Photo by KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Glory Kickboxing’s big Collision 2 event went down Saturday night from the sold out GelreDome in the Netherlands, propelled by a grudge rematch between champ Rico Verhoeven and controversial star Badr Hari. Their first fight went down three years ago with Hari losing due to a freak arm injury, and history repeated itself with Hari once again going down in strange fashion, injuring his heel on a spinning kick 59 seconds into round 3.
It was a wild back and forth fight that we encourage you to check out in full. But for now here’s some highlights courtesy of UFC Fight Pass:
Three years in the making… #GLORY #UnfinishedBusiness@GLORY_WS #Collision2: @RicoVerhoeven vs Badr Hari
LIVE NOW https://t.co/k9iFF0FBef pic.twitter.com/MwEJkblLT4
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 21, 2019
Round 1 saw Badr drop Verhoeven, the first time the Glory champ has ever suffered a knockdown.
Badr comes out firing!! #GLORY #Collision2 #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/hqyFiGfKAf
— UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) December 21, 2019
A second knockdown via headkick in round 3 seemed to have Badr close to victory…
Même à 35 ans Badr Hari à toujours le meilleur kick des super poids lourds pic.twitter.com/wLTtKnORvP
— jawed (@jawed91111) December 21, 2019
…but then a blocked spinning attack injured Hari’s ankle, leaving him cursing on the canvas as the ref waved off the fight.
Badr Hari hurt his ankle somehow during this kick and he’s balling on the canvas. He’s obviously pissed this happened during this huge fight. #Collision2 pic.twitter.com/vIzdL7r4LU
— ShayMyName (@ImShannonTho) December 21, 2019
There’s definitely going to be a third rematch, and hopefully sooner rather than later. Let’s just hope injuries, drug suspensions, and jail don’t get in the way.
True professionals! #badrvsrico #badrhari #ricoverhoeven #ricovsbadr pic.twitter.com/MmhstxUtkH
— DON (@don_atw) December 21, 2019