Road to GLORY’ tournament in 2013.

GLORY 21 SAN DIEGO takes place Friday, May 8 in San Diego, California and is headlined by Artem ‘The Lion’ Levin defending the World Middleweight Championship.