Going Out: Glory World Series kickboxing heads to Dubai

Jay Asser 03:30 02/04/2015
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  • Make the most of it: Be it VIP to Bronze seating, spectators can enjoy the show.

    The Glory World Series makes its way to Dubai to showcase the premier kickboxing league in Glory 20, headlined by one of the sport’s most awaited rematches.

    The packed night of fights tomorrow (Friday) at Dubai World Trade Centre features two title bouts and a middleweight tournament.

    The main event sees Andy Ristie (44-4-1, 24 KOs) getting another crack at Robin Van Roosmalen (33-6, 19 KOs) for the lightweight world title. Nicknamed ‘The Machine’, the 33-year-old’s unorthodox style caught Van Roosmalen off guard in the final of the Glory 12 lightweight tournament in November 2013.

    Ristie had little trouble getting the better of Van Roosmalen to win by knockout and believes the only change this time around will be the length of the fight.

    “I don’t know if this fight is going to look the same as the first one did, because this time I am (actually) prepared for him. So maybe it will go even faster,” said Ristie.

    “Now I’ve had a chance to watch his videos and see his weak points, I have good solutions for his style. That’s why I think it could end faster. Maybe he will come with a new plan, let’s see. But I will see my opening, get my chance and then finish him.”

    After defeating Van Roosmalen, however, Ristie appeared to lose steam in his title bout in Glory 14 with Davit Kiria and lost by knockout in the fifth round.

    Van Roosmalen, who won the belt with a win over Kiria at Glory 18, feels he can take advantage of Ristie’s “all or nothing style” and drag the fight to his advantage.

    “He tries to hurt you with everything he has and after that he is gassed quick,” said the 25-year-old from the Netherlands. “After three rounds I think it is over for him.”

    Ristie responding, saying: “Well he has to say something. If he doesn’t say anything then it looks like he is afraid. I know I have beaten him before already and I know it wasn’t a difficult fight.

    “He can say that he had to fight one fight already that night before me but so did I. If he was a fighter who could give me problems then he would have showed me that in the first fight. Honestly I don’t think he has a chance, he is living in a dream world.”
    Sensational: Some of the biggest kickboxing stars will be in action in Dubai.

    The other title fight on the night is between Morocco’s Mosab Amrani (51-8-4) and Canada’s Gabriel Varga (25-2) for the vacant featherweight championship.

    Varga holds the edge Glory fight records (4-1) over Amrani (3-1), but his only loss came in Glory 8 at the hands of Yuta Kubo, who Amrani beat in the SuperFight Series in his most recent bout.

    Also fighting tomorrow in the SuperFight Series are local favourites Mourad Bouzidi of Tunisia and Eisa Al Dah, the UAE’s only professional boxer.

    “For me it’s a new experience and a great opportunity to show my Arabic audience especially what I bring to a fight,” Bouzidi said.

    Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.ae and range from Dh1,500 for VIP to Dh250 for Bronze seating. For more information on the event, visit www.gloryworldseries.com. So get ready to be amazed.

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