RICO VERHOEVEN WINS THE GLORY HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIXOne of the most prestigious tournaments in combat sports returned with huge bang on Saturday night, March 9, with almost 20,000 fans in attendance at the electric GelreDome football stadium in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

The 2024 GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix recaptured the magic of the past as eight of the best heavyweights on the planet competed in a thrilling one-night tournament filled with emotions from start to finish.

Rico Verhoeven (64-10, 21 KO) was the winner of the night as he defeated France’s Sofian Laïdouni (35-3-1, 17 KO) in the quarterfinals, dispatched of popular Moroccan Nabil Khachab (27-5-1, 4 KO) in the semis before finishing a valiant Levi Rigters (17-2, 8 KO) in the final. But it wasn’t without drama as Rigters knocked Verhoeven down with an incredible spinning backfist.

However, the champ showed just why he is the ‘King of Kickboxing’ as he won by TKO right at the end of the second round to truly cement his legacy among the heavyweight kickboxing greats of yesteryear.

In addition to the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix, Tarik Khbabez (50-10-1, 28 KO) became the undisputed GLORY light heavyweight champion with an incredible split decision victory over heated rival Donegi Abena (27-10, 7 KO) and Tyjani Beztati (26-4, 9 KO) registered his fifth title defense as he retained his GLORY lightweight championship with a decision victory over Germany’s Enriko Kehl (52-15-2, 30 KO).

GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix Results

Main Event

Heavyweight Grand Prix Final

Rico Verhoeven (64-10, 21 KO) def. Levi Rigters (17-2, 8 KO) via TKO, round 2, 2:59.

Co-Main Event

GLORY Light Heavyweight Title

Tarik Khbabez (50-10-1, 28 KO) def. Donegi Abena (27-10, 7 KO) via split decision (48-47 x 3, 47-48).

Middleweight

Iliass Hammouche (34-6, 7 KO) def. Ivan Galaz (58-11-1, 15 KO) via unanimous decision (29-28 x 5).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Semi Final 2

Rico Verhoeven (63-10, 20 KO) def. Nabil Khachab (27-5-1, 4 KO) via unanimous decision (30-26 x 5).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Semi Final 1

Levi Rigters (17-1, 8 KO) def. Bahram Rajabzadeh (66-2, 58 KO) unanimous decision (28-27 x 5).

GLORY Lightweight Title

Tyjani Beztati (26-4, 9 KO) def. Enriko Kehl (52-15-2, 30 KO) via unanimous decision (50-44 x 4, 50-45).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Quarter Final 4

Rico Verhoeven (62-10, 20 KO) def. Sofian Laïdouni (35-3-1, 17 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 5).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Quarter Final 3

Nabil Khachab (27-4-1, 4 KO KO) vs. Benjamin Adegbuyi (35-8, 20 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 4, 29-28).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Quarter Final 2

Bahram Rajabzadeh (66-1, 58 KO) def. Tariq Osaro (25-4-1, 13 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27 x 3, 30-28, 29-28).

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Quarter Final 1

Levi Rigters (16-1, 8 KO) def. Uku Jürjendal (20-9, 16 KO) via KO, round 2, 1:48.

Heavyweight Grand Prix

Reserve Bout

Cihad Kepenk (23-6, 16 KO) def. Michał Bławdziewicz (11-8-1, 5 KO) via TKO, round 2, 2:55.

How the draw worked, the four lower seeded fighters selected which quarter-final they wanted to compete in while the four top seeded fighters then selected which fighter to face in the opening round. As a result, the 'King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven (61-10, 20 KO) opted to fight France’s Sofian Laïdouni (35-2-1, 17 KO) in the fourth quarter-final of night.

Former interim-heavyweight champion Tariq ‘Cookie’ Osaro (25-3-1, 13 KO) will meet the dangerous Bahram Rajabzadeh (65-1, 58 KO) in a potentially wild & explosive affair, training partners Nordine Mahieddine (28-15, 13 KO) & Nabil Khachab (26-4-1, 4 KO) must put their friendship aside when they clash, and rising Dutch star Levi Rigters (15-1, 7 KO) collides with power puncher Uku Jürjendal (20-8, 16 KO) in the opening fight of the tournament.

March 9 will also feature two GLORY title fights as Donegi Abena (27-9, 7 KO) and Tarik Khbabez (49-10-1, 28 KO) meet to decide who is the undisputed king of the GLORY light heavyweight division and lightweight champion Tyjani Beztati (25-4, 9 KO) puts his title on the line against top German Enriko Kehl (52-15-2, 30 KO).

HEAVYWEIGHT GRAND PRIX DRAW PRESENTED BY UNIBETThe eight entrants for the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix are:

· Rico Verhoeven (61-10, 20 KO), the Netherlands.

· Levi Rigters (15-1, 7 KO), the Netherlands.

· Tariq ‘Cookie’ Osaro (25-3-1, 13 KO), Nigeria.

· Nordine Mahieddine (28-15, 13 KO), Algeria.

· Sofian Laïdouni (35-2-1, 17 KO), France.

· Uku Jürjendal (20-8, 16 KO), Estonia.

· Bahram Rajabzadeh (65-1, 58 KO), Azerbaijan.

· Nabil Khachab (25-18, 13 KO), Morocco.