Glory returned to action for the first time in nearly five months. Glory 18: Return to Glory took place last night at the Grand Casino Hotel & Resort in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The night's main event featured a lightweight title fight between champion Davit Kiria and challenger Robin van Roosmalen. Kiria won the title with a come from behind knockout victory over Andy Risite earlier this year. The pair had fought twice already with van Roosmalen having won their two previous encounters by unanimous decision.
The first two rounds were a close as both fighters were trading strikes. In the third round Kiria scored with a big 1-2 combination that dropped van Roosmalen, after he was able to beat the count Kiria was all over van Roosmalen trying to finish the fight. Despite Kiria's efforts van Roosmalen was able to survive and make it to the championship rounds. The fourth round was tight as it didn't seem either fighter did enough to edge the other. In the final round van Roosmalen was more active and landing nice combinations that likely gave him the round. When it was over the bout was ruled a majority decision in favor of van Roosmalen making him the new Glory lightweight champion.
Saulo Cavalari and Zack Mwekassa met in the finals of the Glory light heavyweight contenders tournament. Cavalari out pointed Danyo Ilunga to earn a decision victory and his ticket to the tournament final, while Mwekassa scored a crushing knockout of Brian Collette to secure his spot in the finals.
Mwekassa started off strong in the tournament final throwing heavy punches and keeping Cavalari on the defensive. As the fight wore on, however, Cavalari began to open up more as Mwekassa started to slow down. In the third round Cavalari fainted a low kick and went up high knocking Mwekassa down to the canvas. Despite his efforts to get up Mwekassa could not recover and Cavalari won the contenders tournament.
In other action on the night Jason Wilnis stunned most by out striking Wayne Barrett to win a unanimous decision and Rob Thomas scored a knockout over Mike Lemaire to end his two fight losing streak.
Results:
Main Card
Robin van Roosmalen def. Davit Kiria via Majority Decision
Jason Wilnis def. Wayne Barrett via Unanimous Decision
Glory Light Heavyweight Contenders Tournament Final
Saulo Cavalari def. Zack Mwekassa via KO (Head Kick) at 0:20 of Rd. 3
Glory Light Heavyweight Contenders Tournament Semi-finals
Zack Mwekassa def. Brian Collette via KO at 0:45 of Rd. 2
Saulo Cavalari def. Danyo Ilunga via Unanimous Decision
Super Fight Series
Benjamin Adegbuyi def. Hesdy Gerges via Unanimous Decision
Randy Blake def. Warren Thompson via Unanimous Decision
Rob Thomas def. Mike Lemaire via KO at 1:06 of Rd. 3
Josh Jauncey def. Jae-Gil Noh via KO at 1:14 of Rd. 2
Omari Boyd def. Ian Alexander via (T)KO at 2:17 of Rd. 3
