Rico Verhoeven remains to be the king of the kickboxing world.
The Dutch star, who has dominated the heavyweight division for 13 years, now has 13 title defenses after beating two-time mild heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov by way of unanimous choice after 5 rounds to prolonged a historic reign at Glory’s a hundredth present in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Vakhitov was coming again to kickboxing after experimenting MMA, passing on a suggestion from the UFC to return go the ring and problem Verhoeven and had his moments within the match, particularly with a spinning again kick to the physique in Spherical 2. Aside from that, Verhoeven out-struck his a lot smaller opponent with combos, attacking the physique and principally the legs, to comfortably win a unanimous choice (50-45×5).
“That was like a cherry on the cake,” Verhoeven stated of profitable 5 rounds in all scorecards. “I knew this man was wonderful, additionally technically, conditionally, so I knew this was gonna be an enormous problem. Sorry guys if it wasn’t the struggle you hoped for otherwise you anticipated, however this was a chess match on the very best stage. This man is so freaking good, it’s so arduous. He goes downstairs, upstairs, to the physique, to the pinnacle, so it’ so freaking arduous, however imagine me, this man goes to be the subsequent mild heavyweight champion once more, 100%.”
To regain the sunshine heavyweight belt, Vakhitov should beat Sergej Maslobojev, who gained it within the co-main occasion of Glory 100. He challenged Tarik Khbabez in a rematch of a 2022 conflict wherein Khbabez first grew to become champion, and this time placed on a masterclass to regain the gold. After three shut rounds, Maslobojev merely chopped down Khbabez’s legs for a knockdown in Spherical 4. Khbabez went again to the ft and ate a vicious left hook the physique for a standing rely. Khbabez was clearly harm, however nonetheless went again to the struggle to eat extra punches to the physique and leg kicks to go down a 3rd time, crowning Maslobojev champion at 38 years of age.
Within the middleweight division, it was right down to the ultimate spherical in a detailed championship battle between Donovan Wisse and Michael Boapeah. With a ton of dangerous blood stemming from a title bout in 2023 that was gained by Wisse, Boapeah got here in sturdy with leg kick assaults earlier than getting into the championship rounds. With scores everywhere going into the fifth stanza, 4 judges felt Wisse did sufficient within the last three minutes to retain the belt.
Boapeah appeared upset after the choice was learn and followers within the enviornment booed the outcome. Wisse, who broke Alex Pereira’s document for many consecutive middleweight title defenses in Glory, stated he’s open to a trilogy sooner or later.
“I do know the followers are disenchanted within the choice, however I can do nothing about it,” Wisse stated after the match. “I’m the winner right now, and perhaps we run it again a 3rd time.”
Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9,, a.okay.a. Petch, efficiently defended his featherweight belt for the ninth time in a rematch with Miguel Trindade within the first title bout of the cardboard. Petch, who gained a cut up choice over Trindade within the last of a one-night grand prix in December, landed the more durable pictures all through 5 rounds, together with a pair of knockdowns in Spherical 2, to stroll away victorious by way of unanimous choice.
Glory 100 additionally featured 4 one-night tournaments to find out who would advance to be a part of a large Final Heavyweight Standing grand prix later this 12 months.
Tariq Osaro was one of many stars of tournaments portion of the cardboard, scoring knockouts over Sofian Laidouni and Luigi Gashi to advance. Nico Horta earned his spot with choice victories over Colin George and Milos Cvjeticanin. Anis Bouzid additionally went the space twice tonight to make it to the principle match, defeating Iraj Azizpour and Asadulla Nasipov.
The fourth title to make it was Mory Kromah, and he needed to make it by means of an insane last match with Bahram Rajabzadeh. Kromah, who gained a call over Alin Nechita within the semifinal earlier on the cardboard, stayed calm and composed after two unlawful knees thrown by his opponent to then land an unbelievable flying knee to cease Rajabzadeh.
Click on right here for the whole Glory 100 outcomes.
