Tarik Khbabez is heading back to the ring. The former GLORY light heavyweight champion announced his return on social media after months away from competition following a dispute with the kickboxing promotion.
The Moroccan-Dutch fighter, known as “The Tank”, said he is now focused on winning back the title he never lost inside the ring.
“Alhamdulillah for everything. Sabr is never wasted,” Khbabez wrote.
“I stayed patient, I kept believing, and now it’s time to come back and take what belongs to me. The Tank is back.”
Khbabez had been sidelined after talks with GLORY broke down over a mandatory title defence against Bahram Rajabzadeh. The disagreement centred on financial and sporting terms, leading to a legal dispute. GLORY later stripped Khbabez of his belt while he remained under contract.
His return now puts him straight back into the title picture.
GLORY has confirmed that Khbabez will get an immediate shot at the light heavyweight world title. He will face the winner of the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix at COLLISION 9 in Rotterdam.
The one-night tournament will see eight fighters battle for the vacant belt, with the winner needing three victories in a single evening.
The quarter-final fights are:
• Cem Caceres vs Mohammed Hamdi
• Bahram Rajabzadeh vs Mohammed Touchassie
• Luis Tavares vs Donovan Wisse
• Michael Boapeah vs Artem Vakhitov
The tournament includes former champion Artem Vakhitov and current middleweight champion Donovan Wisse, who is moving up a weight class.
Many fans will also be watching Rajabzadeh, whose rivalry with Khbabez played a major role in the title dispute.
Before the event, Khbabez will meet fans at the COLLISION 9 Fanzone at Rotterdam Ahoy from 15:30 local time.
Fans around the world who cannot attend the event can watch through GLORY’s official streaming platforms.
