GLORY 59 Recap: Rico Dominates Guto

Rico Verhoeven makes another successful defense of the GLORY Heavyweight Title, scoring a unanimous decision over Guto Inocente in the main event of GLORY 59 Amsterdam.

In the opening round, Verhoeven got in close right away, trying to limit what Inocente could do with his kicks and eliminate the challenger’s reach. Verhoeven focused his attack on leg kicks, trying to slow Inocente down. Verhoeven continued to focus on Inocente’s legs in the second, and the challenger did not check the kicks, and it became evident the pressure Verhoeven applied slowed Inocente down.

Through three rounds, Verhoeven made Inocente ate nearly 100 strikes, and Inocente looked exhausted before the start of championship rounds. Early in the fourth, Inocente executed an illegal judo sweep, and he was warned by the referee another illegal action would result in a point deduction. Verhoeven switched things up in the round, mixing in his boxing and landing head kicks and knees, opening up Inocnente.

More dominant work from the king! One more round to go. #GLORY59 pic.twitter.com/fRc09PLdDG

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 29, 2018

Inocente just had nothing left to give in the fifth, and Verhoeven landed a total of about 80 more strikes over Inocente throughout the fight. Combined with the constant forward pressure, and Verhoeven swept the judges’ scorecards to retain the title.

#ANDSTILL! @RicoVerhoeven defends his heavyweight crown for the EIGHTH TIME! #GLORY59 pic.twitter.com/uEcm5eTqL3

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 29, 2018

In the co-main event, Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao went from interim GLORY featherweight champion to undisputed champion, as he took every round on every card in his fight with Robin van Roosmalen. Only Kiatmookao was able to win the undisputed title, as Roosmalen missed weight for the bout.

Kiatmookao outstruck van Roosmalen in the opening round, especially when it came to kicks, though van Roosmalen typically starts slow and loses the first rounds of his bouts. While Roosmalen was more active in the second round, Kiatmookao was still out-landing him, sweeping the judges in the second round as well.

Through the third round, Kiatmookao had landed 85 more strikes than van Roosmalen. The Thai fighter continued to focus on landing kicks on Roosmalen’s legs and body. Roosmalen, meanwhile, focused on his punches while still struggling to get the timing down on counterpunches. With all the judges giving the third round to Kiatmookao, it meant Roosmalen needed a knockdown in the championship rounds.

Kiatmookao continued to work his distance and outland yet again in the fourth before dominating the final round as well, sweeping the judges’ scorecards in every round and claiming the title.

GLORY 59 Amsterdam Main Card Results:
GLORY Heavyweight Championship (c.) Rico Verhoeven def. Guto Inocente via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
GLORY Featherweight Championship Title Unification Bout: (ic) Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao def. (c.) Robin van Roosmalen via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Heavyweight: Jamal Ben Saddik def. D’Angelo Marshall via TKO (three-knockdown rule) (Rd. 1, 0:57)
Lightweight: Tyjani Beztati def. Christian Baya via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

GLORY 59 SuperFight Series Results:
Welterweight: Murthel Groenhart def. Mohammed Jaraya via TKO (Rd. 2, 1:05)
Welterweight: Alim Nabiyev def. Eyevan Danenberg via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Light Heavyweight: Michael Duut def. Mourad Bouzidi via KO (Rd. 3, 2:56)
Heavyweight: Roel Mannaart def. Daniel Skvor via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Featherweight: Aleksei Ulianov def. Zakaria Zouggary via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27, 30-26, 30-26)

GLORY 59 Prelims Results:
Lightweight: Stoyan Koprivlenski def. Anil Cabri via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight: Donovan Wisse def. Kevin van Heeckeren via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
Welterweight: Miles Simson def. Kevin Hessling via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:54)
Catchweight (72.5 kg): Robbie Hageman def. Brahim Kallah via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-25, 30-25, 30-25)