Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik secured a dramatic knockout victory over Uku Jurjendal at GLORY 98 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on February 22. Jurjendal, who had previously found success with calf kicks against Badr Hari, struggled to implement the same strategy. The Estonian found himself in a stalemate with Ben Saddik, who remained content with minimal effort, doing just enough with low kicks to edge the rounds in his favor. Une fierté... Le champion Marocain Jamal Ben Saddik revient en force avec une victoire par KO contre l'Estonien Uku Jürjendal ??❤️ #GLORY98 #المغرب_أولا #Morocco #Maroc #DimaMaghrib #glory98 #SaharaMarocain pic.twitter.com/WkDuuhJyFK — Morocco First ?? (@TheRealMarroqui) February 22, 2025 Trailing on points, Jurjendal came out swinging in the third round, determined to turn the tide. However, midway through, he sustained an arm injury, severely limiting his offense. In a last-ditch effort, he aimed for a knockout, but Ben Saddik capitalized on his vulnerability, landing a decisive high kick in the final moments to end the fight. «This year, I will bring the belt to Morocco. I would like to thank the King of Morocco, my Moroccan brothers and sisters, my fans, and my friends from around the world. Thank you for your support», he said at the end of the fight, with the flag of Morocco draped over his shoulders. Ben Saddik's return to the ring comes amid ongoing legal troubles. The Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer was arrested in July 2023 in connection with an alleged kidnapping linked to drug trafficking in Antwerp. Authorities suspected him of involvement in the abduction of a 29-year-old dockworker over a dispute related to a cocaine shipment. He faced charges including kidnapping, death threats, illegal possession of firearms, and participation in a criminal organization. After several weeks in detention, a Belgian court granted him conditional release in September, 2024, initially without an electronic bracelet. However, prosecutors appealed the decision, leading to his release under electronic surveillance. This is not the first time Ben Saddik has faced legal issues—he was briefly jailed in 2021 for selling encrypted phones used in criminal activities in the Sky ECC case and was later sentenced to 40 months in prison for money laundering and fraud.
