This weekend Glory Kickboxing graced the former global capital of pot with some amazing knockouts.
Glory 45 put on a show for the Amsterdam crowd, featuring a light heavyweight tournament where no fight went past the 2nd round, and a Dutch champion defending his belt at home. But the most fantastic moment of night came from a heavyweight match up outside the tournament. Mladen Brestovac blasted Hesdy Gerges in the first minute of round one with a head kick that had people evoking the hollowed name of Cro Cop. It’s one of the cleanest head kick knockouts I’ve ever seen in combat sports.
Mladen Brestovac iced Hesdy Gerges in 37 seconds #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/P7lSZvCNGm
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 30, 2017
Mladen Brestovac pays homage once again to Cro-Cop with the headkick KO! #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/O9hJqOftZz
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 30, 2017
You gotta respect that Heavyweight flexibility. Mladen Brestovac’s display puts himself just a fight or two away from a rematch with long reigning Glory Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven.
The Glory 45 light heavyweight tournament was full of controversy, but Michael Duut turned it into his showcase. With under one minute of time in the ring, Duut recorded two knockout victories and earned a shot for the Glory Light Heavyweight Champion against Pavel Zhuravlev. Let’s watch Michael Duut cash some checks with a very pretty left hand.
Clean check hook KO by Michael Duut #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/TLNeuokcee
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 30, 2017
PERFECT TIMING by Michael Duut! He moves on to the tournament finals! #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/iyIRBuxX4c
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 30, 2017
And now “The Dreamcrusher” displays the clean left hook, part two.
Michael Duut is your #GLORY45 light heavyweight contender tournament champion! Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/KyZUktcqoZ
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 30, 2017
Featherweight main event of Glory 45 was the only fight in the main to go the distance. Robin van Roosmalen retained his title against the Ukrainian challenger Serhiy Adamchuk.
Adamchuk was upset about the decision and rushed out out the ring in frustration, despite a what was clear victory for Roosmalen in the eyes of most observers.
#andSTILL featherweight champion … @robinvroosmalen! #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/hNdNttTwNz
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 30, 2017
Of course it’s not a Dutch kickboxing event without having Alistair Overeem handing out a belt. Check the white Timberlands on The Reem; we see you, Alistair.
But did Adamchuk actually have a right to be upset over the scores? Not really. While Adamchuk did in fact pour it on late (definitely taking the last round), he was constantly losing exchanges and was walked down by van Roosmalen for most the fight. But I guess when you’re throwing straight Rolling Thunder, you think you got it in the bag.
Serhiy Adamchuk yall #GLORY45 pic.twitter.com/YnezdcZe5R
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 30, 2017
And of course, Glory had to tease their highest profile rematch. Rico Verhoeven seemed to seek Badr Hari from out of the crowd. If you were hoping for a great moment and a heated exchange, this isn’t the rivalry for you. The took two seemed to share a laugh and chatted about all the money they will make together in 2018, or 2019, whenever. The wrestling marks are upset though. If you wanted their PPV dollar this time, you gotta maintain kayfabe. Come on kickboxing.
👀 @RicoVerhoeven has found an old pal at #GLORY45! pic.twitter.com/8IiwIYgOI8
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) September 30, 2017
And finally, here’s a little parting gift from the prelims, where Kevin Van Heeckeren lost his tooth only to have it conveniently discovered close by…
Kevin van Heeckeren lost a tooth during his prelim fight against Mike Sprangh.
Don't worry, they found it. #GLORY45 https://t.co/vc8Klb1uat pic.twitter.com/VWPhJQnZy0
— Kris Dekker (@KrisDekkerMMA) October 1, 2017
