Nieky Holzken punching Aleksandr Stetcurenko (photo via GLORY)

By FCF Staff

Nieky Holzken returned to the GLORY ring for the first time in over a year last night, and the renowned kickboxer won the card’s welterweight tourney as many believed he would.

Holzken decisioned the rugged Aleksandr Stetcurenko  in the tourney’s semifinals, and then went on to stop the dynamic Raymond Daniels in the third round of the competition’s finals.

By winning the tourney, Holzken has secured a title fight with champion Joseph Valtellini, who he stopped in December, 2013. After GLORY 19, here is what Holzken had to say about facing Valtellini again (quote via GLORY press release):

“I consider the welterweight title belt to be mine. I beat Valtellini and then I had to take 2014 off because I got injured in a car accident in January. So he’s got the belt right now but I am coming for it. Valtellini is good and it is going to be a good fight but the belt belongs to me and it will be coming home with me.”

Holzken, who missed most of 2014 due to a shoulder injury, now carries a record of 77-11.

GLORY 19 went down in Hampton, Virginia.