Multi-talented Award-winning UFC and GLORY Play-By-Play Commentator and Broadcast Journalist Todd Grisham – who has worked for ESPN Sports Center, Major League Soccer, MMA Live and WWE – most recently served as the voice and soundtrack for the much-talked about GLORY 50 in Chicago, Illinois which was main evented by globally acclaimed reigning champion Murthel Groenhart and challenger Harut Grigorian for the GLORY Welterweight Championship.
The widely talented Todd Grisham’s maiden professional Mixed Martial Arts assignment upon joining UFC was commentating live for the UFC Fight Night: Yair Rodriguez vs. B.J. Penn extravaganza on January 15, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona.
GLORY 50 was broadcast live in the United States on ESPN, Fight Network and UFC Fight Pass; GLORY is a Singapore-based Professional Sports organization and is undisputedly the #1 Professional Kickboxing company on the planet.
Before GLORY 50, FOX Sports 96.9 FM/1340 AM’s Dean Perretta caught up with UFC and GLORY Play-by-Play Commentator Todd Grisham to discuss the anticipation surrounding GLORY 50, the dominance and success of current GLORY Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven, the climatic GLORY Heavyweight Contender Tournament which culminated at GLORY 50 on February 16, coupled alongside Todd Grisham’s bold predictions for the highly-rated breakthrough GLORY combatants in 2018 and much more only on FOX Sports 96.9 FM/1340 AM.
Q: First and foremost Todd, the much-talked about and high-profile GLORY 50 live event inside the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois is headlined by the reigning and defending GLORY Welterweight Champion Murthel Groenhart who defends the prestigious title against the prolific #1 contender Harut Grigorian on February 16 in what is destined to be a highly memorable affair. What are your overall thoughts on GLORY coming back to the Windy City and of course ultimately how excited are you to call the live action at the surefire blockbuster event that is GLORY 50?
Todd Grisham: Glory 50 is a huge moment and milestone for the company and we have risen to be that occasion with one of the best cards we’ve ever had, certainly since I’ve been with the company.
Not only do we have a fantastic title fight between (Harut) Grigorian and (Murthuel) Groenhart but our four-man heavyweight contender tournament is going to be off the charts good. I can’t wait to call the action!
Q: GLORY 50 will of course be broadcast live and exclusive in the United States on ESPN, Fight Network and UFC Fight Pass. With that being said, how has your experience been thus far with the internationally regarded GLORY and has there been a particular moment which has stood out for you during your current successful tenure with the Singapore-based organization?
Todd Grisham: My experience with Glory has been fantastic. I joined up with the company at Glory 30 and it has been a wild ride, for sure. There have been several amazing moments but as far as the one moment that has stood out for me the most it has to be the last time (Harut) Gregorian faced (Murthuel) Groenhart in Paris, France.
It was a very controversial knock out followed by fans a storming the ring and attacking Groenhart. It has been viewed over a 100 million times on social media. Clearly not the finest moment in combat sports history but it was memorable!
Q: GLORY Heavyweight Champion Rico Verhoeven appears in brand new Hollywood motion picture “Kickboxer: Retaliation” which was released on January 26. What are your thoughts on Rico Verhoeven and of course the benefits which GLORY as a company reaps courtesy of this very exposure to a brand new audience?
Todd Grisham: First of all, Rico (Verhoeven) is a fantastic guy outside of the ring. Super nice to everyone who crosses his path. In the ring, he seems to get better each and every fight as he showed and his last fight against Jamal Ben Saddik.
Rico was in trouble like we hadn’t seen him in a very long time. But he fought back and knocked out the Goliath (Jamal Ben Saddik) in the final round. With a rematch against Badr Hari on the horizon and several big projects for him outside the ring in 2018 it could be his best year yet.
Q: The very enthralling GLORY Heavyweight Contender Tournament continues at GLORY 50 with Semi-Final showdowns including Benjamin Adegbuyi vs. D’Angelo Marshall and Guto Icocente vs. Junior Tafa. Of the aforementioned GLORY combatants, which athlete do you feel has the potential to be crowned winner of the GLORY Heavyweight Contender Tournament?
Todd Grisham: This may seem like the generic Glory employee answer but I legitimately believe all four men can win it. (Benjamin) Adegbuyi is a former world title challenger, (D’Angelo) Marshall won the last Heavyweight Contender tournament and Guto Inocente beat both Adegbuyi and Marshall last year. As for (Junior) Tafa, he is young, hungry, ultra confident and may be the biggest puncher in the whole tournament.
Q: Last but most certainly not least Todd, which GLORY combatants in your opinion do you feel will have a breakthrough year in 2018?
Todd Grisham: I think Junior Tafa could shock the world in Chicago (GLORY 50). I believe Muay Thai world champion Petchpanomrung (Kiatmookao) will win a Glory world title and I think American Elvis Gashi will continue his rapid rise toward a title and could very well finish the year with his perfect record in tact.
