Latest news with #GLORY98
Morocco World
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Jamal Ben Saddik's Jaw-Dropping Knockout Kick Shakes Glory 98
Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik made a huge comeback yesterday, February 22, demolishing Estonia's Uku Jürjendal with a brutal knockout at Glory 98 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Ben Saddik took a two-year break from the ring in fashion but returned wrapped in Palestinian and Moroccan flags around his body. From the very first bell, 'The Goliath' unleashed relentless jabs and kicks with pinpoint precision. Jürjendal buckled under the pressure but injured his arm in the third round. In the last seconds of this same round, Ben Seddik threw a crushing headkick wrecking Jürjendal's head and sending him straight to the ground, unable to stand still on his feet. Jamal Ben Saddik made his return to GLORY last night after being out for over two years and landed a last second KO in the main event #GLORY98 (via @DAZN_FR) — COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) February 23, 2025 Ben Saddik is now laser-focused on reclaiming his heavyweight throne with the GLORY Last Heavyweight Standing tournament, where he'll face the Romanian Cristian Ristea (44-25, 13 KO) in the opening round on April 5 at Ahoy Rotterdam. In the co-main event, kickboxing fans were left shocked when Mesud Selimović (33-12, 18 KO) unleashed a jaw-dropping spinning backfist to knock out the Moroccan Iliass Hammouche (34-8, 7 KO), while Morocco's Hamicha (42-2, 31 KO) kept his GLORY streak alive, taking out Calmente Mendes (7-1, 4 KO) with a ruthless leg-kick KO. Welterweight champ Chico Kwasi (44-5-1, 23 KO) held onto his belt with a decision win over Teodor Hristov (18-4, 7 KO). Meanwhile, light heavyweight Cem Cáceres (19-1, 14 KO) eked out a split decision victory against Mory Kromah (31-3-1, 18 KO). Also, newcomer Michael Boapeah (20-4-1, 7 KO) stole the show with a third-round finish over Ibrahim El Bouni (42-11-1, 22 KO). Tags: glory 98Glory KickboxingJamal Ben Saddik
Ya Biladi
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik's stunning knockout comeback
DR Estimated read time: 2' Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik secured a dramatic knockout victory over Uku Jurjendal at GLORY 98 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on February 22. Jurjendal, who had previously found success with calf kicks against Badr Hari, struggled to implement the same strategy. The Estonian found himself in a stalemate with Ben Saddik, who remained content with minimal effort, doing just enough with low kicks to edge the rounds in his favor. Une fierté... Le champion Marocain Jamal Ben Saddik revient en force avec une victoire par KO contre l'Estonien Uku Jürjendal ??❤️ #GLORY98 #المغرب_أولا #Morocco #Maroc #DimaMaghrib #glory98 #SaharaMarocain — Morocco First ?? (@TheRealMarroqui) February 22, 2025 Trailing on points, Jurjendal came out swinging in the third round, determined to turn the tide. However, midway through, he sustained an arm injury, severely limiting his offense. In a last-ditch effort, he aimed for a knockout, but Ben Saddik capitalized on his vulnerability, landing a decisive high kick in the final moments to end the fight. «This year, I will bring the belt to Morocco. I would like to thank the King of Morocco, my Moroccan brothers and sisters, my fans, and my friends from around the world. Thank you for your support», he said at the end of the fight, with the flag of Morocco draped over his shoulders. Ben Saddik's return to the ring comes amid ongoing legal troubles. The Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer was arrested in July 2023 in connection with an alleged kidnapping linked to drug trafficking in Antwerp. Authorities suspected him of involvement in the abduction of a 29-year-old dockworker over a dispute related to a cocaine shipment. He faced charges including kidnapping, death threats, illegal possession of firearms, and participation in a criminal organization. After several weeks in detention, a Belgian court granted him conditional release in September, 2024, initially without an electronic bracelet. However, prosecutors appealed the decision, leading to his release under electronic surveillance. This is not the first time Ben Saddik has faced legal issues—he was briefly jailed in 2021 for selling encrypted phones used in criminal activities in the Sky ECC case and was later sentenced to 40 months in prison for money laundering and fraud.
