While the main event wasn’t the best showing of the welterweight division, each and every Proving Grounds bout showed the exact opposite. Fighters like Hamdi, Overmeer, Boutasaa, Menshikov, and Ouled-Chaib shined in their outings. Most fights delivered non-stop action and knockdowns, with GLORY 109 producing a knockout-heavy night rarely seen in recent events.
Also, this card had more to offer than just the fights, because during the promotional “staredown” between Mory Kromah and Antonio Plazibat, a verbal scuffle broke out, which quickly escalated into a brawl.
Chico Kwasi def. Teodor Hristov
The third fight between the two welterweight rivals saw Kwasi looking to build on his victory in their first meeting, while Hristov entered the bout having won the second. The fight started cautiously, with both fighters taking their time to look for openings, but the pace and output increased as the round progressed.
Hristov was very agile, ducking and slipping, while Chico was using his length, controlling the ring. Hristov's left hook landed on the jaw of the champion. Still, Chico dictated the round with knees and pressure. In the third round, Hristov got more aggressive, using spinning techniques. Kwasi, in turn, answered with straight punches to the face of the Bulgarian. It was a sloppy fight with multiple groin shots, with Kwasi breaking Hristov's groin cup. Hristov was fast in his combinations but couldn't seem to crack Kwasi's defense.
After five rounds, Chico Kwasi successfully defended his welterweight title for the fifth time in a lackluster fight. It was a disappointing contrast considering Kwasi's last victory, when he defeated Donovan Wisse in what was arguably a career-best performance.
Mory Kromah & Antonio Plazibat
To build up hype for COLLISION 10's main event, both heavyweight champion Mory Kromah and challenger Antonio Plazibat entered the ring. While Plazibat remained fairly stoic, Kromah was the exact opposite, talking heavy trash about Plazibat — basically rage-baiting him, with Plazibat pushing back. In turn, the champion lost it and wanted to fight Plazibat right there and then.
The ring got swarmed by multiple security guards, referees, and even people from the production team trying to separate the two. In the midst of the scuffle, Kromah even threw a security guard to the canvas. GLORY couldn't have asked for better promotion than this.
Welterweight Proving Grounds
The Welterweight division shined in Rotterdam with great bouts in which 16 fighters got the chance to earn a ticket for the GLORY Welterweight Grand Prix in December. Winning does not guarantee participation — fighters needed to bring something extra to the table, and they did. While GLORY has not yet announced who earned themselves a spot in the tournament, most fighters gave it their all.
Mohammed Boutasaa def. Figi Landman
In the build-up to the fight, both fighters had been talking trash to each other, and the beef continued into the ring. The fight hadn't even started and both fighters were already pushing. When the bell rang, Landman started off wild, coming close to brawling on the inside. In contrast, Boutasaa tried to keep him at a distance with teeps and body kicks.
During a scuffle, both men fell to the canvas, with Landman visibly hurting himself in the process. The highly anticipated fight looked to be over, but he was not about to quit. He continued the fight with a compromised left arm. Boutasaa kept scoring by kicking Landman's body and left arm. In the second round, Landman was counted out for being hurt from a kick by the Moroccan fighter.
He pushed through the pain and knocked down Boutasaa with a heavy right punch to the face. Landman threw a spinning back kick that dropped Boutasaa, but the referee didn't count it. While Landman showed heart, Boutasaa stayed calm and used his distance control and precision kicking to earn himself the decision. The result doesn't reflect the fight, and people are already calling for a rematch down the line.
Jay Overmeer def. Don Sno
One of the best fights of the year — a back-and-forth war. Overmeer started the fight by keeping Sno at a distance with sharp jabs and body kicks. In the second round, Sno was finding success up close, throwing hooks to the side of Overmeer's face. They kept trading punches.
After exchanges, both men engaged in the clinch, but the Dutchman punished Sno by piercing the body with knees. In the third round, Sno was giving it all, hurting Overmeer in the process. In turn, Overmeer put on the pressure and kept engaging in battle, giving fans their money's worth.
While Sno showed great heart, Overmeer walked away with the unanimous decision victory. An incredible comeback performance by Jay Overmeer.
Dmitry Menshikov def. Diaguely Camara
In another great fight, both returning fighters Menshikov and Camara gave the fans a great show. Menshikov immediately went on the offensive, chasing Camara. He literally ran at Camara to close the distance, and his strategy worked, because he knocked Camara down quickly with a left hook. He followed that up with an overhand right that wobbled Camara before he went down.
Camara is a slow starter, and it showed. In the second round, Menshikov kept chasing Camara. The Frenchman came back strong, hurting Menshikov with a sharp knee and even hitting him with a rolling thunder kick.
The third round was an absolute brawl, both fighters decided not to back down and traded punches. A great performance by both Welterweights.
Antonio Krajinovic def. Michael Samperi
In the first round, Krajinovic dictated the pace. In the second round, Samperi came back strong, knocking Krajinovic down with a spinning body kick. In the third round, Krajinovic returned the favor, ending the bout with 3 knockdowns in the round.
It has to be said that the second knockdown looked like a slip, but these things happen in kickboxing. While the ever-exciting Samperi lost, under Proving Grounds rules there's still a chance for him to participate in the Welterweight Grand Prix in December.
Anwar Ouled-Chaib def. Christian Baya
House of GLORY winner Anwar had an impressive performance against Christian Baya, who returned to GLORY after an 8-year absence. In the first round, he knocked Baya down, and Baya could barely make the count.
Anwar continued chasing him throughout the fight looking for the knockout. While he didn't get the knockout, he dominated the fight from start to finish. Anwar was just too fast and too sharp for the 35-year-old veteran.
Mohammed Hamdi def. Valentin Knau
The story before the fight was Hamdi moving down from Light Heavyweight to Welterweight. The story after the fight was Hamdi totally dominating Knau and winning by technical knockout.
Hamdi knocked him down twice in the first round — first with a scissor left knee and then with a spinning back kick. Knau still fought back with heart, but it wasn't enough. Hamdi finished the fight in the second round with another 2 knockdowns, resulting in a technical knockout. It seems skipping a division was a pretty great move.
Nikola Todorovic def. Vedat Hoduk
The Serbian had a great first round. His uppercuts, straights, and hooks were finding their target, and he did this while ducking under Hoduk's punches. He kept peppering the body and head but couldn't finish the fight.
Hoduk came back strong in the third round, and although he hoped for an extra round, it just wasn't enough.
Fikri Sabri def. Artiom Livardi
Livardi started strong with sharp straight punches but got caught by a sharp left hook in the exchange by Sabri.
His nose exploded. Strangely, the ringside doctor did not stop the fight. After the restart, Sabri immediately knocked Livardi down in the exchange, earning him the stoppage victory.
OTHER FIGHTS
Tariq Osaro def. Errol Zimmerman
Kickboxing veteran Errol Zimmerman stepped into the ring in what was his biggest fight yet since his GLORY return. He fought former interim Heavyweight champion Tariq Osaro, but unfortunately for Zimmerman, age caught up with him.
While Zimmerman had success in the exchanges, Osaro was too sharp with big punches in the pocket. Osaro caught Zimmerman with 2 knockdowns in the first round and 2 knockdowns in the second round.
Imad Hadar def. Ulrich Tiebe
Rotterdam's own Imad Hadar returned after a very long absence. He had been plagued with injuries and illness, but he was back, and he showed why he belongs in GLORY.
The fight was at Middleweight, a division that GLORY unofficially dropped last year. Hadar won the fight easily by technical knockout, knocking down Tiebe 4 times with calf kicks.
Imran Ben Slama def. Abdo Chahidi
This fight was supposed to happen at Featherweight, but Chahidi missed weight, resulting in a catchweight bout.
Ben Slama was too slick for Chahidi, even dropping him in the process of winning the bout.
GLORY 109 RESULTS
- Chico Kwasi (c) def. Teodor Hristov by UD — GLORY Welterweight Championship
- Tariq Osaro def. Errol Zimmerman by TKO — R3, 1:54
- Mohammed Boutasaa def. Figuereido Landman by UD — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Jay Overmeer def. Don Sno by UD — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Dmitry Menshikov def. Diaguely Camara by UD — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Antonio Krajinović def. Michael Samperi by TKO — R3, 1:51 — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Imad Hadar def. Ulric Tiebe by TKO (Calf kicks) — R2, 1:49
SUPERFIGHT SERIES
- Anwar Ouled Chaib def. Christian Baya by UD — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Mohammed Hamdi def. Valentin Knau by KO — R2, 1:13 — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Nikola Todorović def. Vedat Hödük by UD — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Fikri Sabri def. Artiom Livădari by KO — R2, 0:36 — Welterweight Grand Prix: Proving Grounds
- Imran Ben Slama def. Abdo Chahidi by UD
Source: beyondkick.com