Arkadiusz Wrzosek Shocks Badr Hari in Glory 78 Main Event

THE GREATEST COMEBACK OF ALL-TIME! @arekwrzosek throws a Hail Mary and KNOCKS OUT Badr Hari! pic.twitter.com/kXkxPIizt0

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 4, 2021

Glory 78 marked the promotion’s return to action and every fight on the card delivered, including an all-time stunner in the headline fight.

The heavyweight main event between Badr Hari and Arkadiusz Wrzosek was insanity. Hari made his return to the ring and looked to put his name in the sweepstakes after a couple of crushing losses to Rico Verhoeven and Benjamin Adegbuyi. Hari opened up patient and landed some good shots to the body. Eventually. Wrzosek fell to the body shots not once, but twice in the first. He survived the round and in the second, Wrzosek was knocked down again. As Badr Hari was hunting the finish, Wrzosek throws a Hail Mary that catches Hari perfectly with a left high kick. Hari goes to the mat bloody and cannot beat the ten count. Wrzosek jumped in his corner knowing he had managed to pull off one of the biggest upsets in kickboxing history.

In the co-main event, Alex Pereira stepped in the ring for the last time in kickboxing, possibly for the last time. He rematched Artem Vakhitov and the two went to war. After a first half domination Pereira let Vakhitov back into the fight. After a point deduction, Pereira brought the fight even more but it wasn’t enough as Vakhitov kept steady and never let his guard down, literally. He took back the belt as Pereira announced his move to MMA.

Morocco’s Tank Khbabez took on Antonio Plazibat in a heavyweight main card bout. After pushing an insane pace in round one, Khbabez faded and Plazibat took over in round two. After a huge knockdown with hooks, Plazibat managed to put away Khbabez with a straight that sent Tank to the canvas, unable to get up.

Levi Rigters SLAMMED low-kicks on his way to an easy TKO-victory! #GLORY78

Watch the action on https://t.co/5k5ikTWrgj pic.twitter.com/ZHcas8W3oR

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 4, 2021

In other heavyweight action, Levi Rigters put on an absolute clinic against Tomas Mozny. With a leg kick-heavy attack, Rigters scored four knockdowns off of the accumulated damage. Eventually, the ref had seen enough and Rigters got the TKO in round three.

Luis Tavares took on Felipe Micheletti in a light heavyweight rematch. This time, it was a short notice fight. Tavares kept pressuring for the entire fight and despite some odd judging, Tavares took the win from Micheletti and will likely fight for the title next.

Heavyweight contender Nordine Mahieddine welcomed Raul Catinas back to action for the first time since 2016. Catinas struggled to land cleanly on the slick Mahieddine, who found his combinations all night. In the end, Catinas could not get it done as Mahieddine took the decision.

HAMICHA OH MY GOODNESS!

He makes a statement to the welterweight division at #GLORY78, streaming now on PPV at https://t.co/5k5ikTWrgj pic.twitter.com/0LiCVGEzpd

— GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) September 4, 2021

Glory No. 1 welterweight contender Hamicha came back with another exciting bout. He rematched with Mohamed Mezouari and in an exciting fight, Hamicha got the win. With a gigantic left hook to the body, Mezouari was sent to the mat unable to continue. Now, eyes turn to a potential matchup with Hamicha taking on Cedric Dombue for the belt.



In the Superfight Series, middleweight Donovan Wisse replicated a 2019 win over Yousri Belgaroui. This time, the belt was on the line and Wisse did not need the judges as he caught Belgaroui with a knee and cut him open, leading the doctor to call off the fight and capturing the middleweight belt for Wisse.

Fighting for the vacant lightweight Superfight championship, Tyjani Beztati outclassed Elvis Gashi all night. After challenging for the belt twice already, Beztati used his range and footwork all night to finally become a Glory champion.

Itay Gershon and Guerric Billet went to war in a very fun lightweight fight. Gershon and Billet went back and forth for the entire fight, ending in a split draw.

Opening the card was a fantastic lightweight bout between Mohamed Hendouf and Manuel Robson Minoto. The fight was back and forth with tons of action with both fighters getting a knockdown a piece. Ultimately, Hendouf landed a left hook to the body for the TKO win.