Kickboxing: Glory in conquest mode at the Dôme de Paris

Notice to connoisseurs but also to fans of great fights. These days, if you don't like the buzz and you remain a purist, it's not easy to find the event that will thrill you. Well, diaries can fill up for the few places left to attend Glory 91 in Paris next Saturday, April 27.

Glory is the memories of a youth carried by combat sports, modern-day gladiators and oppositions with legendary names such as Peter Aerts, Ray Sefo, Remy Bonjasky or even Ernesto Hoost, Mark Hunt... Semmy Schilt , Badr Hari and obviously our (inter)national star Jérôme Lebanner with a nod to other Frenchies who have passed through there... Notably Gregory Choplin or even Cédric Doumbé who will write part of his story there.

The organization, initially Golden Glory, founded in 2006 by Bas Boon and Martijn de Jong in Amsterdam has seen historic opposition in its European rings and well beyond. At a time when competition is accelerating and MMA is shaking up everything in its path, starting with an increasingly young audience educated in social networks, Glory is banking on high level, quality opposition and messages. very sporting for a fight which is never decided in advance.

A real show dedicated to fights with martial values ​​and the desire to fight in the ring, millions of supporters and spectators follow the athletes at each event. Warriors from another time and fights that no pretext would have stopped. Until the end and never giving up. It is this state of mind that is cultivated in the Glory family. And it is with athletes in warrior mode that the fightcard in Paris will delight spectators.

If the main fight will be played for a world belt between the title holder Endy Semeleer and Chico Kwasi, there are 8 French people on display including Sofian Laidouni and Kevin Oumar in the co main event. “French fighters have always had an important place in Glory. It is a Nation which is full of talent and which has a deep culture of combat sports” recalls the new CEO of the organization, a certain Marshall Zelaznik who knows what he is talking about, he whom we have so often encountered in the corridors of UFC Europe events for which he was responsible and which confirms his ambition with Glory: “We are going to invest massively in the French market to attract the best talents from the country which we know is full of talent”. The evening will be broadcast on DAZN, the reference fighting channel: “as the official broadcaster of Glory, DAZN has noted an unprecedented enthusiasm for the discipline in France. We are very happy to offer our subscribers the best of combat sports” tells us Brice Daumin, CEO France and Switzerland of DAZN.

The fightcard is therefore rich in oppositions with in particular the Ile-de-France Cyril Benzaquen who returns to the ring just a few weeks after the immense challenge which opposed him to Yohan Lidon last February.

An inveterate worker, generous and ambitious athlete, Cyril is an ambassador of fine boxing and a taste for effort. By integrating glory, he aims for the title. One more. But not just any one.

He who for so many years has cultivated a sense of entrepreneurship, particularly alongside his faithful friend Yacine Berrabah, himself a veteran, prepared as usual: leaving nothing to chance. In particular, he will have put on gloves with the KSW MMA champion, the Franco-Moroccan Salahdine Parnasse to refine his preparation and continue to write his story.

Morocco will also be worthily represented in Paris by 4 fighters including the fighter and citizen of the world, the Belgian-Moroccan Youssef Boughanem. The man who needs no introduction, the man with more than 240 fights has no motivation other than his passion. And it is huge. Contagious and bold. Inexhaustible inspiration from a life dedicated to combat and the search for oneself while serving others. Morocco, we will particularly think about it at the Paris Dôme since nine months ago, Badr Hari, main event, took the microphone in front of 4600 supporters to announce that he did not have the heart to fight after the earthquake which struck the Kingdom causing thousands of deaths and injuries. Package therefore.

A fraternal thought on April 27 and a desire to challenge himself again in the ring for Youssef who agrees to add an additional challenge to his long career. The athlete who made his first MMA fight on January 27, continues to train with his heart swinging between foot-fist and mixed martial arts. On Saturday evening, he will carry with him a timeless message: “put your whole heart into what you do. Believe in it and work. From there, sport becomes a wealth that cannot be bought and that can be shared.” This is the whole challenge of Glory and the champions who will face each other in the Parisian ring this Saturday: to transmit passion, determination and above all inspiration with a reality that we wish to keep and promote: "athletes are not influencers, they are builders” confidences of the one nicknamed “Terminator” in Thailand and who prepared with his team with his family before entering Parisian soil on Saturday evening, three months after his last KO inflicted in MMA.