The biggest event in kickboxing history just got even bigger – with the announcement UFC star Alistair Overeem will serve as a special guest commentator for this Saturday’s epic GLORY: COLLISION super-card.
The GLORY: COLLISION main event sees the hotly anticipated clash between GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven and the most dangerous puncher in kickboxing - Badr Hari.
It is a dream fight fans feared would never happen – but it finally goes ahead as the headline attraction of a show which sold out the 12,500 seat Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany, over a month to go.
Overeem said: “It’s huge fight, a super-fight, and I was already going to attend the fight (as a fan) and was planning on being ringside. I wouldn’t miss this fight, and then GLORY asked me to do color commentating and I’m excited to do so.”
Overeem, 36, is the only fighter to win major world championships in both MMA and kickboxing, having held the defunct Strikeforce and K-1 Grand Prix titles before he entered the UFC. The English-born Dutchman also has history with Hari – having gone 1-1 versus the controversial Moroccan in two legendary kickboxing fights in 2008 and 2009.
You can watch the Hari vs Overeem rematch – for free – here.
Overeem added: “I’ve fought Hari twice, and I trained with him in 2013 years later, and I have trained with Rico. They are both great fighters, I know this first hand, and I have a lot of respect for them. I’m very excited by the fight finally happening. This is one of the greatest kickboxing fights of all time – don’t miss it!
“Badr Hari – I don’t want to say “legend” because Hari isn’t old, he’s in his prime – but he’s accomplished everything in kickboxing. And Rico is the new kid on the block who is looking to join people like Badr and Semmy Schilt as an all-time great.”
Pushed for a prediction, Overeem said: “Rico has not beaten quite the names that Hari has. Badr has beaten a who’s who of kickboxing, when he puts his mind to it he can accomplish anything he wants in that ring. His power is extreme – and he wants to knock Rico out. I can see that happening.”
“The Reem” will join Todd Grisham and "Bazooka" Joe Valtellini in the commentary booth, while Ron Kruck and Whitney Miller will serve as backstage reporters.
The GLORY: COLLISON Pay-Per-View event begins at 4pm/1pm ET/PT and is available for pre-order now.
Before the Pay-Per-View event, the GLORY: COLLISION Prelims will be available FOR FREE. The five-fight Prelims begin at 1:30pm/10:30am ET/PT and can be enjoyed by clicking here.