On Saturday, Oct. 1, the World League of Fighting brought their premiere brand, Glory of Heroes, to Zhengzhou, China for Glory of Heroes 5. The promotion brought some of their biggest stars to the sold out crowd of nearly 60,000 kickboxing fans.
In the main event of the evening, top-10 featherweights Qiu Jianliang and Ilias Bulaid met for positioning in the highly competitive 67-kilogram division. Jianliang has impressed with big victories over Jomthong Chuwattana, Mosab Amrani, Andrei Kulebin and many other top flight Muay Thai talent since coming into the sport in 2013. Bulaid cemented his place at the top of the division with big victories over top-10 fighters Hideaki Yamazaki, Chris Mauceri and Edson Fortes.
In the night’s main card action, top-10 middleweight Israel Adesanya knocked out former top-10 middleweight Bogdan Stoica in his promotional debut. WLF 63-kilogram champion Wei Rei moved up to 65-kilograms to fight 21-year-old Thai prospect Somchai Lueamiam. Many of China’s top fighters including Kong Long, Yang Zhuo, Jiao Fukai and Lu Jianbo returned for the landmark card.
The event aired live on YY.com and Henan TV at 6:30 a.m. ET
Wei Rui def. Somchai Lueamiam by TKO (left head kick). Round 3
Yang Zhuo def. Luis Passos by decision
Thanonchai Tanagorngym def. Kong Long by decision
Jiao Fukai def. Brown Pinas by decision
Kem Sitsongpeenong def. Jixiang Adai by decision
Lu Jianbo def. Federico Pacini by decision
Israel Adesanya def. Bogdan Stoica by TKO (liver kick). Round 2
Jin Ying def. Jakkaphan Sompak by decision
MMA: Cui Liucai def. Sergei Sokol by submission (guillotine choke). Round 2
MMA: Carlos Eduardo de Azevedo def. Ji Xian by DQ (knee to grounded opponent). Round 1
MMA: He Nannan def. Shota Akulashvili by submission (arm triangle choke). Round 2