Kickboxing trainer Brian Douwes was present at Glory 80 on Saturday. He saw with his own eyes how riots broke out in the stands after the second round between Badr Hari and Arkadiusz Wrzosek. “During that match I saw a group gathering. It seemed that they were out for trouble,” says Douwes.
“They took off their shirts and started screaming. Some cans were thrown back and forth and then the bomb exploded. There was a lot of busy stuff, but I don’t think it was a real blow.” By the disturbances the event was canceled and the match between Levi Rigters and Jamal Ben Saddik was cancelled.
Tried and tested
In addition to being a trainer, Douwes is also active as a kick boxer. He fought more than 100 matches. “I have already experienced hundreds of martial arts events, but I have never seen this”, the North Hollander looks back.
There are also reports that there had been a sultry atmosphere in Hasselt in Belgium all evening, but Douwes contradicts that. He tells NH Sport that the atmosphere changed during the match between Hari and Wrzosek.
Both fighters also made inciting gestures to the crowd after the second round. “I have seen a lot on the internet that Wrzosek was encouraging those hooligans. I don’t think that is the intention. Boys in the ring should keep those boys calm.”
Image damage martial arts
Martial arts already did not have the best image, but this is yet another blow to kickboxing galas. Brian Douwes also had an acquaintance who did security during Glory 80. “According to him, they were able to keep that group reasonably in place. If they hadn’t been there, it would have gotten completely out of hand, but this is for the sport.” very bad news.”