This Friday night, Glory presents Glory 33 New Jersey, featuring a pair of world title fights. Glory 33 airs live this Friday, September 9 with a fight time of 11:00 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN2. Before that, the Glory Superfight Series will air live on UFC Fight Pass with a fight time of 8:30 p.m. ET. Here, we break down the complete Superfight card – check back later this week for the main card.
C. SIMON MARCUS (44-2-2 Overall; 4-1-1 Glory) vs. #2 JASON WILNIS (28-6-1 Overall; 5-4 Glory) – Middleweight World Title
Headlining the Superfight Series is a quality world title fight and the second defense for champion Simon Marcus. Marcus won that title in a very odd fight with Artem Levin in Chicago and has since defended against Dustin Jacoby. Marcus is one of the finest technical fighters in the sport, and if you wanted to make the case for him as the #1 pound for pound fighter in kickboxing today, I’m not sure I would argue with you. He was a highly decorated Muay Thai champion when he made the transition to Glory and kickboxing rules, and after a few struggles with that adjustment, he’s now found a way to showcase that impeccable Muay Thai style inside Glory. Marcus is just one of those fighters who does everything perfectly – he has the potential to hold this belt for a long time.
Challenger Wilnis has been around the kickboxing game battling throughout the world for a number of years. The Dutch fighter has always had high level skills, but it was only in the last two years that things really came together for him. He’s had some great fights and big wins, and comes in here off a career high victory over Joe Schilling. Wilnis has found himself across the ring from Marcus once before – the two men met at Glory 20, with Marcus taking the decision win. Both have improved since, and Wilnis has the skills to push Marcus, but I don’t see him having what it takes to topple the king.
Prediction: Simon Marcus, decision
#9 CHI LEWIS-PARRY (7-1 Overall; 3-1 Glory) vs. ANTHONY MCDONALD (7-0 Overall; Glory Debut) – Heavyweight
This was originally scheduled to be Lewis-Parry vs. Xavier Vigney in a big rematch from Glory 21 and Chopper Chi’s lone pro loss. Sadly, Vigney is injured, and the debuting McDonald takes his place. The end result is a boxing style showcase fight for Lewis-Parry. The British Heavyweight had a good 2015 in Glory, and returned with a big KO at Glory 32. With both his KO power and his loud personality, Lewis-Parry is looking for big things in his future. This fight gives him another chance to showcase both of those sides. McDonald has a 3-2 MMA record and appears to have some amateur kickboxing experience, though I have seen no footage of him kickboxing. I see no reason to think he can pull off the upset here.
Prediction: Chi Lewis-Parry, KO
ZOILA FRAUSTO (4-0 Overall; Glory Debut) vs. DANIELA GRAF (23-4-1 Overall; Glory Debut) – Super Bantamweight
The latest in the Glory Women’s Super Bantamweight Grand Prix sees one of the tournament’s biggest names in action. Zoila Frausto is known for her time in MMA, where she was a highly regarded world champion for Bellator. Her kickboxing experience is more limited, but she’s had success competing under Muay Thai rules. Graf is a German fighter who is also more known for Muay Thai. She’s touted as a pro boxer, and while that is technically true, it must be noted that her boxing record is 4-6-1 and she has never beaten an opponent who has ever won a fight. Graf has the obvious kickboxing experience edge, but there are plenty of examples of MMA fighters coming in and upsetting the cart in kickboxing. This is a close fight, and tough to call, but I’ll go with the kickboxing experience here.
Prediction: Daniela Graf, decision
#8 FRANCOIS AMBANG (16-6 Overall, 4-4 Glory) vs. #13 DANIEL MORALES (N/A Overall; 0-2 Glory) – Welterweight
Ambang is an experienced Glory fighter who has been a bit hot and cold, but has looked good as of late. He made it to the finals of the Glory 30 tournament, and comes in off a win at Glory 32. As part of that Glory 30 tournament, he defeated tonight’s opponent Morales by a pretty easy unanimous decision. The young Morales has lost in his two Glory outings to Casey Greene and Ambang. If I am being honest, I have not yet seen anything to distinguish Morales as a true top 15 fighter or make me think he can change things this time out.
Prediction: Francois Ambang, Dec
Join us here at Bloody Elbow on Friday for live Glory 33 coverage.
About the author
