Ex-Glory Imad Hadar left without opponent after chaos in Utrecht

Hours before fight night at the WFL and K-1 event promoted by former MMA star Melvin Manhoef, Hadar learned his bout against Frangis Goma was off. No injury. No failed medical. Just complete confusion over the agreed weight.

And according to Hadar, his opponent didn’t even know about the deal.

Weight disagreement blows up the matchup

Imad Hadar had been preparing for weeks to compete at a catchweight instead of full middleweight. The former GLORY fighter no longer wanted to cut all the way down, so both camps allegedly agreed to meet somewhere in between.

At least that’s what Hadar believed.

Speaking afterward, he claimed Goma arrived expecting a fight at 85 kilograms, while Hadar prepared for a different number entirely. The gap reportedly ended up being more than four kilos once both fighters checked in.

That was enough to kill the fight before the first punch was thrown.

People backstage described the atmosphere as tense almost immediately after the disagreement surfaced. Coaches moved in and out of locker rooms trying to figure out what went wrong while fighters from earlier bouts continued warming up nearby like nothing happened.

Hadar still wanted to fight

The frustrating part for Hadar was simple: he was still willing to go through with it.

After a long training camp and travel arrangements involving supporters from outside the Netherlands, he didn’t want the night wasted. Those close to his camp say he pushed hard to stay on the card no matter who stood across from him.

A replacement opponent was quickly discussed.

There was just one problem. The new fighter reportedly weighed around nine kilos more.

Most fighters would walk away at that point. Hadar seriously considered taking it anyway after speaking with his coach. That says a lot about the mentality he still carries despite the setbacks surrounding his recent career.

FSI247 previously covered Hadar’s frustration about being overlooked after GLORY, and people around him insist he’s desperate to rebuild momentum.

Second replacement also falls apart

Even the backup plan didn’t survive.

After more discussions with event officials, the replacement opponent eventually pulled out as well, leaving Hadar without a fight entirely. By then, frustration around the situation was impossible to hide.

Backstage footage circulating online showed Hadar pacing around quietly while others tried calming him down. Not angry exactly. Just exhausted by the whole thing.

FSI247 also reported on Hadar’s earlier criticism of GLORY, where he openly questioned how certain fighters get opportunities while others disappear from the spotlight.

Another reminder of how chaotic fight sports can get

Combat sports can fall apart incredibly fast.

One misunderstanding about weight, one missed conversation between camps, and weeks of preparation disappear instantly. Fans expecting fireworks between Hadar and Goma instead watched the matchup vanish before walkouts even started.

According to current Combat Press kickboxing rankings, weight management remains one of the biggest recurring issues across international kickboxing promotions.

And on Sunday in Utrecht, it wrecked one of the card’s most anticipated fights.