Great Feet for a Big Man… This GLORY Kickboxing Heavyweight Managed to Connect With an Insane Spinning Head Kick…
Why isn’t kickboxing more popular? It’s insane really, that one of the most exciting and dynamic combat sports just doesn’t really get that much attention in the US, compared to the likes of MMA. It’s especially weird when you get fans complaining about the wrestling aspect of MMA, saying that fighters just lie on each other.
GLORY is well-established as one of the premier kickboxing organizations in the world. It was founded in 2012, after the K-1 promotion – then the most prestigious company in kickboxing – went bust. Since then GLORY has gone from strength to strength, operating 6 weight classes, and holding 71 events worldwide across the past 6 years.
You’re guaranteed action at a GLORY event. Watch below as heavyweight fighter Guto Inocente landed an absolutely insane spinning kick on his opponent at GLORY 62. It’s wild from such a big man.
Guto actually landed this… #GLORY62 pic.twitter.com/2i7hfi5F2H
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 8, 2018
Tournament
GLORY held their 8-man tournament in the Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands, this weekend. It was an action-packed event with some crazy moments. Jamal Ben Saddik would be the overall winner after earning his port with two knockdown TKOs over Junior Tafa and a unanimous decision win over Guto Inocente.
That didn’t stop Inocente pulling off the insane kick that you can see above, in what was absolutely a highlight reel moment. However, Saddik would be the man to progress and he took on Benjamin Adegbuyi in the final, with the winner walking away with the tournament title and $150,000. Not bad for a night’s work.
JAMAL. BEN. SAAAADIIIIKKKKK!! #GLORY62 pic.twitter.com/juWtXyABaG
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 8, 2018
Dominant
Saddik put on an excellent display. He put it on Adegbuyi from the start, landing a head kick and several punches. Adegbuyi was in survival mode from the beginning. Backed into the corner, he had his guard up to protect himself but it was ultimately in vain, as Saddik began to pick him apart.
Then, Saddik landed a barrage of left hooks and punches, eventually getting the first round KO in a dominant performance that should earn him a heavyweight title shot. It was very impressive from the Belgian-Moroccan, who is one of the most interesting characters in kickboxing.
Congrats to @bensaddikjamal! #GLORY62 pic.twitter.com/Ub2ivRAvlJ
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 8, 2018
Results
The full results from a night of frantic action can be seen below. It’s expected that Saddik will go on and fight Rico Verhoeven in a trilogy fight. Hopefully, GLORY will continue to grow and become even more successful in the future. It’s definitely got a niche in the combat sports market.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Final: Jamal Ben Saddik def. Benjamin Adegbuyi via KO (Rd. 1, 1:54)
Light Heavyweight: Luis Tavares def. Artur Golov via split decision.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal: Jamal Ben Saddik def. Guto Inocente via unanimous decision.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal: Benjamin Adegbuyi def. Jahfarr Wilnis via KO (Rd. 3, 2:39)
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Guto Inocente def. Mohamed Abdallah via split decision.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Jahfarr Wilnis def. Tomas Mozny via split decision.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Jamal Ben Saddik def. Junior Tafa via TKO.
GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal: Benjamin Adegbuyi def. Arkadiusz Wrzosek via unanimous decision.
