'The King of Kickboxing' Rico Verhoeven returns to defend his title reign over the Heavyweight division of 10 years tomorrow against Tariq Osaro. In the GelreDome in Arnhem, the Netherlands he will face Tariq Osaro in a long awaited title unification bout. 'Cookie' as the big Dutch born Nigerian is called, took the interim belt in June this year by knocking out his training partner and the number one contender Antonio Plazibat deep into the championship rounds. Osaro is coming into the ring tomorrow at a staggering 127 KG (280 lbs) and 4 consecutive KO victories to his name. The only other fighter that is actively holding a similar KO streak is Moroccan superstar Hamicha who’s also fighting tomorrow.
In the co-main event Donegi Abena was supposed to take on Tarik Khbabez. A clash between two bitter rivals that will have to wait for a later date, after Khbabez broke his hand during his last sparring. After multiple names passed the corridors, the young Moroccan Mohamed Touchassie took on the challenge. Recently making his debut at Middleweight, the former Enfusion Welterweight champion is stepping up yet another weight class. Coming in well under the weight limit of 95 KG (210 lbs) at 90.7 KG (200 lbs) it will be interesting to see how he will keep himself with a natural Light Heavyweight like Abena.
Middleweight champion Donovan Wisse and challenger Michael Boapeah both made weight. Boapeah, who's coming in as a massive underdog, promised the Surinamese champion he will be bringing the fight to him. Tension rose when Jay Overmeer collided with Chico Kwasi during the face-offs. The rematch between the two Dutch welterweights has gotten quite some attention as Chico, who got on the losing side in the first, called out his rival to settle the score as soon as he signed with GLORY.
Ahmad Chikh-Mousa missed weight by 1.4 KG (3 lbs). This was the third time in only his fifth fight in GLORY that the German of Kurdish descent did not make the 65 KG (143 lbs) Featherweight limit. When asked if Chikh-Mousa perhaps should go to Lightweight, his coach Nick Hemmers said "No he should be able to make the weight without any problems. Last week he was sick and that messed up his weight cut". The fight with Mexican Abraham Vidales has been changed to a catchweight fight.
The weigh-ins began with the worrying news about House of Glory fighter Soufian Abdelkhalek, who was supposed to fight in the prelims. The young Welterweight prospect has found himself in a car crash right before the weigh-ins. According to GLORY officials he's doing well but is not cleared to fight tomorrow. Last minute replacement Petros Freitas takes his spot against Figuereido Landman.
COLLISION 6 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
MAIN EVENT
(C) Rico Verhoeven (122.4 KG) vs. (IC) Tariq Osaro (127.2 KG) – GLORY Heavyweight Championship
(C) Donegi Abena (95 KG) vs. Mohamed Touchassie (90.7 KG) – GLORY Light Heavyweight Championship
(C) Donovan Wisse (84.9 KG) vs. Michael Boapeah (84.2 KG) – GLORY Middleweight Championship
Hamicha (76.9 KG) vs. Diaguely Camara (76.8 KG) – Welterweight
Serkan Ozcaglayan (83.8 KG) vs. Ulric Bokeme (84.9 KG) – Middleweight
Jay Overmeer (77 KG) vs. Chico Kwasi (76.7 KG) – Welterweight
Ibrahim El Bouni (94.2 KG) vs. Stefan Latescu (94.1 KG) – Light Heavyweight
Abraham Vidales (64.8 KG) vs. Ahmad Chikh Mousa (66.6 KG) – Catchweight
PRELIMINARY CARD
Don Sno (76.8 KG) vs. Gino Van Steenis (76.8 KG) – Welterweight
Robin Ciric (77 KG) vs. Ismael Ouzgni (76.8 KG) – Welterweight
