GLORY 21: San Diego marks the return of Artem “The Lion” Levin, the 28 year-old Russian fighter; considered by many kickboxing’s pound-for-pound number one.
He will have the chance to solidify this on Friday, May 8, but will have a tough test against middleweight contender tournament winner Simon Marcus.
Canadian “Bad Bwoy” picked up two wins in Dubai at GLORY 20 to claim a championship match-up. He defeated Wayne Barrett and Jason Wilnis; both by unanimous decision, and rather dominantly on his road to San Diego.
Interestingly enough, these two men have fought before, although under muay thai rules, it was Marcus who handed Levin the loss at Lion Fight 9. Marcus, a multi-time muay thai world champion is unequivocally favoured under thai rules, and Levin has even admitted that, however stated that he is the one favoured under GLORY kickboxing rules, making it a much tougher fight for Marcus.
In the GLORY 21 build-up show featuring former professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, Levin openly criticised Marcus in GLORY, stating that officials have been far too lenient with the 28 year-old and his use of the clinch.
GLORY rules state: “A fighter may clinch in order to immediately attack with a legal knee strike (or strikes). If the knee attack and/or counter attack by the opponent is continuous and productive the referee may allow it to continue for in his estimation up to five seconds; otherwise the fighters should disengage the clinch and continue to fight.”
If Marcus can be effective with his clinch, then that is surely his key to victory, against a technically superior Levin.
The previously undefeated thai fighter will look to fight close range against Levin, specifically to work his inside combinations which often either end with clinch and strike or a startling push kick.
The Russian will more than likely use the distance to avoid Marcus’s guard, and fight an in-out style, which suits him and will allow him to control the pace.
It is the style he showcased at Last Man Standing to win the -85kg title, and his inability to take much damage because of it was one of the main reasons he looked so darn glorious.
Oh and let’s not forget, we all wait in anticipation to once again hear Levin walk out to Beau Williams – Feeling So Good Today; along with his iconic shuffle, as the king of kickboxing returns to where he belongs after almost a year out.
