Glory Kickboxing’s event from Madison Square Garden saw the crowning of an American interim champion, but the loss of a potential star.
In the main event of the UFC Fight Pass portion of Glory 48, their hope to create a female star with Tiffany van Soest took a huge step backward.
#andNEW GLORY super bantamweight champion… @AnissaMeksen! Congratulations Anissa! #GLORY48 pic.twitter.com/0b6E7Rxgyc
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 2, 2017
“Time Bomb” dropped the Super Bantamweight title to French contender Anissa Meksen in a lackluster affair.
Van Soest was very inactive in the first two rounds, looking to establish the jab and not getting it going. That ended up costing her in a huge way. As Meksen starting edging her out in the 3rd, the deficit was too much come back from. At the end of 5, the judges all gave the nod to Anissa Meksen, but the crowd was silent and ready to see something new.
In the Middleweight contender tournament, Canadian Robert Thomas beat first Wayne Barrett and then Mike Lemaire to take the Roman Dekkers trophy.
Thomas’s second fight against Lemaire delivered one of the most brutal knockouts of the year.
IT'S ALL OVER! @RobThomas_WD CLOSES THE SHOW IN THE OPENING SECONDS OF THE THIRD ROUND! #GLORY48 pic.twitter.com/j9dSk5by4N
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 2, 2017
It was a great night for UFC fighters turned Glory kickboxers as both Chris Camozzi and Thiago Silva won debut fights at GLory 48.
Chris Camozzi pressed the hell out of Kyle Weickhardt, who looked out of his depths. Camozzi’s opponent wasn’t able to answer the bell for the third round.
A WOMBO COMBO BY @ChrisCamozzi! We head to the second round in this middleweight tilt. #GLORY48
WATCH: https://t.co/MXhhEhmy5d pic.twitter.com/Lp4wFVwqwJ
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 2, 2017
Thiago Silva had a bit more of a competitive fight against the also debuting John King. Silva, sporting some love handles and looking every bit the grizzled veteran, took a unanimous decision victory.
Finally in the main event, Syracuse, New York’s Kevin VanNostrand took on Uzbekistan contender Anvar Boynazarov.
In one of the most insane one round fights, Boynazarov scored an early knock out that silence the VanNostrand crowd. But seemingly out of nowhere, VanNostrand landed the knee to the liver that would make Bas Rutten proud.
.@anvar_muay knocks down Kevin in the first round!!!! Kevin answers the 10 count #GLORY48 pic.twitter.com/cgpefVM9D6
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 2, 2017
OMG! THE ENERGY IN THIS ARENA IS INSANE! 0 TO 100 REAL QUICK! Kevin Vannostrand secures the interim featherweight title! #GLORY48 pic.twitter.com/VocwjZBLde
— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) December 2, 2017
A fantastic end to a compelling night of violence.
