Glory 78 Preview: Badr Hari vs. Arkadiusz Wrzosek

They seem to go with the same angle every time a certain kickboxing superstar returns to the ring: “Badr is back.” The excitement is well-earned, as Badr Hari has fought some of the top names in the sport, from Rico Verhoeven and Gokhan Saki to Alistair Overeem and a laundry list of others. In addition to fighting virtually anyone, Hari has never been one to shy away from a war.

The 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix finalist on Saturday will headline Glory 78, as he faces Arkadiusz Wrzosek at the Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Glory 78 “Badr vs. Wrzosek” is exclusively available on pay-per-view and can only be purchased online at www.gloryfights.com. You can purchase and stream the pay-per-view for €19.99, £17.99 or US$24.99 from anywhere in the world.

Wrzosek (12-5, 1-1 Glory) dropped his promotional debut to Benjamin Adegbuyi but rallied to win his second assignment against Demoreo Dennis at Glory 71 in November 2019. He tends to use a low kick-heavy game plan. The 6-foot-7 Pole, aptly nicknamed “Hightower,” carries an advantage in the kicking department. Wrzosek chopped away at Dennis’ leg, resulting in three knockdowns and the finish. A similar strategy was implemented against Adegbuyi, though it was not as successful. The Romanian was quicker than Wrzosek and managed to shut down his kicks by attacking the body.

Hari (106-15, 0-3 Glory) is simply explosive. Throwing power in every shot, he wields a quick jab that often pierces the guard of those who choose to stand in his way. Hari, who turns 37 in December, may no longer be in his prime, but power is often said to be the last weapon to go, and he still has plenty of it. A path to victory for Hari looks to be a classic game of crowding the kicker. The low kicks Wrzosek likes to throw require space to maximize their effectiveness. Hari has proven quite comfortable fighting in the pocket; in fact, he thrives there. Crowding Wrzosek and pushing forward looks like the right idea when dealing with his kick-heavy approach. The only problem? Hari has lost some of his speed, although not all of it. To slow down Wrzosek, targeting the body also figures to be one of Hari’s goals.