| New York, NY – Building upon the success of GLORY 25 Milan, the world’s premier kickboxing league will once again be carried on ESPN networks for its second straight show in as many months. On Friday, Dec. 4, RAI Amsterdam hosts GLORY 26, the promotion’s historic year-end show and first card ever in Holland, featuring two explosive world title fights and a one-night, four-man Featherweight Contender Tournament. The wall-to-wall action kicks off live on ESPN3, Friday Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST with a replay on ESPN2 in primetime on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST.
For the first time ever, GLORY programming will also air on ESPN Deportes for Spanish-language viewers, beginning with a replay of GLORY 26 Amsterdam on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. PST.
“[GLORY 25] Milan was one of our best shows ever and GLORY fans really appreciated being able to watch it live in our first go-round with ESPN3,” said GLORY CEO Jon Franklin. “We worked hard to make that happen again for [GLORY 26] Amsterdam, so this blockbuster card is delivered live on ESPN3 on fight night, followed by a primetime re-air on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes two nights later.”
“With two Dutch superstars putting their belts on the line in front of a sold-out arena, we’re looking to close out the year in a big way and we’re excited about the prospect of continuing serious momentum into 2016 with our great partners around the world.”
In the headline bout of GLORY 26 Amsterdam, the first of two world titles is on the line as GLORY Welterweight World Champion Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (87-11, 46 KO) defends his belt against Dutch-Surinamese striker Murthel “The Predator” Groenhart (58-18-3, 33 KO).
Representing a rematch long in the making, the two were originally scheduled to do battle for the second time at GLORY 19 Virginia in February, before an injury sidelined Groenhart. Instead, “The Predator” defeated Nicola Gallo and Karim Ghajji earlier this month during the one-night, four-man Welterweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 25 Milan, securing his opportunity to avenge the 2010 loss to Holzken and capture GLORY gold.
The co-headline bout features another title holder who calls the Netherlands home in GLORY Heavyweight World Champion and Dutch native Rico “The Prince of Kickboxing” Verhoeven (46-10, 11 KO), taking on powerful Romanian Benjamin “Mister Gentleman” Adegbuyi (22-3, 14 KOs).
No. 1 ranked Adegbuyi, who faced Verhoeven at GLORY 22 Lille in June, earned the rematch by defeating Mladen Brestovac and Jahfarr Wilnis in an exciting one-night, four-man Heavyweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 24 Denver in October. |
