Last Friday, November 2nd, premier kick boxing promotion, GLORY Kickboxing returned to the famed Hammerstein Ballroom in New York for another night of knockouts and stand-up wars.
If you’re up on game, you know how braze a GLORY fight night gets. The European organization has been putting on matches across the world since 2012 with a distinct rule set that ensures the most stand-up action.
Unlike an MMA bout, GLORY Kickboxing standard bouts are usually held to three 3-minute rounds and their title bouts are five three-minute rounds. All fighters get scored on their clean punches, kicks, and knee strikes.
Fighters are penalized for any clinching or holding actions that aren’t followed up with an immediate attack and will be separated or asked to “break” by the referee after 5 seconds.
Now that we got the rules out of the way, peep our 5 reasons why GLORY 61 had the whole room shook at Hammerstein Ballroom. Pics are from our homies, Grayson Gunner (@gunnerphoto) and Joey Abreu (@joeyabreu).
#1 Anissa Meksen Regains the Super-Bantamweight Title
Back at GLORY 56 in Denver, French badass Anissa Meksen lost the super-bantamweight title in a split-decision against Jady Menezes in what many saw as an upset.
The co-main event rematch at GLORY 61 had the crowd on their feet as the fighters exchanged multiple punches and kicks.
In the second round, Meksen unleashed a wash clinic on Menezes, starting with a left hook, followed by a series of punches that forced the ref to call it. Meksen damn sure proved that she deserved to get her strap back and some respeck on her name.
Oh, and she made sure to send a clear message to any fighters who may want next in her post-fight interview. Meksen said, “All I have to say is that anyone who wants to come after me, I’m going to kill them!”
#2 Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Retains the Strap against Josh Jauncey
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong is GLORY’s lightweight champ with 122 wins under his belt, 32 of them being from knockouts. Yes, you read those numbers correctly.
Sitthichai was the fan favorite and has been on a washing spree since GLORY 25.
“The Killer Kid” and Jauncey brawled back in the day at GLORY 22 in 2015, with Sitthichai getting the W via unanimous decision. In their bout at GLORY 61, Sitthichai dominated Jauncey with combinations of punches, kicks, and flying knees.
Jauncey answered with a lot of low kicks but ultimately fell to Sitthichai’s dominant defense, fueled by his boxing power with a unanimous decision from the judges for the Thai fighter.
#3 Asa Ten Pow Hits Niko Tsigaras with everything but the Kitchen Sink
GLORY’s Superfight Series is never one to miss and the match-up against Ten Pow and Niko Tsigaras damn sure proved why.
In what was the perfect example of a “don’t blink” fight, the two started off exchanging “the hands” early as they traded quick strikes and body shots early in the first round.
Ten Pow hit a flying knee, spinning-back kick, and a jumping switch kick. Plus, the heavy punches in the close-distance fight earned him the unanimous decision and his 12th career win.
#4 Charles Rodriguez Brings Backstreet Back in an Epic Walkout
Charles “The Rockstar” Rodriguez is known for being the life of the party. Homie sported American flag speedos and stunna shades to the weigh-ins where he and his knockout artist opponent, Malik Watson-Smith had a pose off.
When Rodriguez came out to “I Want it That Way” by The Backstreet Boys, you already knew it was party time. The walkout got a crazy pop and hella laughs from the crowd.
Rodriguez and Watson-Smith matched up nicely, with Rodriguez putting pressure in much of the first round.
The bout was called early when doctors deemed Watson-Smith’s eye not fit to see out of after an accidental headbutt by Rodriguez.
The fighters demanded to keep the fight going, but the fight was held to two rounds, with Rodriguez winning by technical decision.
In a beautiful example of professionalism, athleticism, and brotherhood, Watson-Smith and Rodriguez dapped it up after the bout and embraced in the emotion-filled moment. They both showed that at the end of the day, it’s all love and respect for fellow fighters.
#5 Nate Richardson Bodies Justin Greskiewicz in Round 1
Prelims aren’t anything to sleep on, especially at a GLORY fight. Nate Richardson and Justin Greskiewicz squared up for the headline bout on the preliminary card in a battle of the vets.
Richardson, who is known for his stamina, landed multiple jabs out the gate, putting pressure on Greskiewicz with a left hook that rocked him early in the round.
Richardson dominated the round, landing a body shot followed by a combination of punches and knees to Greskiewicz in the corner of the ring that led him to win the bout with 28 seconds to spare in the first round.
Homie was hands, case closed.
Peep the rest of the flicks from Glory 61 below
