Glory (kickboxing)
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Company type | Private |
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Industry | Kickboxing promotion |
Founded | 2012 |
Founder | Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann, Total Sports Asia |
Headquarters | 30, Raffles Place, Level 17, Chevron House, Singapore |
Key people | Pierre Andurand (Chairman, Majority Shareholder) Jon J. Franklin (CEO) Scott Rudmann (Vice-Chairman) Paul Karger (Director) Eric Zhang (Director) Will Zhu (Director) Cor Hemmers (Matchmaker) |
Owner | Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. |
Website | http://www.glorykickboxing.com/ |
Glory and formerly Glory World Series is an international kickboxing promotion company founded in 2012 by Glory Sports International Pte Ltd. partners Pierre Andurand, Scott Rudmann and Total Sports Asia. The company has its headquarters in Singapore and Intenational offices in Denver USA and Amsterdam, Holland.
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. Scott Rudmann was named vice-chairman and has since become an integral part of GLORY's success as an organization.[1]
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, 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] The company’s investors include Yao Capital, the investment arm of Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, cable TV company Liberty Global, and TwinFocus Capital Partners of Boston.[5]
In November 2012, GLORY entered into a partnership with the ONE Championship mixed martial arts promotions to share fighters.[6]
In February 2013, GLORY announced former WWE Executive VP Andrew Whitaker to the position of the global CEO of Glory Sports International.[7]
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.
In August 2014, GLORY announced Jon J Franklin has been appointed as new CEO of Glory Sports International, after broadcast deal extended with Spike TV in May 2014 to cover 2015. Glory has seen unprecedented growth through 2017 under Jon J Franklin doubling the number of TV shows and with initiation of partnerships with the UFC for PPV events and on UFC Fightpass tekevision.[8]
In February 2016, Jon Franklin and GLORY announced a new multi-year deal with ESPN.[9]
For 2017 the Glory schedule has increased to 18 events and production of around 100 TV shows.
Events
Champions
Current champions
Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since | Title defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heavyweight | +95 kg (209.4 lb) | ![]() |
June 21, 2014 | 5 |
Light Heavyweight | 95 kg (209.4 lb) | ![]() |
March 12, 2016 | 2 |
Middleweight | 85 kg (187.4 lb) | ![]() |
April 29, 2017 | 0 |
Welterweight | 77 kg (169.8 lb) | ![]() |
August 26, 2017 | 0 |
Lightweight | 70 kg (154.3 lb) | ![]() |
June 25, 2016 | 2 |
Featherweight | 65 kg (143.3 lb) | ![]() |
May 20, 2017 | 0 |
Women's Super Bantamweight | 55.3 kg (121.9 lb) | ![]() |
December 10, 2016 | 1 |
Glory Heavyweight Championship
+95 kg (+209.4 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() def. Daniel Ghiță |
Glory 17: Los Angeles ![]() |
June 21, 2014 |
1. def. Errol Zimmerman at Glory 19: Virginia on Feb 6, 2015 in Hampton, Virginia, USA |
Schilt vacated the title after retiring due to a heart condition on June 26, 2013.[11] | ||||
1 | ![]() def. Errol Zimmerman |
Glory 1: Stockholm![]() |
May 26, 2012 |
Glory Light Heavyweight Championship
-95 kg (-209.4 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current Interim | ![]() def. Saulo Cavalari |
Glory 43: New York![]() |
July 14, 2017 | |
Current | ![]() |
Glory 28: Paris![]() |
March 12, 2016 |
1. def. Zack Mwekassa at Glory 35: Nice on November 5, 2016 in Nice, France |
2 | ![]() def. Zack Mwekassa |
Bellator/Glory: Dynamite 1![]() |
September 19, 2015 | |
Saki was stripped of the title due to inactivity on July 27, 2015.[12] | ||||
1 | ![]() def. Tyrone Spong |
Glory 15: Istanbul ![]() |
April 12, 2014 |
Glory Middleweight Championship
-85 kg (-187.4 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() |
Glory 40: Copenhagen ![]() |
April 29, 2017 | |
3 | ![]() |
Glory 33: New Jersey ![]() |
September 9, 2016 |
1. def. Israel Adesanya at Glory 37: Los Angeles on January 20, 2017 in Los Angeles, USA |
2 | ![]() |
Glory 27: Chicago ![]() |
February 26, 2016 |
1. def. Dustin Jacoby at Glory 30: Los Angeles on May 13, 2016 in Ontario, USA |
1 | ![]() def. Joe Schilling |
Glory 17: Los Angeles ![]() |
June 21, 2014 |
1. draw with Simon Marcus at Glory 21: San Diego on May 8, 2015 in San Diego, USA |
Glory Welterweight Championship
-77 kg (-169.8 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() |
Glory 44: Chicago![]() |
August 25, 2017 | |
4 | ![]() |
Glory 36: Oberhausen![]() |
December 10, 2016 |
1. def. Yoann Kongolo at Glory 39: Brussels on March 25, 2017 in Brussels, Belgium |
3 | ![]() def. Raymond Daniels |
Glory 23: Las Vegas![]() |
August 7, 2015 |
1. def. Murthel Groenhart at Glory 26: Amsterdam on December 4, 2015 in Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Valtellini vacated the title suffering from Post-Concussion Syndrome on June 4, 2015.[13] | ||||
2 | ![]() |
Glory 17: Los Angeles![]() |
June 21, 2014 | |
1 | ![]() def. Karapet Karapetyan |
Glory 16: Denver ![]() |
May 3, 2014 |
Glory Lightweight Championship
-70 kg (-154.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() |
Glory 31: Amsterdam ![]() |
June 25, 2016 |
1. def. Marat Grigorian at Glory 36: Oberhausen on December 10, 2016 in Oberhausen, Germany |
2 | ![]() |
Glory 18: Oklahoma ![]() |
November 7, 2014 |
1. def. Andy Ristie at Glory 20: Dubai on Apr 3, 2015 in Dubai, UAE |
1 | ![]() def. Andy Ristie |
Glory 14: Zagreb ![]() |
March 8, 2014 |
Glory Featherweight Championship
-65 kg (-143.3 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() def. Petchpanomrung Kiatmookao |
Glory 41: Holland ![]() |
May 20, 2017 | |
van Roosmalen was stripped of the title after failing to make weight for a scheduled title defense on January 19, 2017. | ||||
4 | ![]() |
Glory 34: Denver ![]() |
October 21, 2016 | |
3 | ![]() |
Glory 32: Virginia ![]() |
July 22, 2016 | |
2 | ![]() |
Glory 25: Milan ![]() |
November 6, 2015 |
1. def. Mosab Amrani at Glory 28: Paris on March 12, 2016 in Paris, France |
1 | ![]() def. Mosab Amrani |
Glory 20: Dubai ![]() |
April 3, 2015 |
Glory Women's Super Bantamweight Championship
-55.3 kg (-122 lb)
No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
---|---|---|---|---|
Current | ![]() def. Amel Dehby |
Glory 36: Oberhausen ![]() |
December 10, 2016 |
1. def. Meryem Uslu at Glory 44: Chicago on August 25, 2017 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA |
Tournament champions
Contender Tournament champions
Qualification Tournament winners
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Glory Heavyweight Qualification Tournament | ![]() |
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Glory 21: San Diego | May 8, 2015 | 2015 Glory Heavyweight Qualification Tournament bracket |
2015 Glory Middleweight Qualification Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Glory 23: Las Vegas | August 7, 2015 | 2015 Glory Middleweight Qualification Tournament bracket |
2016 Glory Welterweight Qualification Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Glory 30: Los Angeles | May 13, 2016 | 2016 Glory Welterweight Qualification Tournament bracket |
Road to Glory Tournament Champions
Weight Class | Champion | Runner-up | Event | Date | Tournament Bracket |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Road to Glory USA 95 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory USA 95 kg Tournament | February 2, 2013 | |
Road to Glory USA 85 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory USA 85 kg Tournament | February 9, 2013 | |
Road to Glory Japan 65 kg Tournament | ![]() |
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Road to Glory Japan 65 kg Tournament | March 10, 2013 | |
Road to Glory USA 77 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory USA 77 kg Tournament | March 22, 2013 | |
Road to Glory Japan 85 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory Japan 85 kg Tournament | May 3, 2013 | |
Road to Glory USA 70 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
2013 Road to Glory USA 70 kg Tournament | May 11, 2013 | |
Road to Glory USA Heavyweight Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory USA Heavyweight Tournament | June 14, 2013 | |
Road to Glory UK 65 kg Tournament | ![]() |
![]() |
Road to Glory UK 65 kg Tournament | June 14, 2013 |
Notable fighters
Featherweight (-65 kg/143.3 lb)
Lightweight (-70 kg/154.3 lb)
Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong
Robin van Roosmalen
Giorgio Petrosyan
Davit Kiria
Shemsi Beqiri
Albert Kraus
Andy Ristie
Jordan Watson
Marat Grigorian
Johann Fauveau
Ky Hollenbeck
Sanny Dahlbeck
Warren Stevelmans
Yoshihiro Sato
Steve Moxon
Dzhabar Askerov
Alessandro Campagna
Hinata
Chingiz Allazov
Dylan Salvador
Welterweight (-77 kg/169.8 lb)
Middleweight (-85 kg/187.4 lb)
Light Heavyweight (-95 kg/209.4 lb)
Heavyweight (+95 kg/209.4 lb)
Rico Verhoeven
Benjamin Adegbuyi
Jamal Ben Saddik
Remy Bonjasky
Mladen Brestovac
Brian Douwes
Ben Edwards
Mirko Filipović
Hesdy Gerges
Daniel Ghiţă
Guto Inocente
Singh Jaideep
Jérôme Le Banner
Ismael Londt
Cătălin Moroșanu
Daniel Sam
Semmy Schilt
Anderson "Braddock" Silva
Ewerton Teixeira
Nicolas Wamba
Jahfarr Wilnis
Errol Zimmerman
See also
References
- ^ Dave Walsh. "Glory World Series Puts $1 Million USD on the Line in New Tournaments". LiverKick.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Patrick Frater (13 September 2016). "Yao Ming, Liberty Global Invest in Kickboxing's Glory Sports". Variety.com. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ Dave Walsh. "promotions to share fighters". LiverKick.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "News - Andrew Whitaker Named New Glory Ceo". Gloryworldseries.com. 2013-02-05. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
- ^ "Glory Appoints New CEO, Extends Spike TV Broadcast Deal". Sherdog.com. 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
- ^ "Glory announces ESPN partnership and Glory 29 Copenhagen". © 2016 Vox Media, Inc. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
- ^ Matthew Roth. "Glory 10 and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs Bryan Vera results: Soooo...about last night". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ Dave Walsh. "Sem Schilt Retires". LiverKick.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ "GLORY Statement on Gokokhan Saki". gloryworldseries.com. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ Dave Walsh. "GLORY Welterweight Champion Joseph Valtellini Vacates Championship". LiverKick.com. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Glory on X
- Glory on Facebook