GLORY 28 PARIS goes down this Saturday and features a Lightweight Contender Tournament as its centerpiece. The winner of the tournament will earn a shot at the World Lightweight Championship, currently held by Robin van Roosmalen.
Thai standout Sittichai Sitsongpeenong has already faced Van Roosmalen once, after winning the GLORY 22 FRANCE Contender Tournament last year. He feels like he was robbed by the judges in his GLORY 25 MILAN fight with Van Roosmalen and he wants to settle the score.
He is facing off with former GLORY lightweight champion Davit Kiria in the first semi-fina; while the second features current K-1 MAX champion facing off with rising Russian prospect Anatoly Moiseev, a late switch who replaces local wild card entry Djime Coulibaly, injured on Wednesday in what was his final training session of the week.
"I was really surprised, I felt like I won every round so I didn't understand the decision. Well, I think you could give Robin the third round maybe, if you're being really generous, or call it a draw, but honestly I though I won every round. It wasn't even close... he didn't hurt me with anything. I hardly got hit," Sittichai says of his fight with Van Roosmalen.
"The proper thing would be to have an immediate rematch with Roosmalen without having to go through another tournament. But it doesn't matter to me. Whatever they want to do, I will fight.”
Sittichai and Kiria met once before, in the semi-finals of the GLORY 22 FRANCE Lightweight Contender Tournament in June last year. The fight ended when Sittichai stopped him with a knee in the second round, becoming the first fighter to stop Kiria under kickboxing rules.
"I am confident and I want to thank my team for making my preparation so comfortable. I had great sparring, which is really important, and I am ready for the win. We focused mainly on fighting against the Thai style and then also some work on fighting a tournament, two times in one night. I brought in new coaches for physical condition and diet," says Kiria.
"There was no problem [in the first fight], only a mistake. Sometimes you can only make one mistake in a fight. I think I missed one kick and then it went wrong. I don't like to talk about it but I can say that it was a big learning experience. But I have a second chance now to fight him and I want to thank my management for this."
Sittichai isn't convinced.
"I was surprised that I was able to knock him out so easily, actually. I am confident I will win this rematch but I cannot guarantee another knockout, it depends on timing. But if I can find the opportunity then I will knock him out," he says.
The young Thai holds wins over both Kiria and Grigorian, the latter by decision. "Marat is harder to fight because he is bigger, stronger and unorthodox. Kiria is smaller and less predictable, so he is easier to handle," he explains.
Grigorian is unmoved by his change of opponent. "Moiseev is a good fighter but I don't care," he says. "I don't mind at all. When Adamchuk came in [at GLORY 22] it was just too late, too short notice, it occupied my mind too much and I couldn't get into the right focus for the fight, it threw me off. This time I have enough time to get my mind right," he says.
Moiseev goes into this fight as both the underdog and the only undefeated entrant, at 16-0. His GLORY appearances – two thus far – have been characterized by concussive kicks and punches which have earned him a solid following already. On Saturday he is looking to translate that into a title shot.
"It's good to get into the tournament," he says. "I will take advantage of the opportunity. Actually I think that Sittichai has a better chance in the other semi-final, he can control the distance against Kiria and have the fight where he wants it. But I think Marat is the toughest guy in the tournament. He is experienced and unorthodox. But I am very confident. You will see."
GLORY 28 PARIS airs in the US on ESPN 3 at 4PM ET; the Superfight Series card airs live and exclusive on UFC FIGHT PASS at 1pm ET
