GLORY World Series have announced their updated card for GLORY 19, from Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia on Friday, February 6.
The co-headline bout will feature the return of one promotional star and #1 ranked middleweight contender Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (18-6-0, 11 KOs) who will face #9 ranked Canadian prospect Robert “White Dragon” Thomas (7-2-0, 5 KOs).
Schilling returns at GLORY 19 after signing a multi-fight deal with the promotion after a short stint with Bellator MMA, which included a superb flash knockout of Melvin Manhoef at Bellator 131.
A win for Schilling, who is currently training with MMA bad boys, Nick and Nate Diaz, likely awards him a rubber match with GLORY middleweight champion Artem Levin (84-6-1, 34 KOs).
It was Schilling who picked up the win in their first fight at GLORY 10, with a extension round unanimous decision. However Levin would capture vengeance with a one sided unanimous decision over a battle worn Schilling at GLORY Last Man Standing.
Also, Nieky “The Natural” Holzken (84-11-0, 44 KOs) will now face Russia’s relentless striker Aleksandr Stetcurenko (49-8-0, 24 KOs) in the welterweight tournament’s first semifinal match-up.
Holzken was originally scheduled to face Murthel Groenhart at GLORY 19, however the Suriname fighter picked up an injury in his third round KO loss (high kick) to Sittichai Sitsongpeenong at Kunlun Fight #15.
The second tournament semifinal match-up at GLORY 19 sees #6 ranked Brazilian Jonatan Oliveira (20-3-0, 11 KOs) take American karate world champion Raymond “The Real Deal” Daniels (25-1-0, 15 KOs), the winner of the MMA PLUS knockout of the year.
The winner will face GLORY welterweight champion “Bazooka” Joe Valtellini later this year.
GLORY 19 is headlined by a GLORY heavyweight world title fight, as Rico Verhoeven (44-9-0, 10 KOs) defends against tough veteran Errol “The Bonecrusher” Zimmerman (103-11-1, 44 KOs) in their trilogy rubber match.
In association Veteran Operation Wellness (VOW), GLORY will host its first armed forces exhibition featuring one member of the US Navy competing against one member of the US Air Force under GLORY Rules.
Tickets for GLORY 19 are available for purchase now at ticketmaster.com.
