Latest news with #MarshallZelaznik
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."
Ya Biladi
31-01-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Glory CEO Marshall Zelaznik confirms plans for a kickboxing event in Morocco
The CEO of the global kickboxing organization Glory, Marshall Zelaznik, has recently confirmed the potential for hosting an international event in Morocco. In a statement shared on the organization's social media platforms, Zelaznik emphasized that this initiative is among his team's «priorities». «We know that the Moroccan government is investing in sport. They've got a number of soccer tournaments rolling through there [in Morocco]. The country is clearly interested in this sport. How can they not be with the fighters we have? And so, I guess the short answer, is yes, I can see it happen. The question is when», he stated. GLORY CEO Marshall Zelaznik discusses the possibility of an event taking place in Morocco ?? — GLORY Kickboxing (@GLORY_WS) January 30, 2025 Simultaneously, Zelaznik assured that his organization is committed to making necessary preparations. «And if the opportunity presented itself this year, we would do it. If it's next year, we'll do it there», he remarked, adding that «there's nothing greater than bringing fighters to a country that hasn't had the chance to discover its heroes». Referring to the numerous binational or Moroccan talents excelling in the ring across Europe, America, and Asia, Zelaznik highlighted that «to see fighters walk out in their home country» would make the organizers even prouder to be able to offer this to the athletes. «It's something that we're looking at honestly,» he reiterated.
USA Today
27-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
GLORY Kickboxing to host 32-man heavyweight tournament with 'open invitation'
GLORY Kickboxing will put on its biggest tournament yet in 2025 – and that's no exaggeration. On Monday, the promotion announced plans for a 32-man single elimination heavyweight tournament that will determine the 'Last Heavyweight Standing.' A handful of participants have already been confirmed, but GLORY CEO Marshall Zelaznik wants to fill the rest of the field by presenting an open invitation to athletes from across all combat sports whom are eager to test their limits and join the tournament. 'It's the biggest heavyweight tournament in the history of combat sports,' Zelaznik told MMA Junkie. 'The field is almost now full and we'll be announcing more participants over the coming days, however, there's an open invitation to all MMA, boxing and combat sports heavyweights. If you'd like to enter and prove yourself against the absolute best strikers in the world, this tournament is for you. For fans, this will present an unforgettable year that will go down in the history books of combat sports.' The tournament begins April 5 at GLORY 99 at the Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands, and will unfold over the course of five events. All 16 opening-round matchups will take place at GLORY 99, and will wind down to the final event showcase, where the final eight will fight three times in one night to determine a winner. According to Zelaznik, more than $1 million i prize money will be distributed throughout and to the winner of the tournament of the elaborate tournament. Athletes confirmed for participation in the 'Last Heavyweight Standing' tournament include Bahram Rajabzadeh (70-4), Uku Jurjendal (20-9), Rade Opacic (21-6) Ahmed Krnjic (13-4), Sofian Laidouni (37-4-1), Murat 'The Butcher Aygun (32-4), Tariq Osaro (26-4-1) and Ionut Iancu (30-10).
