Sergej Maslobojev wins in Lithuania as GLORY suspension drama continues
Sergej Maslobojev looked sharp, relaxed and completely unfazed on Saturday night in Kaunas. Outside the GLORY spotlight and away from the noise surrounding his suspension, the former light heavyweight champion stepped into the ring and handled business like nothing had changed.
But around him, the questions still haven’t gone away.
Maslobojev dominates at UTMA 18
Sergej Maslobojev picked up a convincing win over rising Lithuanian prospect Ignas Pauliukevičius at UTMA 18 in front of a loud home crowd in Kaunas.
From the opening round, the experience gap showed immediately.
Maslobojev controlled distance well, stayed patient behind his jab and punished mistakes every time Pauliukevičius tried to rush forward. By the second round, the younger fighter looked hesitant to exchange at all.
Watching from ringside clips afterward, one thing stood out clearly: Maslobojev still moves like a top-tier light heavyweight. No signs of ring rust. No hesitation throwing combinations. His timing looked clean, especially with the left hook-counter he kept landing throughout the fight.
That performance arrives at an awkward moment for GLORY.
Suspension still hanging over everything
Maslobojev remains suspended by GLORY Kickboxing until June 14 following a positive test connected to his last fight in the organization.
The Lithuanian veteran has strongly pushed back against the suspension.
According to people around his camp, Maslobojev even arranged an independent second opinion in England that reportedly disputed the original findings. Despite that, GLORY kept the punishment in place, creating tension between both sides over the last few months.
FSI247 previously covered the fallout surrounding Maslobojev’s GLORY suspension, and the situation only became stranger this week after the promotion announced a major light heavyweight tournament.
Timing of GLORY tournament raises eyebrows
GLORY revealed plans for an eight-man light heavyweight grand prix scheduled for June 13.
That date matters.
It lands exactly one day before Maslobojev’s suspension officially ends.
The division’s title is currently vacant, making the tournament one of the biggest kickboxing stories of the summer. Injured contender Bahram Rajabzadeh has already been linked to participation, while insiders continue mentioning Maslobojev’s name as a possible addition despite the suspension timeline.
That’s where things get messy.
If GLORY wants him involved, the promotion would need to solve a situation it created itself. Fans immediately noticed the awkward timing online, especially after Maslobojev’s strong showing in Lithuania.
According to the current Combat Press light heavyweight rankings, Maslobojev still sits among the elite names in global kickboxing despite his inactivity within GLORY.
Future still unclear
Right now, nobody seems completely sure what happens next.
Maslobojev hasn’t publicly committed to the tournament, and people close to him suggest the relationship with GLORY remains strained. At the same time, fighters rarely walk away from opportunities involving world titles and major tournaments.
Especially fighters like him.
FSI247 also recently reported on GLORY’s upcoming light heavyweight grand prix, and Maslobojev’s shadow hangs over the entire bracket whether he enters or not.
Saturday night in Kaunas reminded everyone of one thing though.
He still looks ready for elite-level fights.
Ron
Ron Emmerink is founder of FSI247.com and former founder of Vechtsport Info, widely recognized for covering kickboxing, MMA, and combat sports. With nearly 20 years of experience, he built a reputation for objective journalism, expert analysis, and credible reporting, contributing to major Dutch media while authoring a respected book on kickboxing history.
