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Photo: (James Law/GLORY Sports International)

LOS ANGELES–Jason Wilnis (30-7) successfully defended the GLORY Middleweight title at GLORY 37 on January 20 by defeating Israel Adesanya via unanimous decision, but it didn’t come without some controversy.

The vociferous crowd inside The Novo let out a chorus of boos as GLORY announcer Tim Hughes announced Wilnis as the victor. Two of the judges scored the bout 49-46, the other a 48-47, all in favour of “Psycho.”

As for the champion, well, he’s not concerned with dissenting opinions from the official score cards and feels strongly that he is the rightful winner.

“I was the one making the fight and moving forward and that’s what GLORY counts, so yes, 100 percent,” Wilnis told MMA Plus after the fight, standing backstage with the title belt draped over his shoulder. “I had hard shots and I was putting pressure on him. I was up on him and then he would step back every time. I was making the fight and landing hard low kicks.”

Many experts as well as fellow fighters, thought “Style Bender” had won the bout against Wilnis. The Kiwi fighter was able to land big knees to the body of Wilnis and looked to be the more successful striker throughout the five-round contest. Wilnis, who applied pressure throughout and found a home for some solid low kicks during the bout, already stated why he felt he was the winner, but he did admit that Adesanya had frustrated him on several occasion.

“Yes, because he doesn’t want to make the fight all the time,” Wilnis explained. “That’s what makes it difficult. If someone stands in front of you can throw your shots. But if it’s tick, tick, moving away, tick tick, it’s difficult. We had a good game plan and I stick to the game plan.”

Wilnis, 27, knocked out Simon Marcus at GLORY 33 this past September. Marcus was in attendance at GLORY 37 and he revealed to MMA Plus he was currently in discussions with GLORY management to fight the winner of the GLORY 37 main event.

The champion said “of course,” when asked about running it back and having a rematch with Adesanya and added, “Simon can get it also.”

Whether anyone agrees with the GLORY 37 decision victory or they don’t, Wilnis is happy to have to still have the belt in his possession. And to him, that’s all that matters.

“I still got it. That’s what it’s all about and not what the people say.”

 

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