GLORY 85 took place from the electric Rotterdam Ahoy arena on Saturday evening, April 29, and it proved to be an evening for the new school of kickboxing.
Less than one year after making his GLORY debut, Tariq ‘Cookie’ Osaro (24-2-1, 12 KO) outlasted three other contestants to win the GLORY 85 Heavyweight Tournament. The 27-year-old finished veteran fighter Jahfarr Wilnis (33-13-1, 8 KO) in the semi-final before devastating Murat Aygün (33-3, 9 KO) in the final to have his hand raised.
This victory means he will now face Antonio Plazibat for the interim-GLORY Heavyweight Championship at GLORY Collision 5 on June 17 and he is the first to book his spot in the historic GLORY Grand Prix set for December this year.
In the co-main event, Endy Semeleer (34-1, 17 KO) solidified his spot as the king of the GLORY welterweight division and one of the best on the planet with an incredible shutout decision victory over the former champ Murthel Groenhart (69-26-3, 40 KO).
Elsewhere on the card, Mohamed Amine (29-4, 16 KO) made a big statement in his GLORY debut with a victory over ten-year GLORY veteran Michael Duut (44-14, 21 KO) and Jan Kaffa (19-3, 7 KO) won the battle of the rising prospects in a wild fight against Berjan Peposhi (27-3, 16 KO) that had the whole arena on their feet from start to finish.
In the prelims, Nikola Filipovic (10-2, 6 KO) scored a late knock down in the final round to steal the victory from Fabio Kwasi (45-8, 22 KO). Plus, Brice Kombou (18-3, 3 KO) won the trilogy match with rival Maksymilian Bratkowicz (11-4, 3 KO), stopping the durable Pole in the final round in the opening bout of the night.
GLORY 85 Results
April 29, Ahoy Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Main Event
Heavyweight Tournament Final – Bout 8
Tariq Osaro (24-2-1, 12 KO) def. Murat Aygün (33-3, 9 KO) via TKO (three knockdown rule), round 3, 2:08.
Co-Main Event
GLORY Welterweight Championship – Bout 7
Champion Endy Semeleer (34-1, 17 KO) def. Murthel Groenhart (69-26-3, 40 KO) via unanimous decision (50-42 x 5).
Light Heavyweight – Bout 6
Mohamed Amine (29-4, 16 KO) def. Michael Duut (44-14, 21 KO) via unanimous decision (3-27 x 2, 29-28 x 3).
Featherweight – Bout 5
Jan Kaffa (19-3, 7 KO) def. Berjan Peposhi (27-3, 16 KO) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-23, 29-25, 28-26).
Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final 2 – Bout 4
Murat Aygün (34-2, 9 KO) def. Enver Sljivar (40-7, 23 KO) via TKO (two knockdown rule), round 1, 3:00.
Heavyweight Tournament Semi-Final 1 – Bout 3
Tariq Osaro (23-2-1, 11 KO) def. Jahfarr Wilnis (33-14-1, 8 KO) via KO (punches), round 2, 1:26.
Heavyweight – Bout 2
Nikola Filipovic (10-2, 6 KO) def. Fabio Kwasi (45-8, 22 KO) via majority decision (29-27 x 3, 28-28 x 2).
Middleweight – Bout 1
Brice Kombou (18-3, 3 KO) def. Maksymilian Bratkowicz (11-4, 3 KO) via TKO (referee stoppage), round 3, 2:33.