Two impartial sources have instructed LowKick MMA that Dutch heavyweight Levi Rigters is leaving GLORY Kickboxing and plans to make his skilled MMA debut in September, persevering with a years-long pattern of elite kickboxers departing the organisation.
The vacation spot has not been confirmed, however hypothesis factors to 3 organisations working within the Netherlands as essentially the most believable touchdown spots: Ranges Combat League, which payments itself as the most important MMA promotion within the Benelux area and runs out of Amsterdam; PFL Europe, the European arm of the Skilled Fighters League; or Cage Warriors Academy Lowlands, an Eindhoven-based organisation that feeds expertise into Cage Warriors, one in all Europe’s main MMA promotions.
Levi Rigters Leaving GLORY Kickboxing, MMA Debut Deliberate for September
Rigters, 30, from Abcoude within the Netherlands, compiled a kickboxing file of 28 wins and 5 losses over his profession, with 15 of these victories coming by knockout. He signed with GLORY in August 2020 after dominating the Enfusion circuit, the place he gained a two-time heavyweight title and claimed the 2019 Abu Dhabi World Grand Prix by beating Martin Pacas within the ultimate.
“The Decide” made his GLORY debut at Glory 76 in December 2020, successful a four-man event on the identical evening, defeating Marciano Bhugwandass and Nordine Mahieddine by knockout. Recognized contained in the promotion as “The Prince of Kickboxing,” Rigters skilled out of ARJ Trainingen underneath coach Maikel Polanen in his later GLORY years.
His time in GLORY produced a string of notable performances. In August 2025, he knocked out Jamal Ben Saddik at GLORY 103 in Rotterdam with a spinning again kick to the physique in spherical three, a end that put him squarely within the Final Heavyweight Standing event. He was scheduled to battle Antonio Plazibat in December 2025 at Collision 8 for a spot within the event ultimate, however withdrew as a result of private circumstances. He subsequently misplaced his place within the event altogether after a defeat to Sofian Laidouni at GLORY 104.
The largest battle of his profession got here in two title challenges in opposition to Rico Verhoeven. He fought Verhoeven within the GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix ultimate in March 2024 and once more at Collision 7 in December 2024, shedding each by unanimous determination however scoring a knockdown alongside the best way.
Rigters departing GLORY matches a now well-worn sample. The listing of outstanding Dutch and European GLORY fighters who’ve crossed over to MMA in recent times is lengthy. Alex Pereira left as a two-division GLORY world champion and went on to win UFC titles at middleweight and lightweight heavyweight. Cédric Doumbé, a two-time GLORY welterweight champion, signed with PFL in 2023 and cited a big pay differential as a part of his reasoning. Tyjani Beztati, the GLORY light-weight champion, retired from kickboxing in September 2025 to make his MMA debut with Ranges Combat League. Former GLORY mild heavyweight champion Donegi Abena signed with PFL in Could 2026. Endy Semeleer, the previous GLORY welterweight champion, lately confirmed he’s leaving the group.
Even Rico Verhoeven left GLORY after saying his departure in November 2025, went on to challenge Oleksandr Usyk for the WBC heavyweight boxing title on the Pyramids of Giza on Could 23, 2026, shedding a hard-fought stoppage in spherical 11 with one second remaining on the clock.
For Rigters, the transition to MMA brings its personal set of challenges as he constructed his kickboxing profession on a kicking sport that features highly effective excessive kicks, physique kicks, and knee strikes. Incorporating wrestling, submissions, and grappling transitions will take time whatever the calibre of his putting. Beztati, who made an analogous leap simply months in the past, has spoken brazenly about how the transition calls for a full rebuild from the bottom up. The September timeline, if correct, is aggressive, although not unprecedented for a striker of Rigters’ expertise stage.
No announcement has been made by Rigters or any of the organisations named.
