(Cro Cop vs. Bonjasky highlights via Youtube user ElGunner Bosnia.)
In a weekend that had already featured relatively solid fight cards from both Bellator and the UFC, Glory kickboxing returned with Glory 14: Zagreb and arguably stole the show.
Don’t get us wrong, the main event “legends” fight between Mirko Cro Cop and Remy Bonjasky — who was fighting his final bout — was a thoroughly underwhelming affair. Cro Cop looked sluggish and uninterested throughout the three round scrap, and the closest Bonjasky ever came to showing flashes of his old “Flying Gentleman” self was when Cro Cop would occasionally send him toppling to the canvas via a push or an outright takedown attempt.
At this point, my decision to watch and/or cover Cro Cop’s never-ending trudge to true retirement is veering into masochistic territory. The PRIDE legend has looked “worn out” since at least 2009, and as is the case with many fighters of his status, I am repeatedly left wondering why he can’t simply hang up the gloves with his legacy somewhat intact already. But I’ll say it again: Retire, Mirko. Retire for good and stop breaking my heart.
But a subpar main event could do little to tarnish what was an incredibly strong night of fights on Glory’s part. The inaugural lightweight championship fight between Andy Ristie — who captured the tournament championship with stunning back-to-back KO’s of Giorgio Petrosyan and Robin Van Roosmalen at Glory 12 — and David Kiria, for instance, featured one of the most improbable come-from-behind victories of all time, so join us after the jump for a full video of Ristie-Kiria and the full list of Glory 14 results.
Filling in as a late replacement opponent for the injured Ky Hollenbeck, Kiria was outgunned from the start against Ristie and was nearly finished by a vicious knee in the second round. It was a rather one-sided affair, but Kiria would simply not go away. Midway through the fifth and final round, the Georgian’s right hand finally managed to find a home, wobbling Ristie and forcing a standing eight count. Although Ristie was clearly out on his feet following the first knockdown that came moments, the ref allowed him to try and survive the round.
Unfortunately for Ristie, the last minute of the fight might as well have been an eternity, as Kiria swarmed Risitie with power punches, dropping and finishing him via a left uppercut with just 38 seconds left in the round.
It was a ridiculous comeback victory to say the least, made all the more memorable in the moments afterward, during which Kiria broke down with joy at his improbable title win.
And in slightly less inspiring news, former UFC fighter turned improbable Road to Glory tournament winner Dustin Jacoby was steamrolled by Alex Pereira in two minutes. It was…tough to watch.
Full Glory 14 Results
Main card
Remy Bonjasky def. Mirko Cro Cop via majority decision
Alex Pereira def. Sahak Parparyan via majority decision (MW tourney final)
Davit Kiria def. Andy Ristie via fifth-round KO (2:22) (Lightweight championship)
Sahak Parparyan def. Jason Wilnis via split decision
Alex Pereira def. Dustin Jacoby via first-round KO (2:00)
Superfight series
Igor Jurkovic def. Michael Duut via first-round TKO (1:14)
Murthel Groenhart def. Teo Mikelic via first-round TKO (3:00)
Karapet Karapetyan def. Artur Kyshenko via unanimous decision
Mladen Brestovac def. Jahfarr Wilnis via first-round TKO (1:19)
Benjamin Adegbuyi def. Dmytro Bezus via second-round TKO (1:53)
Aikpracha Meenayothin def. Albert Kraus via split decision
Undercard
Tomas Hron def. Kirk Krouba via unanimous decision
Mladen Kujundzic def. Elmir Mehic via second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage, 3;00)
Samo Petje def. Lirim Ahmeti via second-round TKO