GLORY 44: CHICAGO Groenhart vs Doumbé

steemsports (80)in #sports • 7 years ago (edited)

SteemSports Presenter:@brandonk

SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

Glory Offers Another Championship Rematch Between Two Welterweight Juggernauts!

Murthel "The Predator" Groenhart:

...is a fighter whom has been on an excellent tear! He is on a 3 fight win streak with 6 wins overall (with Glory), and it has only been slightly over 14 months with the organization. It is not only arguable, but blatant, that Murthel was robbed of the welterweight title against Nieky Holzken late last year. He made the prodigy in Holzken look amateur, and small. Murthel would be on a 7 fight win streak, with a perfect record in Glory if not for that mishap, he also would have taken the belt from Nieky and become the champion...not the challenger.

Murthel had fought his upcoming opponent early last year in a sloppy and wild brawl, neither man truly won but both have evolved immensely since then. Finishing top prospects in Thongchai Sitsongpeenong and H. Grigorian showed that 'The Predator' can handle all types of styles, from Dutch to Muay Thai stand up. Expect the evolution of this contender to be on full display for this exhibition, he will not let the judges rob him of another victory!

Cédric "DOUMCED" Doumbé:

...claims the current 170 pound crown for Glory, and in turn stakes the claim as the best welterweight kickboxer in North America. This Cameroonian born fighter is quite the specimen, he is a prodigy of sorts with only a little over 4 years in pure sport kickboxing. Also known as 'Le Meilleur' (The Best), Doumbé prides himself on his volume and accuracy. He is unafraid to engage at all ranges, and the judges love his tenacity and constant forward pressure.

Since October of 2015 this champion has accrued 17 wins out of 18 fights. His only loss was a product of corruption in opponent Fang Bian's backyard, in the fan's minds this man has been undefeated for nearly 2 years with an 18-0 record, he is a true marvel with the awkward style he possesses. This will be the 3rd defense within nearly 7 months for Cedric, his is also supremely confident facing a contender has beaten soundly before.

Breakdown and Prediction:

We can expect absolute chaos from this matchup! When energy lingers and rematches are granted, fighters know they must make a statement. Both men have improved leaps and bounds from the previous meeting, and both men are arguably undefeated since that time. There is some hilarity in the fact that Murthel was thought to have been robbed of a title by Holzken, and Holzken was thought to be robbed of a title by Doumbé; this notion adds to the fact that styles are everything in fighting.

Murthel and Cedric both have really incredible cardio, although Doumbé's attrition is somewhat inhuman. He can throw a multitude of strikes and absorb strikes quite well. He usually loses the initial rounds, and has found himself hurt and in trouble early, but he always rebounds and shows each time out that 'cardio is king'. I expect some things to stay the same this fight, Murthel most likely getting the better of the leg kicks, and Cedric getting the better of the body work. Both of these men know what to expect, so defense should be tightened and there may be no feeling out this time... The confidence in this pick is low, as statistically rematches (in kickboxing) usually go to the man whom had lost the first. Regardless...

Cédric Doumbé by Split Decision