On 23 October I will make my comeback at
@GLORY_WSYou guys wanted it, now you got it. I’m looking forward to see all
my supporters at
#COLLISION3 Let’s make new memories together. The show must go
onGreat work by Glory and my management for making this happen.
pic.twitter.com/i0Z1VYJsTS
— Gökhan Saki (@gokhantherebel)
October 8, 2021
Editor’s note: The article has been updated at 2:15 p.m. on Oct.
8 to reflect the news of Saki’s first opponent.
Vaunted kickboxer Gokhan Saki
is returning to the sport after over six years away and a two-fight
stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The kickboxing legend known as “The Rebel” announced
early on Friday morning that he has signed with Glory
Kickboxing again. Saki (81-16, 1 NC; 58 KOs) will be competing
on Oct. 23 at Glory: Collision 3, and per Beyond
Kickboxing and a poster from the organization, he will be
taking on James
McSweeney (46-7, 31 KOs) in the co-headlining bout. Saki
competed at the inaugural Glory event, knocking Carter
Williams out in two minutes. He went on to step in the Glory
ring eight more times before leaving for MMA.
Saki shook up the combat sports world when as an 0-1 pro MMA
fighter, he signed with the UFC in 2017. His debut could not have
gone better, knocking Henrique
da Silva out in the first round and taking home a $50,000
“Performance of the Night” check. He returned to action at UFC 226
in 2018, and Khalil
Rountree demolished him in 96 seconds to ultimately put an end
to his MMA career. Although he attempted to return against Saparbek
Safarov in 2019, he withdrew due to injury and was released in
early 2021.
The former Glory light heavyweight champ and a one-time K-1 Grand
Prix champion claimed the Glory crown in a much-anticipated rematch
with Tyrone
Spong, and Spong broke his leg early into the contest. Earlier
in his Glory run, he faced off against heavyweight kingpin Rico
Verhoeven at Glory 6 in 2013, and he fell short by a majority
decision.
Like his opponent, McSweeney is returning to kickboxing after
leaving MMA behind. The veteran of Season 10 of “The Ultimate
Fighter”
announced in September that he would be pursuing kickboxing
full-time. He engaged in a tournament with Mix Fighting
Championship at the end of 2019, making it to the finals by
knocking out Murat Aygun but falling short to Ismael Londt later
that night.
Glory Collision 3 takes place at the GelreDome in the Netherlands
on Oct. 23. The pay-per-view event can be purchased at the Glory
Kickboxing website, while Glory 79 will serve as the preliminary
card that will air on the Sherdog YouTube page.