This Friday, Glory returns to the US for Glory 30 Los Angeles. Glory 30 airs live Friday, May 13 with a fight time of 12:30 a.m. ET for the main card on ESPN3 (that’s just after midnight Friday night to be clear). Before that, the Glory Superfight Series will air live on UFC Fight Pass with a fight time of 10:00 p.m. ET. Here, we break down the complete Superfight card – check back later this week for the main card.
#1 JOE SCHILLING (21-6 Overall; 7-2 Glory) vs. #4 JASON WILNIS (27-6-1 Overall; 4-4 Glory) – Middleweight
The Superfight Series headliner is a terrific fight and a much anticipated rematch. Schilling and Wilnis headlined Glory 24 last October. That fight was two rounds that were shaping up for a classic fight, but then an injury to Wilnis forced him out of the fight just as he seemed to be taking the momentum back. Now, they finish what they started. Schilling is the bigger name here, as he has gained a big following with his work in Glory, Bellator, and his involvement with the Diaz brothers. He’s on his way out of Glory most likely, finishing out his contract before going to Bellator Kickboxing. According to Glory, they offered him a title fight here, but had he taken it and won, he would have been required to stay and defend the belt. Obviously, that didn’t happen, so we get this still excellent fight. Wilnis is a veteran fighter who has really found his groove in the past two years, with big wins over Wayne Barrett and Filip Verlinden. Wilnis was getting overwhelmed by Schilling at the beginning of the last fight, but Schilling also looked rather unmotivated last time out for Glory (which, admittedly, was a short notice fight). If he comes in here at less than 100%, Wilnis will make him pay and send him packing with a loss – and that’s a very real possibility.
Prediction: Jason Wilnis, Dec
#16 GUTO INOCENTE (30-7 Overall; 1-0 Glory) vs. BRIAN DOUWES (41-18-2 Overall; Glory Debut) – Heavyweight
This was originally Inocente vs. Chi Lewis Parry, but an injury forced the British fighter out and brought veteran Douwes in. Inocente is an MMA veteran with just one Glory fight to his credit, but what a fight it was, as he brutally knocked out Demoreo Denis at Glory 27. That was a terrific, highlight reel win that immediately put him on the map. Now, he gets a good test in Douwes – your classic veteran gatekeeper type. Douwes is a 10+ year pro who has fought all over the place against the likes of Rico Verhoeven, Hesdy Gerges, Daniel Ghita, and so many more. He scored a career best win in November, beating Jamal Ben Saddik, but he’s 0-2 since. I’m tempted to say he plays spoiler here, but I think Inocente can pass this test.
Prediction: Guto Inocente, KO
TIFFANY VAN SOEST (14-2-1 Overall; Glory Debut) vs. ESMA HASSHASS (9-2 Overall; Glory Debut)
Landmark moment here as for the first time ever, Glory features a women’s fight on their main card. This fight is all about the debut of the Timebomb, Tiffany Van Soest. Van Soest is a Muay Thai fighter who has spent almost her entire career in Lion Fight. There, she became the Featherweight champion and put together an 8-1 record while still developing as a fighter. Lion Fight was always eager to promote her, and Glory is now doing the same. And for good reason – she’s an exciting fighter who brings fans to her fights. Her debut is exciting news for Glory, and a great addition. Hasshass is from Morocco, and is obviously the less experienced fighter. A lot of her fight experience has come in Europe, often while wearing pads. There’s not a ton of footage on her, but she seems like a decent fighter, but one in over her head here.
Prediction: Tiffany Van Soest, Dec
#9 MIKE LEMAIRE (17-3 Overall, 2-3 Glory) vs. #8 KARL ROBERSON (0-2 Overall; 0-1 Glory) – Middleweight
Lemaire has been competing in Glory for awhile, including a 2014 Glory win over Dustin Jacoby (though many feel Jacoby won that fight). He comes in off a loss to Schilling at Glory 27. Lemaire has never quite showed his best in Glory, but he is a good fighter who recently has seen success in Lion Fight. Roberson has MMA experience but just two recognized kickboxing fights – a loss to K-1 legend Jerome Le Banner, and a Glory 27 loss to Dustin Jacoby. He’s a former Heavyweight, so big for the division, but didn’t do anything to distinguish himself in the Jacoby fight. Why is he ranked at #8, ahead of Lemaire? Your guess is as good as mine.
Prediction: Mike Lemaire, Dec
MANNY MANCHA (4-2 Overall, 1-0 Glory) vs. WARREN THOMPSON (11-6-1 Overall; 0-2 Glory) – Light Heavyweight
This may be a Light Heavyweight fight, but it feel a lot more like your classic Heavyweight banger style match-up. Mancha won over Andre Walker at Glory 21 and he scored a big win over Brian Collette at a Legacy Kickboxing event last year. That fight was a wild one, with Mancha charging forward and just overwhelming the experienced Collette to put him down in the first round. Thompson is winless in Glory, with losses to Collette and Randy Blake. He’s got decent experience around the world, including a 2013 win over Brian Douwes. He’s the more technical fighter here, but is likely to get forced into a scrap by Mancha. If he can deal with that and make it a kickboxing fight, he can win – but I see this going like Mancha vs. Collette, with some short, but fun slobberknocker action.
Prediction: Manny Mancha, KO
Join us here at Bloody Elbow on Saturday for live Glory 30 coverage.
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