Tag: Simon Marcus

Through common lenses: Israel Adesanya, Alex Pereira’s mutual opponents preview UFC 281 headliner

The four men who fought both Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira in kickboxing explain why they’re so difficult – and give their predictions.

Regardless of what happens Saturday at UFC 281, [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] will forever be linked.

Former two-time kickboxing opponents, Adesanya and Pereira are on the verge of a quasi-trilogy bout under a different rule set. Their kickboxing matches, both won by Pereira, seem like they took place during a different lifetime on an alternate planet.

While so much has changed, a lot has remained the same. Adesanya and Pereira still rely heavily on the discipline that got them to the big dance, a UFC middleweight title fight at Madison Square Garden. They’re mixed martial artists now, but still kickboxers.

Adesanya and Pereira have that direct linkage already, but the web extends beyond. Four men shared the ring with both during their kickboxing days. They know what it truly feels like to be kicked, punched and even sometimes knocked out by the fighters on the UFC 281 marquee.

Ex-GLORY Kickboxing champion Simon Marcus wins pro MMA debut after unconventional ending

At Unified MMA 42, Simon Marcus displayed a well-rounded arsenal before a foul led to an unconventional judges’ tally.

[autotag]Simon Marcus[/autotag] isn’t a mixed martial arts champion yet, but he took one step closeer to that goal Friday.

At Unified MMA 42, Marcus (1-0) won his MMA debut when he defeated [autotag]Anton Tokarchuk[/autotag] (4-6-1) via technical decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18). The event took place at River Cree Casino in Enoch, Alberta, Canada.

Marcus, 35, fought at a 195-pound catchweight, a weight 25 pounds above his targeted division of welterweight. Despite a large size disadvantage, Marcus figured out a way to largely dominate the awkward and durable Tokarchuk for two rounds and some change.

Not only did Marcus show off his kicking abilities, he displayed the ability to control Tokarchuk on the ground, even if he wasn’t able to advance his position. Kicks to the legs and body visibly left their marks on the lengthy Tokarchuk, who continued to move forward until he was poked in the eye early in Round 3.

Upon examination by the cageside physician, Tokarchuk was declared unable to see and unable to continue. Since the fight was past the midway point, the bout went to the judges’ scorecards for a technical decision and Marcus was declared the winner.

The win comes in Marcus’ first competition since 2018. After a failed entry into the world of boxing due to cancellations and lack of opportunities, Marcus began his MMA journey six months ago. Though he’s older than many pro debutants, Marcus told MMA Junkie before the fight that he plans on taking the fast-track to the UFC like his former kickboxing opponent Alex Perreira.

A former muay Thai and GLORY Kickboxing world champion, Marcus holds wins over MMA notables Israel Adesanya, Dustin Jacoby and Joe Schilling, among others. His combined record prior to Friday’s fight was 55-5-1.

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