Glory Kickboxing Star Ben Saddik Suspended After Altercation with Verhoeven

On his Instagram account, Jamal Ben Saddik returns to the incident that occurred between Rico Verhoeven and him during the Glory heavyweight Grand Prix semi-final. He says he was unable to give his version of the facts on Renze Klamer’s show. "The interview, which was supposed to be an open discussion, turned into an interrogation, which prevented me from telling my version of the facts," lamented the Moroccan champion. The origin of his attitude towards the Dutch kickboxer was a verbal altercation in the ring. On Renze’s show, Ben Saddik clarified that it was not a real kick, but a "feint".

The Moroccan champion’s attitude earned him a six-month suspension. "I don’t contest that I deserve a suspension, he admitted. Self-control is always important. I accept a sanction, but the way it was imposed is unacceptable." He criticizes the Glory kickboxing organization for having conducted the investigation itself instead of calling on an independent party. "It’s like a butcher evaluating his own meat." He also denounces a double standard policy. "Why doesn’t anyone wonder why Dennis (Krauweel, ed.) and Rico (Verhoeven, ed.) weren’t sanctioned?" Ben Saddik questioned. They too provoked, verbally and non-verbally. This highlights Glory’s double standard.

"This recent unilateral suspension makes me doubt my future at Glory," he added. The Moroccan champion says he feels insecure within Glory. "I have long felt an unsafe working environment at Glory, which makes me lose confidence in my employer," he confided, recalling Ben Saddik’s previous doping suspension. Despite the intervention of a lawyer, he did not prioritize legal proceedings due to his health problems, it is reported. The Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer also addressed Verhoeven: "You are right to say that I must be a good example, but this also applies to you." And to provoke a fight between the Dutchman and him: "You know better than anyone that I am your only true opponent. Let’s offer the fans what they want. If it’s not at Glory, we’ll fight elsewhere."