The draw for GLORY 105: Last Heavyweight Standing Finals was more than a procedural moment — it was a declaration. On February 7, inside the GelreDome in Arnhem, a new heavyweight world champion will be crowned, in circumstances rarely seen in modern kickboxing.
With Rico Verhoeven stepping away from the throne, the heavyweight division enters a rare state: a power vacuum. No dominant ruler. No protected legacy. Just eight men, one night, and no margin for error.
A tournament built on attrition, not reputation
The Last Heavyweight Standing tournament began in early 2025 with nearly fifty heavyweights. From the outset, the message was clear: survival over status.
After months of eliminations, only eight fighters remain, tasked with enduring a one-night Grand Prix — three potential fights, mounting fatigue, and constant risk.
This is not about who hits hardest.
It’s about who endures longest.
A random draw… with ruthless consequences
The draw at COLLISION 8 produced several matchups worthy of main events, setting the tone for a night with no warm-up fights.
Plazibat vs. Kromah: star power collides early
The headline quarterfinal sees Antonio Plazibat collide with Mory “The Black Ghost” Kromah. Their tense face-off during the draw revealed more than rivalry — it exposed ego, ambition, and pressure.
This bout isn’t just about advancing.
It’s about psychological dominance.
The winner advances to face either Tariq Osaro or Nico Horta, in a rematch of GLORY 95. Osaro won the first encounter by decision, but Horta now arrives with a full training camp, not a short-notice call. Context changes everything.
The other side: experience versus momentum
On the opposite side, Anis Bouzid, unbeaten in the tournament, meets the veteran Errol Zimmerman, a fighter whose résumé spans more than 130 professional bouts.
It’s a classic question:
Can experience still overcome youth, speed, and momentum?
Awaiting the winner is the victor of Milos Cvjeticanin vs. Sofian Laidouni, a low-profile but highly technical clash that could quietly produce the tournament’s dark horse.
GLORY 105: no safety net, no favorites
What defines GLORY 105 is its lack of protection.
No reigning champion.
No strategic matchmaking.
No long-term planning.
Only survival.
On February 7, GLORY won’t just crown a new heavyweight champion —
it will reveal which type of fighter can rule a division when there is no king left to beat.
