Kirill Kornilov (7-1) makes his GLORY debut, joining Dutch-Surinamese striker Ismael "Mr. Pain" Londt (36-6-1, 18 KO), 29-year-old Brazilian veteran
Jahfarr Wilnis (29-6-1, 8 KO)
'Mr Pain' Ismael Londt (36-6-1, 18 KO's) will make his long-awaited GLORY debut next Saturday when he enters the four-man Heavyweight Contender Tournament which forms the centerpiece of the GLORY 29 COPENHAGEN card.
He faces Anderson 'Braddock' Silva (39-13-1, 24 KO's) in the semi-finals, a tough debut against one of GLORY's most established and experienced veterans. Silva debuted at GLORY 2 BRUSSELS with a narrow decision loss to Remy Bonjasky and has been continually on the edge of the contender picture.
“I think Braddock is a good fighter. He's fast. I like his style and think it is a good challenge for me. I always knew that our paths would cross one day, so I feel like this was meant to be,” says Londt.
As for the other semi-final, Jahfar Wilnis (29-6-1, 8 KO's) against Kirill Kornilov (7-1), “I think it's going to be a hard fight with explosive action from both fighters. I can't tell what will happen in that fight. To be honest my focus is really only on Braddock. I am taking things step by step.”
Londt takes the same approach when the question of heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven comes up. He owns a decision win over Verhoeven from 2009; it was long before Verhoeven evolved into his current world-beating form and Londt doesn't read a lot into it.
“Rico Verhoeven is a great fighter. He's a prime example to a lot of fighters, even me. He's always fit and well trained,” he says.
“He is a well-deserved champion. It doesn't matter what people say, that he doesn't KO enough opponents. He wins his fights and it doesn't matter how. I think people should respect that more.”
That said, Londt also thinks that his arrival in the division will shake things up at the upper end.
“I think you have some strong dangerous fighters in the heavyweight division. There are still some missing but I think you have some dangerous fighters there. I know I am a threat to the top fighters. And they know; no matter what they say, in their mind, they know.”
Rotterdam, Netherlands man Londt, 30, has been on the GLORY radar for some time thanks to being the 2012 K-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix runner-up and 2012 SuperKombat heavyweight champion, but is only now getting his chance.
A basketball player in his youth, Londt came across kickboxing by chance when a friend dared him to go training with him one day. The 18-year-old Londt was soon hooked into the sport. He cites Ernesto Hoost, Ramon Dekkers, Ivan Hippolyte and Rob Kaman as early influences on his aggressive style.
“GLORY is the biggest stage in the world of kickboxing right now. I belong there and now I got the chance. But I don't want to think further than that. First step is 'Braddock' and then we will see,” he says.
GLORY 29 COPENHAGEN is headlined by Nieky 'The Natural' Holzken defending the World Welterweight Championship against #4-ranked Yoann Kongolo of Switzerland. It's a clash Londt is looking forward to watching from ringside.
“Nieky is a friend and a good fighter. He's an excellent boxer and is doing very well. But Kongolo really surprised me against Groenhart with his explosive actions. So Nieky is facing a hungry and greedy lion. I'm excited about this one, I think it will be a great fight,” he says.
GLORY 29 COPENHAGEN takes place Saturday April 16 at at the Forum Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark.
GLORY 29 Copenhagen airs live on ESPN3, Saturday, April 16 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, with a replay in primetime that evening on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
For Spanish-language viewers, the event will also air on ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Saturday, April 30.
GLORY 29 SuperFight Series airs live on UFC FIGHT P
