Glory (kickboxing)
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Pierre Andurand, Marcus Luer, Scott Rudmann, Total Sports Asia |
| Headquarters | 30, Raffles Place, Level 17, Chevron House, Singapore |
Key people | Marcus Luer (managing director) Pierre Andurand (chairman, majority shareholder) Jon Franklin (CEO) Scott Rudmann (director) Cor Hemmers (matchmaker) |
| Owner | Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. |
| Website | http://www.gloryworldseries.com/en |
Glory (stylized as GLORY) and formerly Glory World Series is an international kickboxing promotion company founded in 2012 by Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. partners Pierre Andurand, Marcus Luer, Scott Rudmann and Total Sports Asia. The company has its headquarters in Singapore.
History
When K-1, historically the world's premier kickboxing organization, began suffering from extreme financial difficulties in 2011, Total Sports Asia, TSA CEO Marcus Luer, London-based French investor Pierre Andurand, and Scott Rudmann of Nectar Capital attempted to buy the brand. When K-1 was instead sold to Gunil "Mike" Kim and EMCOM Entertainment Inc., Pierre Andurand, TSA, and the other investors decided to start a brand new label and kickboxing organisation called GLORY, and bought United Glory, Golden Glory and It's Showtime in order to secure a top event production team, and to secure all the top fighters in the world.[1] Pierre Andurand, Marcus Luer, and Scott Rudmann derived the name 'GLORY' for the new brand from Golden Glory.
The name GLORY has caused some confusion to arise as to Golden Glory's role with the new organization. GLORY has clarified that Golden Glory, like the It's Showtime organization, was bought and absorbed by the investment team headed by Pierre Andurand, and not the other way around.[2] A number of people formerly involved with It's Showtime, the Golden Glory team and the United Glory event became GLORY consultants, though Simon Rutz, the founder and former owner of It's Showtime, has departed the company. [3]
GSI signed most of the world's top kickboxers such as Peter Aerts, Remy Bonjasky, Semmy Schilt, Gokhan Saki, Daniel Ghiţă, Albert Kraus, Giorgio Petrosyan, Yoshihiro Sato, and Pat Barry.
Business
GLORY Sports International has its offices in UK, Netherlands, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and US. The company includes unprecedented mix of accomplished entrepreneurs and senior level executives from the diverse worlds of finance, sports marketing, television, technology and martial arts fighting.[4]
In November 2012, GLORY entered into a partnership with the ONE Fighting Championship mixed martial arts promotions to share fighters.[5]
In February 2013, GLORY announced former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker to the position of the global CEO of Glory Sports International. [6]
In June 2013, after having an inaugural first event in USA at NY (Glory 9: New York) on June 22, 2013, SPIKE TV signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast GLORY kickboxing events.[7]
In August 2014, GLORY announced Jon Franklin has been appointed as new CEO of Glory Sports International, and extended broadcast deal with Spike TV to cover 2015. [8]
Events
| Event | Date | Venue | City | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glory 18 - Lightweight World Title | November 7, 2014 | To be announced |  USA
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| Glory 17: Los Angeles - Middleweight Last Man Standing Tournament & Heavyweight World Title & Welterweight World Title & Featherweight Contender Tournament | June 21, 2014 | The Forum | Inglewood, California, USA
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| Glory 16: Denver - Heavyweight Contender Tournament & Welterweight World Title | May 3, 2014 | 1stBank Center | Broomfield, Colorado, USA
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| Glory 15: Istanbul - Light Heavyweight World Championship Tournament | April 12, 2014 | Ülker Sports Arena |  Istanbul, Turkey
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| Glory 14: Zagreb - Middleweight Contender Tournament & Lightweight World Title | March 8, 2014 | Arena Zagreb |  Zagreb, Croatia
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| Glory 13: Tokyo - Welterweight World Championship Tournament | December 21, 2013 | Ariake Coliseum |  Tokyo, Japan
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| Glory 12: New York - Lightweight World Championship Tournament | November 23, 2013 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York, USA
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| Glory 11: Chicago - Heavyweight World Championship Tournament | October 12, 2013 | Sears Centre | Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA
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| Glory 10: Los Angeles - Middleweight World Championship Tournament | September 28, 2013 | Citizens Business Bank Arena | Ontario, California, USA
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2,200[9] |
| Glory 9: New York - 95kg Slam Tournament | June 22, 2013 | Hammerstein Ballroom | New York City, New York, USA
|
1,950 |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA Heavyweight Tournament | June 14, 2013 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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| 2013 Road to Glory USA 70kg Tournament | May 11, 2013 | The Rave | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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| Glory 8: Tokyo - 65kg Slam Tournament | May 3, 2013 | Ariake Coliseum | Tokyo, Japan
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3,500 |
| 2013 Road to Glory Japan 85kg Tournament | ||||
| Glory 7: Milan | April 20, 2013 | Mediolanum Forum |  Milan, Italy
|
10,000 |
| Glory 6: Istanbul | April 6, 2013 | Ülker Arena | Istanbul, Turkey
|
12,000 |
| Glory 5: London | March 23, 2013 | ExCeL Arena |  London, England, UK
|
4,500 |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA 77kg Tournament | March 22, 2013 | Capitale | New York City, New York, USA
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| 2013 Road to Glory Japan 65kg Tournament | March 10, 2013 | Differ Ariake Arena | Tokyo, Japan
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| 2013 Road to Glory USA 85kg Tournament | February 9, 2013 | Hollywood Park Casino | Los Angeles, California, USA
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| 2013 Road to Glory USA 95kg Tournament | February 2, 2013 | Hard Rock Hotel and Casino | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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| Glory 4: Tokyo - Heavyweight Grand Slam Tournament | December 31, 2012 | Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan
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15,000 |
| Glory 3: Rome - 70kg Slam Tournament | November 3, 2012 | PalaLottomatica | Rome, Italy
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| Glory 2: Brussels | October 6, 2012 | Forest National |  Brussels, Belgium
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| Glory 1: Stockholm - 70kg Slam Tournament Qualification & Heavyweight World Title | May 26, 2012 | Ericsson Globe |  Stockholm, Sweden
|
Champions
Current champions
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since | Title defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | +95 kg (209.4 lb) |  Rico Verhoeven |
June 21, 2014 | 0 |
| Light Heavyweight | 95 kg (209.4 lb) | Gökhan Saki |
April 12, 2014 | 0 |
| Middleweight | 85 kg (187.4 lb) |  Artem Levin |
June 21, 2014 | 0 |
| Welterweight | 77 kg (169.8 lb) |  Joseph Valtellini |
June 21, 2014 | 0 |
| Lightweight | 70 kg (154.3 lb) |  Davit Kiria |
March 8, 2014 | 0 |
| Featherweight | 65 kg (143.3 lb) |  TBD |
Glory Heavyweight Championship
+95 kg (+209.4 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign (Total) |
Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semmy Schilt def. Errol Zimmerman |
Glory 1: Stockholm Stockholm, Sweden |
May 26, 2012 | 395 days |
|
| Schilt vacated the title after retiring due to a heart condition on June 26, 2013.[10] | |||||
| 2 | Rico Verhoeven def. Daniel Ghiță |
Glory 17: Los Angeles Inglewood, California, USA |
June 21, 2014 | 3699 days (incumbent) |
|
Glory Light Heavyweight Championship
-95 kg (-209.4 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign (Total) |
Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gökhan Saki def. Tyrone Spong |
Glory 15: Istanbul Istanbul, Turkey |
April 12, 2014 | 3769 days (incumbent) |
Glory Middleweight Championship
-85 kg (-187.4 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign (Total) |
Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artem Levin def. Joe Schilling |
Glory 17: Los Angeles Inglewood, California, USA |
June 21, 2014 | 3699 days (incumbent) |
Glory Welterweight Championship
-77 kg (-169.8 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign (Total) |
Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marc de Bonte def. Karapet Karapetyan |
Glory 16: Denver Broomfield, Colorado, USA |
May 3, 2014 | 50 days |
|
| 2 | Joseph Valtellini
|
Glory 17: Los Angeles Inglewood, California, USA |
June 21, 2014 | 3699 days (incumbent) |
Glory Lightweight Championship
-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign (Total) |
Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davit Kiria def. Andy Ristie |
Glory 14: Zagreb Zagreb, Croatia |
March 8, 2014 | 3804 days (incumbent) |
Tournament champions
Contender Tournament winners
| Tournament | Date | Weight class | Winner[11] | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Glory Middleweight Contender Tournament |
March 8, 2014 | Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb) |
Alex Pereira | Sahak Parparyan |
| 2014 Glory Heavyweight Contender Tournament |
May 3, 2014 | Heavyweight (+95 kg/209.4 lb) |
Errol Zimmerman | Anderson Silva |
| 2014 Glory Featherweight Contender Tournament |
June 21, 2014 | Featherweight (-65 kg/143.3 lb) |
Gabriel Varga | Shane Oblonsky |
Road to Glory Tournament winners
| Tournament | Date | Weight class | Winner[12] | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Road to Glory USA 95 kg Tournament |
February 2, 2013 | Light Heavyweight (-95 kg/209.4 lb) |
Dustin Jacoby | Brian Collette |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA 85 kg Tournament |
February 9, 2013 | Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb) |
Mike Lemaire | Eddie Walker |
| 2013 Road to Glory Japan 65 kg Tournament |
March 10, 2013 | Featherweight (-65 kg/143.3 lb) |
Masaaki Noiri | Yuki |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA 77 kg Tournament |
March 22, 2013 | Welterweight (-77 kg/169.8 lb) |
Francois Ambang | Brett Hlavacek |
| 2013 Road to Glory Japan 85 kg Tournament |
May 3, 2013 | Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb) |
Kengo Shimizu | Magnum Sakai |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA 70 kg Tournament |
May 11, 2013 | Lightweight (-70 kg/154.3 lb) |
Michael Mananquil | Troy Sheridan |
| 2013 Road to Glory USA Heavyweight Tournament |
June 14, 2013 | Heavyweight (+95 kg/209.4 lb) |
Xavier Vigney | Maurice Green |
Notable fighters
Heavyweight |
Light Heavyweight |
Middleweight |
Welterweight |
Lightweight |
Featherweight |
See also
References
- ^ Glory World Series Puts $1 Million USD on the Line in New Tournaments
- ^ John Joe O'Regan (2012-10-25). "GLORY takes over DREAM for NYE show - Fighters Only". Fightersonlymag.com. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ "News - Â'ItÂ's ShowtimeÂ' promoter Simon Rutz retires from kickboxing business". Gloryworldseries.com. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ "About Us". Gloryworldseries.com. 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ Glory Announces 'Road to Glory USA' and OneFC Partnership
- ^ "News - Andrew Whitaker Named New Glory Ceo". Gloryworldseries.com. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ "GLORY, Spike sign multi-year broadcasting deal". MMA Fighting. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ "Glory Appoints New CEO, Extends Spike TV Broadcast Deal". Sherdog.com. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ Glory 10 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Bryan Vera results: Soooo...about last night
- ^ Sem Schilt Retires Due to Heart Condition
- ^ Winners earn a spot in the Glory world championship tournament.
- ^ Winners earn a contract with Glory.