The GLORY 97 x RISE World Series delivered a spectacular finale to 2024, live from the iconic Makuhari Messe Event Hall just outside Tokyo, Japan. This highly anticipated event capped off a record-breaking year for GLORY, which featured sold-out arenas, a thrilling return to Belgium and Croatia, the resurrection of the GLORY Grand Prix, and the historic COLLISION 7 shattering attendance records.
Petch Reigns Supreme in Featherweight Grand Prix
In a display of skill and endurance, GLORY Featherweight World Champion Petch (173-40-3, 27 KO) emerged victorious in the GLORY x RISE Featherweight Grand Prix. Petch proved why he’s considered the best featherweight on the planet, overcoming elite competition in a single night.
In the opening round, Petch outclassed Japan’s Taiju Shiratori (30-11-1, 12 KO) with a unanimous decision.
He then outmaneuvered South Korean veteran Sunghyun Lee (70-12-2, 17 KO) in the semi-finals, securing another unanimous victory.
The final saw a fierce battle against Miguel Trindade (61-7, 26 KO), the Portuguese knockout artist who had eliminated his first two opponents with first-round finishes. After an electrifying, razor-close contest, Petch’s precision and resilience clinched him the crown.
RISE Superfights Steal the Spotlight
The RISE superfights were equally thrilling, showcasing global talent and rising stars:
Canada’s Usami Hide Meison (6-0-1, 3 KO) made history, defeating Takumi Sanekata (27-11-2, 6 KO) via unanimous decision to claim the RISE Welterweight Championship.
Teenage sensation Ryujin Nasukawa (13-2, 6 KO), just 18 years old, stunned the crowd with a second-round TKO over experienced Thai fighter Petmai MC Superlekmuaythai (42-12-2), cementing his place as a future legend.
A Controversial Knockdown in the Reserve Fight
In the Grand Prix reserve bout, Jan Kaffa (20-5, 7 KO) and Yutaro Asahi (17-9, 4 KO) delivered a potential "fight of the year" performance. However, a controversial knockdown under the tournament’s two-knockdown rule handed Asahi the win, leaving fans and commentators debating the outcome.
The event closed out what many are calling the biggest year in GLORY history, a year that saw unprecedented global expansion, record-breaking attendance, and jaw-dropping performances. If GLORY’s 2024 was anything to go by, 2025 promises even more fireworks.