The GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix promised to be one of the most exciting nights in kickboxing history and it delivered. Eight of the division’s best went head-to-head in this one-night tournament with the goal to crown the baddest man in the division.
It was Donegi Abena’s (30-10, 10 KO) night as the former champ scored three equally impressive stoppages en route to lifting the GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix trophy.
The 26-year-old proved to be too much for Stefan Latescu (17-3, 8 KO) in the opening round of the Grand Prix, stopping him the third round to cap off incredible victory. Then, in the semi-finals, he met old rival Tarik Khbabez (51-11-1, 28 KO) and finished him in the second round thanks to some devastating leg kicks.
In the final he came up against the fan favourite Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-3, 61 KO), who also stopped both of his quarter & semi-final opponents in electric fashion. However, Abena shocked everyone with a dominant first round performance sending the Azerbaijani to the canvas three times forcing an end to the contest.
Elsewhere on the card, Romania’s Ionut Iancu (29-9, 11 KO) blasted his way through the tough Murat Aygun (32-4, 8 KO) and introduce himself to GLORY fans with a brutal left hook KO and France’s Ramy Deghir (7-1, 1 KO) made it two for two in GLORY with a decision over top ten ranked middleweight Brice Kombou (18-6, 3 KO).
Rising prospects were the stars of the preliminary card as Morocco’s Soufiane Abdelkhalek (5-2-1, 2 KO) dominated Ilyass Chakir (17-5-1, 6 KO) and Turkey’s Cem Caceres (16-1, 13 KO) stopped Mohamed Amine (29-8, 16 KO) in spectacular fashion to win his GLORY debut.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Results
Main Event
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Final
Donegi Abena (30-10, 10 KO) def. Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-3, 61 KO) via TKO (three knockdown rule), round 1, 2:43.
Co-Main Event: Heavyweight
Ionut Iancu (29-9, 11 KO) def. Murat Aygun (32-4, 8 KO) via KO (punch), round 2, 1:43.
Middleweight
Ramy Deghir (7-1, 1 KO) def. Brice Kombou (18-6, 3 KO) via split decision, (30-27, 29-28 x 2, 28-29 x 2).
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Semi-Final 2
Bahram Rajabzadeh (69-2, 61 KO) def. Sergej Maslobojev (39-7, 24 KO) via TKO (retirement), round 2 0:20.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Semi-Final 1
Donegi Abena (29-10, 9 KO) def. Tarik Khbabez (51-11-1, 28 KO) via TKO (leg kicks), round 2, 0:30.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter-Final 4
Bahram Rajabzadeh (68-2, 60 KO) def. Ibrahim El Bouni (41-10-1, 22 KO) via TKO (flying knee), round 1, 2:02.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter-Final 3
Sergej Maslobojev (39-6, 24 KO) def. Bogdan Stoica (58-15, 40 KO) via TKO (knee), round 1, 1:05.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter-Final 2
Donegi Abena (28-10, 8 KO) def. Stefan Latescu (17-3, 8 KO) via TKO (high kick), round 3, 0:59.
GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix: Quarter-Final 1
Tarik Khbabez (51-10-1, 28 KO) def. Pascal Toure (20-7, 7 KO) via unanimous decision (30-26 x 3, 29-27 x 2).
Welterweight
Soufiane Abdelkhalek (5-2-1, 2 KO) def. Ilyass Chakir (17-5-1, 6 KO) via unanimous decision (30-25 x 5)
Light Heavyweight Reserve Bout
Cem Caceres (16-1, 13 KO) def. Mohamed Amine (29-8, 16 KO) via KO (left hook), round 2, 1:32.