Latest news with #GLORY
Entrepreneur
16-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Inside the Fight League That's Turning Creators Into Broadcasters
GLORY is betting on creators to grow kickboxing in the U.S., launching an exclusive-to-attend, free-to-stream fight series tailored for digital-first audiences. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. For GLORY CEO Marshall Zelaznik, creators aren't just ambassadors — they're the lifeblood of his company's growth strategy. "The Kai Cenats of the world have this incredible machine that generates interest and viewership," he says. "They're the new linear TV networks for growing a fan base." As the world's premier kickboxing organization, GLORY embraces this evolution head-on, borrowing from the cultural playbook that made gaming, creator boxing and Twitch-style engagement explode, while anchoring it in elite competition and high-end production. The result is a fresh format that blends top-tier combat sports with platform-first storytelling, always-on content and the community-driven energy of the internet's favorite creator events. "We're the first group that's taken our core products to these platforms," Zelaznik says. One of the biggest pieces of GLORY's new push is a partnership with Betr, the sports media and gaming company co-founded by Jake Paul. Zelaznik's background inspired the deal in eSports, where he once led business development and content at Blizzard. "Gamers, streamers and creators are always looking for content that'll actually matter to their fans," he says. "Our pitch to Betr was pretty simple: we've got compelling stuff." Related: 'Smiling and Dialing' to a Billion Dollars — How This Kevin Hart-Backed Energy Brand is Changing the Game Creators' experiences with their communities His goal is to make it as easy as possible for creators to plug into the experience and share it with their communities — what he calls "spoon-feeding" them content. "While others might invite a creator to check out what they're doing, we're bringing the whole thing directly to them," he says. "We're really embracing the creator community in a way no one else has." That idea manifests in GLORY Underground, a new creator-forward fight series launched in Miami on May 1st. The first event was invite-only, with Welterweight champ Chico Kwasi defending his belt in a rematch against Lightweight champ Tyjani "The Wonderboy" Beztati. "It's going to feel very exclusive," Zelaznik says. "Like fight club meets the actual club." To be clear, you won't see creators stepping into the ring in Paul Brothers fashion. While Zelaznik is open to leveraging the creator economy to grow the sport, he's committed to preserving the integrity of the core product — delivering high-quality fights featuring world-class professional athletes. "Between the bells at the beginning and end of the fight, this will be a real fight. There will be no shenanigans," he says. "During the walkout, the decision, or between rounds — sure, we'll have some entertainment — but everything inside the ropes will be pure." That balance will be evident in the event's nightclub-style atmosphere and modern production, designed more for mobile viewers than traditional TV audiences. It's a bold move for a company looking to grow its audience to launch an exclusive event series, especially in sports, where ticket sales reign supreme. Airing that event for free is even more daring. There was a time when a company like GLORY would've jumped at the chance to give away media rights to a network like ABC or ESPN — maybe even paid for the airtime. But Zelanzik is betting on a different model. He's all-in on democratized distribution. GLORY's primary platform will be YouTube, and creators are not only welcome but encouraged to co-stream fights — a tactic pulled straight from the eSports playbook. "Instead of saying 'here's the appointment viewing, go watch it on ESPN,' we're making sure everyone with a phone can watch," he says. While this strategy might help grow the audience, it also leaves money on the table, as Zelaznik is well aware. "We're not going to be running around with our pockets overflowing after this event," he admits. But given time, he believes the series will cultivate a dedicated fandom, create a platform for fighters to raise their profile, and eventually, generate revenue. "We're investing in the product right now," Zelaznik says, "but over time sponsorship will grow and that will make up for it." GLORY also benefits from a strong international foundation, giving the company more flexibility to take financial risks. "The success that we have in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan — the revenue we generate there from tickets, sponsorships, media rights — all of that gives us the runway to make these kinds of investments," Zelaznik says. It's essentially the inverse of his time at the UFC, where the company had a dominant presence in the U.S. but faced challenges expanding overseas. While the UFC is now a global powerhouse, Zelaznik carries the experience — and the scars — from when that wasn't the case. "The success in the U.S. gave Dana the confidence to invest globally and start building international offices," he says. "So whereas UFC went from the U.S. to international, we're going from Europe to the U.S." GLORY just re-entered the US arena after a hiatus, but Zelaznik is confident in the company's innovative approach. "The key for us on the business side — beyond just building fans—is that we're doing something unique by bridging traditional sports with new media and influencers," he says. "We're embracing the creator community in a way no one else has."
News18
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Honey Singh Posts Glimpses From New Track Teri Yaadein, Leaves Fans Excited
Last Updated: The pic features Yo Yo Honey Singh standing on the roof. Yo Yo Honey Singh is all set to release his new track from his beloved album Glory. Titled Teri Yaadein, the song is an ancient romantic tale featuring the singer and actress Nargis Fakhri in the lead. The Dope Shope fame took the internet by storm as he dropped the first glimpses from his forthcoming track. In the first snapshot, Honey is seen standing close to Nargis and holding her hand. The actress is looking at the singer. They wore matching white and golden outfits. The next picture featured the Blue Eyes singer standing on the roof in a Middle Eastern-style traditional outfit. The last photograph is a close-up shot of the duo facing each other. Sharing the pics on Instagram, Honey wrote, 'From the sets of Teri Yaadein! An ancient Romance Tale #yoyohoneysingh featuring @grini_f @nargisfakhri COMING This May !! BONUS TRACK OF GLORY." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yo Yo Honey Singh (@yoyohoneysingh) The official release date of the track is yet to be announced. The comment section was flooded with reactions from fans and admirers. An Instagram user wrote, 'Bhaiiiii! This one is for the books." Another one wrote, 'Looks like Something different out of the box coming. Har Har Mahadev bhai." One of them shared, 'Back to Back." Teri Yaadein marks the seventh music video of the Glory album after the success of Millionaire, Payal, Jatt Mekhma, Maniac, Bonita and High on Me. Talking about Glory, Honey earlier said in a statement, 'Glory is like a musical diary of my journey over the years, blending sounds and styles that defy limits. This album is all about crossing borders and setting new trends. Dropping it on the 10th anniversary of Desi Kalakaar adds an extra layer of magic. Trust me, this is going to be a musical explosion," as quoted by The Telegraph. Recently, Honey unveiled his new song Laal Pari from the film Housefull 5. Sung by Simar Kaur and Honey himself, it is a party track and features Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Sonam Bajwa, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff and others. First Published: May 06, 2025, 17:29 IST
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is WWE Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell set for an in-ring soon after long hiatus?
In a surprising development that has sparked excitement among wrestling fans and the WWE universe is Queen Sharmell's return to wrestling. The WWE Hall of Famer is preparing for an in-ring return after 15 years away from the limelight and competition. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sharmell, known for her iconic role alongside her husband Booker T during the memorable King Booker era, has not been seen in the wrestling ring since 2009. The legendary women's wrestler was inducted in the year 2022. Although she has made some special appearances in the wrestling world since then, she has largely remained behind the scenes, focusing on her work with Reality of Wrestling and supporting up-and-coming talent. WWE Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell confirms her in-ring return WWE Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell has confirmed her in-ring return. As per reports, at the Reality of Wrestling GLORY tapings on April 27, 2025, it was announced that Queen Sharmell is all set to make an in-ring return this year. The announcement was shared on Instagram, noting that she would be stepping back into the ring at RoW No Limits on May 10, 2025. The announcement was made with a post reading: 'IT'S OFFICIAL! Announced tonight at Reality of Wrestling's GLORY tapings – WWE Hall of Famer and co-owner Queen Sharmell will return to the ring for the first time in over a decade to face 'La Princesa' Tiffany Nieves at NO LIMITS on May 10!' The post also read, 'Tiffany Nieves called out Queen Sharmell during Reality of Wrestling's recent PAY UP! event, leading to a confrontation that has now set the stage for their match." 'Best known as one of wrestling's greatest managers, also competed for WWE, TNA, WCW, NWA, and OVW. 'She shared the ring with talents like Awesome Kong, Jazz, Torrie Wilson, and Melina – but has not wrestled since 2009. Her return at NO Limits marks her first match in over 15 years." It further stated, 'Tiffany Nieves, representing the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), is a rising competitor determined to make her mark. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Since arriving in Reality of Wrestling, Tiffany has blamed Queen Sharmell for holding her back – and now, she will step into the ring with her at NO LIMITS.' All hail Class of 2022 Hall of Famer Queen Sharmell: WWE Hall of Fame 2022 Queen Sharmell praises her husband, Booker T's involvement in wrestling Queen Sharmell has revealed and praised her husband, , and his association with wrestling. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet in 2024, she recalled that Booker T's grocery store segment with Stone Cold Steve Austin was one of her favorite moments of her husband in wrestling. "So the grocery store with Steve Austin, all that stuff was Steve Austin, you know, the bingo game, the nuns, like, Oh, my goodness. And then the stuff with Goldust. It's just hilarious. Right? So yeah, I'm equally a fan of his entertainment as well as his wrestling," Sharmell said. Also Read : The legend even mentioned that Booker's segments with Goldust were always hilarious, and she liked her husband's work both on and off the wrestling ring.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill Goldberg, Cory Sandhagen. Rico Verhoeven, Marshall Zelaznik, On The Nose and more
Catch the latest edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live on Uncrowned and YouTube at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT/5 p.m. UK time as Ariel Helwani and the Boys In The Back break down the latest in combat sports with a star-studded lineup of guests. Wednesday's rundown can be seen below. 1 p.m. ET: Ariel and the gang answer all your questions on the latest edition of On The Nose. 2:15 p.m. ET: GLORY Kickboxing CEO Marshall Zelaznik checks in. 2:30 p.m. ET: GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven returns after last year's dominant 4-0 campaign. 2:45 p.m. ET: Cory Sandhagen previews his UFC Des Moines main event against Deiveson Figueiredo. 3:15 p.m. ET: Wrestling legend Bill Goldberg joins the show. Catch all new episodes of "The Ariel Helwani Show" live every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET on Uncrowned and The Ariel Helwani Show's YouTube page. To listen to every episode, subscribe on Spotify or iTunes.
Morocco World
23-02-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Jamal Ben Saddik's Jaw-Dropping Knockout Kick Shakes Glory 98
Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik made a huge comeback yesterday, February 22, demolishing Estonia's Uku Jürjendal with a brutal knockout at Glory 98 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Ben Saddik took a two-year break from the ring in fashion but returned wrapped in Palestinian and Moroccan flags around his body. From the very first bell, 'The Goliath' unleashed relentless jabs and kicks with pinpoint precision. Jürjendal buckled under the pressure but injured his arm in the third round. In the last seconds of this same round, Ben Seddik threw a crushing headkick wrecking Jürjendal's head and sending him straight to the ground, unable to stand still on his feet. Jamal Ben Saddik made his return to GLORY last night after being out for over two years and landed a last second KO in the main event #GLORY98 (via @DAZN_FR) — COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) February 23, 2025 Ben Saddik is now laser-focused on reclaiming his heavyweight throne with the GLORY Last Heavyweight Standing tournament, where he'll face the Romanian Cristian Ristea (44-25, 13 KO) in the opening round on April 5 at Ahoy Rotterdam. In the co-main event, kickboxing fans were left shocked when Mesud Selimović (33-12, 18 KO) unleashed a jaw-dropping spinning backfist to knock out the Moroccan Iliass Hammouche (34-8, 7 KO), while Morocco's Hamicha (42-2, 31 KO) kept his GLORY streak alive, taking out Calmente Mendes (7-1, 4 KO) with a ruthless leg-kick KO. Welterweight champ Chico Kwasi (44-5-1, 23 KO) held onto his belt with a decision win over Teodor Hristov (18-4, 7 KO). Meanwhile, light heavyweight Cem Cáceres (19-1, 14 KO) eked out a split decision victory against Mory Kromah (31-3-1, 18 KO). Also, newcomer Michael Boapeah (20-4-1, 7 KO) stole the show with a third-round finish over Ibrahim El Bouni (42-11-1, 22 KO). Tags: glory 98Glory KickboxingJamal Ben Saddik
