Sofian Laïdouni vs. Cihad Kepenek: GLORY 103
The fight between Sofian Laïdouni and Cihad Kepenek during GLORY 103 was an interesting confrontation between two kickboxers with different approaches.
In the first round, Sofian Laïdouni immediately took the initiative. He was the one who sought the attack and tried to put pressure on Kepenek. Cihad Kepenek, on the other hand, opted for a more cautious approach. He moved forward, but seemed to be waiting for the right moments to launch his own attacks. However, the attacks that Kepenek did launch often lacked the desired impact. Laïdouni managed to neutralize most of his attempts.
The second round saw a change in Kepenek’s tactics. He now took more initiative and began to attack more aggressively. A powerful left hook from Kepenek landed well and showed that he could be dangerous on the attack. During the rest of the round, both fighters tried to maintain control of the fight by attacking. It was noticeable that Kepenek managed his defense well, allowing him to parry most of Laïdouni’s attacks. Laïdouni tried to surprise him with a backfist, but Kepenek’s defense was solid, minimizing the impact.
In the third and final round, Sofian Laïdouni threw everything into the fight to force a decisive breakthrough. He constantly tried to break through Kepenek’s solid defense. Successfully: Laïdouni managed to win the round and dominated the fight. Ultimately, the judges ruled that Sofian Laïdouni deserved the victory.
It is worth noting that Cihad Kepenek prepared for this fight in Thailand, where he trained intensively. He also trained there with Isamel Lazaar, which undoubtedly contributed to his physical and mental readiness for the match. Nevertheless, it was not enough to defeat Sofian Laïdouni.
