The numbered events are back as GLORY announces GLORY 91 and GLORY 92.
Last weekend GLORY started their year big with the return of the Grand Prix format. They are looking to continue their success with the next two announced two cards. The biggest kickboxing promotion in Europe is coming back to Paris on Saturday, 27 April for GLORY 91 and GLORY 92 will take place in Rotterdam on May 18th.
The first event will be headlined with a title fight between GLORY Welterweight champion Endy Semeleer from Curaçao and the promotion’s number one ranked contender Chico Kwasi from the Netherlands. Semeleer is coming off a victory over young challenger Anwar Ouled-Chaib – hardly a challenge, since the champion made short work of the House of GLORY winner. Kwasi will be his first ranked challenger since his win over Jay Overmeer. Chico Kwasi too defeated Jay Overmeer in his last duel, whereafter he expressed his desire to fight for the title as soon as possible. When the challenger signed with the promotion, he expressed his desire to become the division’s king within a year. The timing couldn’t be better since Kwasi made his GLORY debut almost exactly a year ago and to top it off, GLORY 91 coincides with the Dutch national holiday Kingsday.
GLORY’s return to France will have a main event with a title fight in the Middleweight division, where champion Donovan Wisse looks to continue to hunt down every top challenger in the division, this time he takes Swiss fighter Ulric Bokeme. The last time we saw both these fighters was at GLORY Collision 6 in Arnhem, The Netherlands. Champion Wisse had a tough fight against opponent Michael Boapeah, where he made a strong comeback in the championship rounds. Bokeme made sure everyone watching knew his loss against Boapeah was just a slip for him. He defeated former title challenger Serkan Özçağlayan in a unanimous decision and will now face the biggest challenge of his career yet.
Also confirmed for GLORY 91 Rotterdam is a Welterweight match between Jos van Belzen and newly signed Cyril Benzaquen from France.
Zelaznik, who has a wealth of experience in the combat sports space, including a stint with the UFC that ended in October 2016 when he was laid off after WME-IMG (now Endeavor) purchased the UFC for more than $4 billion, will re-take the role of GLORY CEO, effective immediately.
A GLORY official informed MMA Junkie of the move on Monday.
“I am delighted to be returning to combat sports and to my old home of GLORY,” Zelaznik told MMA Junkie. “I’ve spent the past few years in e-sports as CEO of Esports Engine, which was recently sold to Savvy owned ESL Faceit Group. So now is the perfect time to come back. I’ve always felt like there was unfinished business at GLORY due to my last run there ending as the COVID-19 pandemic hit us all.
“GLORY has persevered over the past twelve years but right now it is primed to take a major leap ahead. I am looking forward to reconnecting with the team. They have been doing a terrific job and my ambition is to help guide the company to even more success, continued growth, and make the product even more accessible to fans worldwide.”
GLORY’s most recent event took place March 9 and featured a one-night heavyweight grand prix tournament in the Netherlands. Legendary kickboxing standout Rico Verhoeven won three consecutive fights to become grand prix champion.
Zelaznik said GLORY intends to host additional one-night grand prix in 2024, with light heavyweight, middleweight and welterweight likely to be featured.
The next event for the promotion, GLORY 91, takes place April 27 at the Dome De Paris in France.
Although kickboxing has been erratic in terms of global popularity over the years, it’s an undeniable attraction in Europe. For Zelaznik, it’ll be a goal as CEO to take the GLORY brand to another level of exposure.
“GLORY is the most exciting combat sports promotion on the planet,” Zelaznik said. “I believe there is unlimited potential and my goal is to ensure we continue to build on promoting the best fights, with the best fighters, and the most entertaining sport in the space. While I have been away, the team at GLORY has done an incredible job growing our fans and awareness for the sport and brand”
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Glory looks like the TFL
Terrorist Fight League
Yes and Glory clearly caters to them for survival…it sucks…
Kiss Morrocan ass big time in particular.
damn
Yea im not interested in watching a bunch of refugees lol
You mean invaders.
Especially that big Nabil khachib heavyweight who is 300 plus pounds of birdshit.
Has 4 kos or something. 300 pound pillow fists yet Glory shoves him down our throat because Moroccans will burn the place down if they don’t
Europe better grow some balls and send the africans back soon
