Gokhan Saki after winning the GLORY light-heavyweight title (photo via GLORY)

By FCF Staff

Gokhan Saki laid claim to GLORY’s light-heavyweight championship last night in Istanbul, Turkey, by stopping fellow, renowned striker Tyrone Spong in round one. The victory came via unfortunate circumstances, however, as Spong was unable to continue after he broke his leg.

Here is some of what Saki had to say about his victory, and Spong’s injury, in a follow up press release from GLORY.

“It was a shame what happened. It would have been nicer for the fight to go on longer and I would have preferred to have finished it with a knockout or something. You never want a fight to end like that. At the same time, it did mean that the fight was finished, so I don’t feel like I got lucky or anything. Tyrone kicked and I blocked it perfectly and you saw the result. This can happen with leg-kicks and correct blocking.”

“I told Tyrone how much I respect him and how I am sorry how the fight ended and that he got injured that way. Tyrone is a real warrior and I have a lot of respect for him, so of course when he is back I think he will be challenging to be champion again.”

Gokhan Saki comforting an injured Tyrone Spong (photo via GLORY)

“To walk out into a full arena of my countrymen with the flag wrapped around me and everybody going crazy… I cannot describe it. There are no words to describe such a feeling. It is like the biggest high that you ever felt. It is unbelievable, a highlight of your whole life.”

“Now I am champion I will fight anybody who GLORY puts in front of me. For me, it makes no difference. I am number one now and I will defend that against anybody who wants to try and take it from me.”

Gokhan Saki (photo via GLORY)

“I read a lot of things about how much pressure I was under but to tell you the truth the only real pressure I felt was when I had a back injury in the middle of camp. I couldn’t train for three weeks and according to the doctors, when they saw the MRI, I should not fight at all. But I came through it and tonight I won the tournament and became champion. The media and stuff is pressure, but it is not something I cannot handle.”

“First thing I am going to do? This diet down to light-heavyweight was so hard; I had to be so careful. I think I am going to get McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC — all on one plate. Ha!”