Prior to last Friday's GLORY 38 CHICAGO event, Niclas Larsen had last been seen in the ring at GLORY 15 ISTANBUL, when he stopped Australia's Steve Moxon and looked set to go on a run in the lightweight division.
Instead, he soon afterwards found himself plunged into a nightmare of recurring virulent staph infections which moved from one leg to the other and back and at one point had doctors considering amputation.
His long, hard road to recovery took almost three years. He was told he would have to learn to walk again and to abandon all thought of returning to competition. But like the fighter he is, he refused to roll over, and at GLORY 38 he made a triumphant return.
âIt's just amazing to be back. It's been nearly three years since I fought for GLORY. I feel so happy right now and so grateful,â he said after his unanimous decision win over Poland's Lukasz Plawecki on the Superfight Series card.
âThere was a lot on the line for me this time. I had been injured and lost my good friend Jasper some months ago. He was also with me [in the ring], I know he was looking down on me. This was very special for me. I have been dreaming this so many years and got so close and now I am back on track.
âIt was good for me to get as much experience as I could, we went all three rounds, that was perfect. I am back now and I will fight very soon again, I'm on the road again!â
Larsen added that he would like to fight âfive times this yearâ and âbe on the top of the rankings or hopefully a title shot by the end of year or at the start of the new year, but I first want to prove that I am here for good and that I have so much more to show everybody.â
His next outing is already booked: he will take part in the GLORY 40 COPENHAGEN card taking place in his home city on Saturday, April 29. An opponent is yet to be determined but is expected to be announced soon.
âI am so ready for Copenhagen! Its my home ground and it is going to be so special for me,â he says. âWhen I go back to Denmark I will go back to the gym and prepare.â
