“Today I was training with Filip Verlinden, he is a GLORY [contender]. The guy is an animal,” he says. “I could not be training with better people. Filip sets the bar very high, he is a world champion.
“I’m very satisfied with the training I’ve been doing with Henry [Hooft, striking coach at The Blackzilians]. He is helping me with my stand up and it is going great; perfect.
“To be able to learn and develop with each training for me is victory [in itself], nothing beats that.”
Belfort is coached by Henri Hooft, a Dutchman well versed in the classic style of Dutch kickboxing. Hooft has taken the team’s striking to new levels and has led to a stream of Dutch kickboxers calling in to the facility.
GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven was there recently, as was welterweight contender Nieky Holzken. Other visitors to the camp have included Robin van Roosmalen, the current lightweight champion.
Belfort rides a three-fight win streak into this Saturday’s fight. Weidman is making his third defense of the title and boasts an undefeated 12-0 record with eight wins inside the distance. Verlinden will fight at GLORY 22 FRANCE on June 5 in a light-heavyweight match with Mourad Bouzidi. It is not known yet if his return to light-heavyweight is a one-off or permanent.
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