GLORY has announced a new headlining bout for GLORY 34, which takes place on Fri., Oct. 21, 2016 inside 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colorado.
Current GLORY welterweight champion, Nieky Holzken (89-11) will defend his title against No. 2-ranked contender, Murthel Groenhart (60-20-3) in a trilogy fight. The promotion announced the news in a press release on Wednesday (Sept. 28, 2016).
This will be the second time the two welterweights have faced off in the GLORY ring. Holzken defeated Groenhart by split decision back at GLORY 26 last December in Amsterdam.
Since that showdown, Holzken defeated Yoann Kongolo at GLORY 29 to defend his title for a second consecutive time. Meanwhile, Groenhart has gone 2-1, losing a decision to Cedric Doumbe at GLORY 28 before defeating both Karim Benmansour and Kongolo at GLORY 31 to win the welterweight “Contender” tournament.
The featherweight title fight between champion Gabriel Varga and Robin van Roosmalen — which was originally slated to headline GLORY 34 — will not headline the GLORY 34 Superfight Series.
The co-main event will feature light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby against an opponent to be named later.
The one-night, four-man contender tournament will take place in the middleweight division. In the semifinal matchups, Alex Pereira (20-4) faces GLORY newcomer, Yousmi Belgaroui, and Israel Adesanya (63-3) takes on Robert Thomas (8-4).
Also of note on the GLORY 34 Superfight Series card, Richard Abraham (10-3) and Casey Greene (5-6), who were originally supposed to face each other in a welterweight bout, will now face new opponents. Abraham now square off with Michael Mathatha and Greene takes on Thongchai Sitsongpeenong
GLORY 34 Denver airs live on ESPN3 at midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 21, with a replay broadcast on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sunday, Oct. 23.
GLORY 34 SuperFight Series streams lives on UFC Fight Pass at 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT on Friday, Oct. 21.
The announced fights for GLORY 34 and GLORY 34 Superfight Series can be viewed below:
GLORY 34
Welterweight World Title Headline Bout: Nieky Holzken (c) vs. Murthel Groenhart
Middleweight Tournament Final Bout: Winner of Bout A vs. Winner of Bout B
Middleweight Co-Headline Bout: Dustin Jacoby vs. TBA
Middleweight Tournament Semifinal Bout B: Israel Adesanya vs. Robert Thomas
Middleweight Tournament Semifinal Bout A: Yousri Belgaroui vs. Alex Pereira
GLORY 34 SuperFight Series
Featherweight World Title Bout: Gabriel Varga (c) vs. Robin Van Roosmalen
Light Heavyweight Bout: Saulo Cavalari vs. Brian Douwes
Welterweight Bout: Richard Abraham vs. Michael Mathatha
Welterweight Bout: Casey Greene vs. Tongchai Sitsongpeenong
Featherweight Bout: Justin Houghton vs. Jonathon Wyderko