Tonight’s Glory 18: Return to Glory show features a slew of fantastic fights and intriguing fighters. But the one name that keeps coming up in the pre-fight discussions is Zack Mwekassa. Mwekassa is in the Glory 18 Light Heavyweight tournament, and comes in after having KO’d Pat Barry in a spectacular Glory debut at Glory 16. He’s a fearsome opponent who provides a stiff challenge for anyone.
He is also, in the words of BE’s own Steph Daniels, “the most interesting man in combat sports.” Why? Well, he eats only caterpillars for 21 days before a fight, he was arrested in Congo during wartime, he’s pulled his parents from the path of an erupting volcano… need I go on?
Well, as it turns out, there is more to his story worth noting. In an interview with Sherdog, Mwekassa explained what he did with his purse money after defeating Barry:
I went back to Congo, did some social work, did some nice things, went to see the kids, the HIV orphans. I gave them some food and paid for their breakfast vouchers for six months. We did some great work.
Mwekassa also talks about the hero’s welcome he received when he returned to Congo after Glory 16:
My return to Congo was amazing. It was majestic — when we landed there was about 5,000 people waiting for me outside the airport. There was a convertible car, and I stood up in the back as we drove through the crowd. People were doing traditional chants and dances, waving flags… It was amazing.
The most interesting man in combat sports? I would have to agree.
Join us here at Bloody Elbow tonight for live coverage of Glory 18 as Zack Mwekassa enters the Light Heavyweight contender tournament and fights for a shot at the Glory Light Heavyweight championship.
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