GLORY 20 announced for April 3 in Dubai feat. Pat Barry, Gabriel Varga, and more

The world's leading kickboxing promotion has announced its first international event for 2015.

GLORY has partnered up with EMD Promotions for a fight card in the Middle East. GLORY 20 Dubai will take place on Friday April 3, 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"We pride ourselves on being a global brand," said CEO Jon Franklin in today's press release. "This event is a major step in expanding our footprint in the Middle East, a market that continues to grow exponentially in regard to development and consumption of combat sports."

The founder of EMD Promotions, Eisa Aldah, said "EMD Promotions is proud to be able to help in bringing GLORY's exciting brand of kickboxing and world class talent to Dubai. We hope this is the first of many trips to the Middle East for the promotion."

The fight card will be headlined by Canadian standout Gabriel Varga, who won the four-man featherweight tournament at GLORY 17 in June of 2014, and Mosab "The Jaguar" Amrani, who is currently the No. 1-ranked featherweight in the division. Those two will battle for the vacant featherweight title, which is the last of the GLORY belts to be claimed.

In the co-main event, Pat "HD" Barry returns to GLORY after suffering a knockout loss in his debut to Zack Mwekassa at GLORY 16. The American will take on Tunisian veteran Mourad Bouzidi, who returns to the heavyweight division after a brief stint at light heavyweight.

As always, GLORY will once again feature a one-night four-man tournament. This one will be "contender" tournament comprised of middleweight kickboxers.

In the semifinals, the Brazilian up and comer Alex "Po Atan" Pereira, who is the No. 6-ranked GLORY middleweight, will take on No. 3-ranked Dutchman Jason "Tyson" Wilnis. In the opposing bracket, the No. 4-ranked Canadian, Simon Marcus, who suffered the first professional loss of his career to Joe Schilling at GLORY "Last Man Standing," will be matched up against New York's Wayne Barrett.

Barrett lost to Wilnis at GLORY 18 and is now ranked fifth in the division.