Glory 47: Lyon - Vakhitov vs. Machado - October 28 (Official Discussion)

Glory 47
October 28, 2017
Palais des Sports de Gerland
Lyon, France

Main Card:
Artem Vakhitov (18-5)       vs.        (45-8) Ariel Machado  
Main Event |  Title Fight | Light Heavyweight | 209 lbs (95 kg)
Cédric Doumbé (67-5)       vs.       (123-35) Yohan Lidon  
Co-Main Event | Welterweight | 170 lbs (77 kg)
Azize Hliali (17-14)            vs.     (43-12) Abdallah Ezbiri
Main Card | Contender Tournament Semi-Finals | Featherweight | 145 lbs (65 kg)
Fabio Pinca (100-25)          vs.(79-20) Anvar Boynazarov  
Main Card | Contender Tournament Semi-Finals | Featherweight | 145 lbs (65 kg)


Reigning GLORY light heavyweight champion Artem Vakhitov (18-5, 5 KO, fighting out of Russia) defends his belt against No. 2-ranked challenger Ariel Machado (45-8, 34 KO, fighting out of Brazil) in the GLORY 47 Lyon headline bout.

Vakhitov returns after injuring his hand during a dominant title defense at GLORY 38 Chicago in February. The 26-year-old champion appears to be entering his prime, having only lost once since joining GLORY in 2013 and achieving a 7-1 mark that includes three knockouts and two title defenses with the organization.

Machado also competed at GLORY 38 Chicago, defeating contenders Danyo Ilunga and Zinedine Hameur-Lain to stake his claim at light heavyweight gold.

Former GLORY welterweight world champion "The Best" Cédric Doumbé (67-5-1, 39 KO, fighting out of France) begins his campaign back into title contention, taking on heavy-handed veteran Yohan "Le Bucheron" Lidon (93-36-1, 56 KO, fighting out of France) in a welterweight showcase.

Lidon stepped in as a short-notice injury replacement at GLORY 42 Paris. With a full training camp ahead of GLORY 47 Lyon, he will look to display the raw power and technical skill that has made him a fan favorite and won him numerous titles, including ISKA, WBC Muay Thai, WKN and It's Showtime belts.

GLORY 47 Lyon will also feature a one-night, four-man featherweight contender tournament.

Born in Lyon, decorated Muay Thai stylist Fabio Pinca (102-25-3, 42 KO, fighting out of France) will have the hometown crowd's support when he battles Uzbekistan's Anvar Boynazarov (79-20-2, 45 KO, fighting out of the United States) in the first of two tournament semifinal match-ups.

French-Moroccan featherweight Azize "The Magician" Hliali (17-14-1, 2 KO, fighting out of Moroco) will make his GLORY debut in the tournament's second semifinal scrap, facing Abdellah Ezbiri (43-12-1, 13 KO, fighting out of France)