Glory (kickboxing)

Background

When K-1 began suffering from extreme financial difficulties in 2011, Total Sports Asia, TSA CEO Marcus Luer, Pierre Andurand, and Scott Rudmann of Nectar Capital attempted to buy the brand. K-1 was instead sold to Mike Kim and EMCOM Entertainment Inc.

In the aftermath, Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann and TSA decided to start a brand new kickboxing promotion and acquired United Glory, Golden Glory, and It's Showtime to secure a top event production team and contracts to each promotion's top fighters. Forming the Glory World Series, Pierre Andurand was named Chairman and Rudmann was named vice-chairman. A number of people formerly involved with these three entities event became Glory consultants.

Glory World Series signed most of the world's top kickboxers, such as Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt, Gokhan Saki, Daniel Ghiţă, Albert Kraus, and Giorgio Petrosyan.

History

The company includes a mix of entrepreneurs and senior level executives from different environments. The company's current investors include Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann and Nectar Capital and Yao Capital. Former investors have been Liberty Global, and TwinFocus Capital Partners.

In February 2013, Glory announced that former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker had been hired as the global CEO of Glory Sports International. In August, 2014 Andrew Whitaker moved into an advisory role within GLORY and Jon J. Franklin was appointed as the new CEO. Under Franklin's leadership Glory was named the Number one kickboxing league in the world by Combat Press and one of the three most important global combat sports leagues by Fox Sports (along with the UFC and Bellator).

In 2018, Glory announced that former CEO Jon J. Franklin had moved to the role of Chief Development Officer, and former UFC executive Marshall Zelaznik had been hired as the new CEO.

On May 15, 2020, Glory announced Zelaznik had resigned as Glory CEO.

Financial hardships and change of ownership

On May 26, 2020, Glory Sports International went into receivership, and soon after ownership of Glory was transferred to London-based GSUKCO Limited.

Rudmann is the Executive Vice-Chairman, running the league since it was taken over by GSUKCO.

In a press release on October 2, 2023, Glory announced that Maurice Hols was named as the new Executive Director. Citing "different vision of the future of the organization" with Executive Vice Chairman Rudmann, Hols resigned on February 19, 2024, after just a few months as Executive Director.

In March 2024, it was announced by Glory that Zelaznik returned to the company and was appointed again as CEO.

Media coverage

In June 2013, after having its first U.S. event in New York, Glory 9: New York on June 22, 2013, Spike TV signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast Glory kickboxing events; their partnership began with Glory 11: Chicago on October 12 of that year. The broadcast deal with Spike was extended in May 2014 to cover 2015.

In February 2016, Glory CEO Jon J. Franklin announced a new multi-year deal with ESPN.

Glory was broadcast on Veronica TV in the Netherlands from July, 2018 to February, 2020.

Beginning in 2019, Glory initiated a partnership with the UFC for the former's events to be exclusively carried in the U.S by UFC Fight Pass. The first event to be broadcast as part of this partnership was Glory 63: Houston on February 1 and the last event was Glory 75: Utrecht on February 29, 2020.

Events from Glory 76 to Glory 80 Studio were available through pay-per-view.

28 June 2022 Glory announced a multi-year broadcast deal with Videoland in the Netherlands. The deal covered all Glory events starting from Glory 81: Ben Saddik vs. Adegbuyi 2. The last event broadcast by Videoland was Glory 98 headlined by Jamal Ben Saddik vs Uku Jürjendal.

On 16 February 2024 a multi-year broadcast deal with DAZN for most global viewers was announced.

In 6 January 2026, Talpa's OTT streaming platform KIJK become the new broadcaster of Glory in the Netherlands also replacing the previous global broadcaster DAZN after the DAZN's Glory broadcasting rights contract expired in the end of 2025. At the same time, Flipps Media's OTT streaming platform Triller TV also have the new broadcaster of Glory for global viewers (outside of the Netherlands).

Glory Rivals

In January 2022 Glory announced a new series of events called Glory Rivals, jointly promoted with regional promotions. The first Rivals event with Enfusion was scheduled for May 21, 2022, at the Lotto Arena in Antwerp, Belgium. The event was later cancelled due to the finances of Enfusion's local promoter partner Antwerp Fight Organization catching the attention of Belgian authorities.

Glory Rivals 1 was instead held on June 11, 2022, in Alkmaar, Netherlands. In the main event Luis Tavares defeated Florent Kaouachi by knockout in the third round.

Glory Rivals 2 was held on September 17, 2022, in Alkmaar, Netherlands.

Glory Rivals 3 was organized at Sporthallen Zuid in Amsterdam on November 5, 2022. Ibrahim El Bouni defeated Muhammed Balli by knock-out in the first round.

Glory Rivals 4 took place on December 25 at Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo, Japan, in collaboration with Rise and Shoot boxing. Kento Haraguchi defeated Serhii Adamchuk by unanimous decision.

GLORY Rivals 5 was organized on January 28, 2023, at Zamna Tulum Hotel in Tulum, Mexico, in collaboration with War of Nations. Abraham Vidales defeated Tomás Aguirre by Unanimous Decision. On January 11, 2024, it was announced that Glory and RISE would hold joint tournaments, combine their rankings and unify their rankings. A few days later, on February 6, the promotion put their lightweight and women's super bantamweight divisions on hold.

Roster

Main article: List of current GLORY fighters

Events

Glory events

United Glory events

Current champions

Indicates former interim champions.

Indicates current lineal and interim champions.

Championship history

Glory Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: Unlimited

Glory Light Heavyweight Championship

Weight limit: 95 kg

Glory Middleweight Championship

Weight limit: 85 kg

Glory Welterweight Championship

Weight limit: 77 kg

Glory Lightweight Championship

Weight limit: 70 kg

Glory Featherweight Championship

Weight limit: 65 kg

Glory Women's Super Bantamweight Championship

Weight limit: 55 kg

Tournament champions

Contender Tournament champions

Qualification Tournament winners

Road to Glory Tournament champions

Multi-division champions

Fighters who have won championships in multiple weight classes (excluding tournament champions).

• NED Robin van Roosmalen - Won Glory Lightweight Championship on November 7, 2014, then Glory Featherweight Championship on October 21, 2016.
• BRA Alex Pereira - Won Glory Middleweight Championship on October 14, 2017, then Glory Light Heavyweight Championship on January 30, 2021.

Hall of Fame

Records

Awards

• World Independent Promoters Union (WIPU)
  • 2011 Runner up - Kickboxing Promotion of the Year
• Beyond Kickboxing
  • Beyond Kickboxing's 2024 Promotion of the Year

References

References

1. John Joe O'Regan. (2012-10-25). "GLORY takes over DREAM for NYE show - Fighters Only". Fightersonlymag.com.
2. Dave Walsh. "Glory World Series Puts $1 Million USD on the Line in New Tournaments". LiverKick.com.
3. (2013-03-28). "News - Â'ItÂ's ShowtimeÂ' promoter Simon Rutz retires from kickboxing business". Gloryworldseries.com.
4. (2012-05-26). "About Us". Gloryworldseries.com.
5. Patrick Frater. (13 September 2016). "Yao Ming, Liberty Global Invest in Kickboxing's Glory Sports". Variety.com.
6. (2013-02-05). "News - Andrew Whitaker Named New Glory Ceo". Gloryworldseries.com.
7. "Glory Sports International Appoints Jon J. Franklin as Global Chief Executive".
8. (2018-01-24). "GLORY Appoints Marshall Zelaznik as New CEO; Franklin Moves to Development Role". LiverKick.
9. (15 May 2020). "Marshall Zelaznik resigns as CEO of Glory Kickboxing, will stay on in advising role".
10. (3 July 2020). "An update: I'm told by a GLORY exec...".
11. (October 2, 2023). "GLORY appoints new Executive Director".
12. Anthony Barry. (February 19, 2024). "BREAKING! GLORY Executive Director Maurice Hols Announces Resignation – "...In Order to Be Successful, One Must Be True to Their Own Values and Beliefs"".
13. Timothy Wheaton. (March 19, 2024). "Marshall Zelaznik Returns as CEO of GLORY Kickboxing". combatpress.com.
14. (2014-08-19). "Glory Appoints New CEO, Extends Spike TV Broadcast Deal". Sherdog.com.
15. (2016-02-26). "Glory announces ESPN partnership and Glory 29 Copenhagen". © 2016 [[Vox Media, Inc.]].
16. (June 27, 2018). "John de Mol haalt GLORY Kickboxing naar Veronica".
17. (February 29, 2020). "? | KIJKEN: GLORY 75 Utrecht via TV en Livestream".
18. (26 August 2020). "Veronica stopt met uitzenden kickbokswedstrijden GLORY".
19. "UFC FIGHT PASS AND GLORY REACH GROUND-BREAKING DEAL".
20. (28 June 2022). "Glory in zee met Videoland: Gevechten exclusief te zien via streamingsdienst".
21. https://www.ad.nl/vechtsport/geen-glory-meer-op-videoland-kickboksorganisatie-moet-op-zoek-naar-nieuwe-streamingpartner~a1ed8ed54/
22. "Dazn Further Strengthens ITS Combat Sports Offering with Glory Kickboxing".
23. "KIJK becomes the home of GLORY Kickboxing in the Netherlands".
24. "Glory Kickboxing Announces Cross Promotion Series with Multiple Organizations".
25. (10 May 2022). "Onderzoek KALI-team nekt vechtsportgala in Lotto Arena: Sportpaleis NV stopt samenwerking met Antwerp Fighting Organisation".
26. "GLORY Rivals 1 and Enfusion 108 Results: Tavares Knocks Out Kaouachi". Combat Press.
27. (26 July 2022). "Robin Ciric vs Endy Semeleer headlines GLORY Rivals 2". FIGHTMAG.
28. "RISE & GLORY Announce 8-Men Featherweight Grand Prix".
29. "GLORY Puts Their Lightweight Division on Hold".
30. Matthew Roth. (29 September 2013). "Glory 10 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Bryan Vera results: Soooo...about last night". MMAmania.com.
31. Dave Walsh. "Sem Schilt Retires". LiverKick.com.
32. "BREAKING: Rico Verhoeven Vacates GLORY Heavyweight Title — "It's Not a Goodbye, It's an 'Until We Meet Again.'"".
33. "Rico Verhoeven vacates GLORY Heavyweight Title".
34. "GLORY Statement on Gokokhan Saki". gloryworldseries.com.
35. (17 June 2022). "Titelgevecht voor Luis Tavares, Glory breekt met Vakhitov en Russen".
36. "Sergej Maslobojev Vacates GLORY Light Heavyweight Title After Positive Drug Test".
37. (18 May 2021). "GLORY 78: 2nd Title Bout Added to Fight Card, Catinas Returns".
38. Dave Walsh. "GLORY Welterweight Champion Joseph Valtellini Vacates Championship". LiverKick.com.
39. (16 November 2021). "Cédric Doumbé n'est officiellement plus champion du Glory".
40. (23 August 2020). "ONE Championship Signs Marat Grigorian".
41. "La star du Kickboxing Tyjani Beztati fait une grande annonce".
42. (20 January 2017). "GLORY 37 weigh-in results: Robin van Roosmalen misses weight, stripped of Featherweight title".
43. (10 September 2023). "GLORY 88 Results".
44. (10 February 2012). "Eduard Irimia a fost premiat alături de Mike Tyson şi Andre Ward". [[Libertatea]].
45. "Beyond Kickboxing Awards 2024".