There was a lot to absorb after the thrilling spectacle, that was GLORY 16, went down this past weekend at the 1STBANK Center in Denver, Colorado.
GLORY’s events have always been known to produce something special and out of the blue, and once again, fans, both in attendance and at home, got their pennies well spent.
As with previous numbered installments, GLORY 16 aired on the SPIKE TV network.
The event was first and foremost highlighted by a five round Welterweight championship tussle between Marc de Bonte and Karapet Karapetyan. The latter, of course, served as a replacement for Nieky Holzken, who, just weeks before, was forced to withdraw from the fight due to an arm injury.
Although De Bonte had a tough outing in the final round, where he was overwhelmed by Karapetyan, the Belgian managed to outpoint his skilled counterpart earlier on and deservedly took home a Unanimous Decision victory, and a nice 10-lbs Welterweight strap.
He is expected to defend his crown against Joe Valtellini in GLORY’s mega 17th installment next, later this year.
“I’ve been training and fighting since I was a small boy. This title is the result of eighteen years of hard work and I couldn’t be happier right now. It was one of the best nights of my life,” De Bonte said, as he improved his tally to 87-11-1.
“You have to fight a certain way against Karapetyan because of the way he fights. He’s really good with that push kick when you’re coming forward looking to box and throw punches. “To deal with him you really have to get into your kicking game and sort of pick him apart. A fight with Holzken or Valtellini would look very different to this fight with Karapetyan.”
Hands raised: Errol Zimmerman reigns supreme in the Heavyweight tournament at GLORY 16.
GLORY’s trademark one-night tournament was also on show, this time, with the Heavyweights taking the spotlight. Errol Zimmerman scored back-to-back first round knockouts on the night en route to claiming the tournament crown. But the Curaçaoan didn’t just, once again, prove his worth in the Heavyweight division. He stamped a statement and showed exactly why he was a huge force to be reckoned with in the division.
“Rico Verhoeven and Daniel Ghita will fight for the Heavyweight title next? OK, I want to fight the winner,” Zimmerman stated. “I want to fight both of those guys. I wasn’t myself against Rico (at GLORY 9) and I want to prove a point. And Ghita has two KO wins over me now, I want to show him that I can beat him. I’m coming for the heavyweight title. I feel good now, I feel ready.”
Elsewhere on the card, Pat Barry’s debut under the GLORY banner ended in agony as the former famed UFC Mixed Martial Artist succumbed to a knockout defeat at the hands of Zack Mwekessa. Barry had Mwekessa hurt in the opening stages of the fight but failed to capitalize for a finish. As the round progressed, Mwekessa delivered a blistering right hook-uppercut combination which sent Barry crashing onto the canvas. Referee Tom Johnson stepped in, and immediately waved off the fight.
“I am a finisher. I have always been a finisher. If I put someone in trouble they are in trouble,” Mwekessa, following the victory. “If you are in trouble you are gone. When you smell blood, he has to go. That is something I have mastered.”
“When I smelt blood with Pat Barry, he had to go.”
While the main card provided some solid action, it was a fight from the Super Fight Series prelims that had fans on the edge of their seats. Raymond Daniels’ insane head kick knockout over Francois Ambang drew raptures from the crowd and was arguably, what one would call a ‘knockout for the ages’. The highlight reel finish had Ambang completely lying unconscious in the aftermath.
Check out full results of the event below, along with exclusive pictures courtesy of the folks at GLORY Sports International:
MAIN CARD
- Marc De Bonte def. Karapet Karapetyan via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
- Errol Zimmerman def. Anderson Silva via TKO at 2:30 in Round 1 (GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final match-up)
- Zack Mwekassa def Pat Barry via KO at 2:33 in Round 1
- Anderson Silva def. Sergei Kharitonov via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) – GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final match-up
- Errol Zimmerman def. Ben Edwards via TKO at 2:50 in Round 1 (GLORY Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final match-up)
SUPER FIGHT SERIES PRELIMS
- Benjamin Adegbuyi def. Daniel Sam via KO at 2:59 in Round 2
- Artem Levin def. Robert Thomas via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Jamal Ben Saddik def. Nicolas Wamba via TKO at 1:24 of Round 1
- Artem Vakhitov def. Igor Jurkovic via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
- Raymond Daniels def. Francois Ambang via KO at 1:47 in Round 1
- Josh Jauncey def. Warren Stevelmans via Unanimous Decision in Sudden Victory Round (10-8, 10-8, 10-8)
***
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