GLORY's “Last Heavyweight Standing” - the baddest tournament on Earth

[pipilica]

“GLORY is the only place in the world where you could see 32 of the baddest heavyweights on the planet put it all on the line in the ‘Last Heavyweight Standing’ tournament, the biggest of its kind in combat sports history,” said Marshal Zelaznik, GLORY CEO.

This year-long-5-event tournament will kick-off April 5 at ‘GLORY 99: Last Heavyweight Standing’ at the Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands with featuring 32 heavyweights from around the world in 16 bouts.

The first nine fighters were revealed at a press conference earlier today in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and they are as follows:

Please stay tuned to GLORY social media channels as more top fighters will be announced over the coming days. Pre-sale tickets launch Monday, February 3. General tickets go on sale Tuesday, February 4, at 12pm CET.

GLORY launches ‘Last Heavyweight Standing’

Kickboxing historically has been defined by tournaments, now GLORY will redefine tournaments with the introduction of Last Heavyweight Standing.

glorykickboxing.com

"Some notes based on the presser:

- The total prize money for Last Man Standing is 1M USD. Zelaznik said that number could potentially go up.
Not counting any potential reserve bouts, this whole concept consists of 56 fights. On average that means a little under 18k per fight.
- Rico will NOT be part of Last Man Standing.
- Plazibat is back in training and currently in negotiations with Glory.
- As more participants will be announced, we can expect Light Heavyweights to join the line-up as well.
- There currently aren't any plans for tournaments in other weightclasses, but they're not ruled out either.
- Negotiations with Videoland are still ongoing for anything beyond Glory 98.
- Glory has a new sponsor in RD Dubai, a real estate and investment company.
- There still is no bonus system, at least not one that is ready to be announced."

(Kakutougi)

 

[pipilica]

CEO Marshall Zelaznik told Mike Bohn from USA TODAY there's an "open invitation to all MMA, boxing and combat sports heavyweights.”

40 years old, Benny Adegbuyi, record holder for most tournament wins in GLORY history is another announced participant

In addition to Mr. Gentleman, it will also feature Nico Pereira Horta (Cape Verde/Netherlands) and Yuri Farcaș (Italy/Romania).

 

[pipilica]

System

"The 16 winners of the Phase 1 Opening Round will move on to the Phase 1 Qualification Round.
This round consists of 4 separate 4-Man Tournaments.
The 4 winners of these tournaments move to the first 4 slots of the Finals.

The 16 losers of the Phase 1 Opening Round will move on to the Phase 2 Opening Round.
8 new fighters join this round. I guess some of them might be losers from the Phase 1 Qualification Round.

The 12 winners of the Phase 2 Opening Round will move on to the Phase 2 Qualification Round.
This round consists of 3 separate 4-Man Tournaments.
The 3 winners of these tournaments move to slots 5-7 of the Finals.

Slot 8 of the finals will be a Wild Card Entry.

At the moment it's not known if there will be a draw for the Finals or if the spots will be decided as is."

(Kakutougi)

 

[Trabaho]

Damn Rade looks nervous. So 2 balkan representatives, Krnjic and Opacic. Excited to see Rade match up with Glory fighters. He is slimer but techniqally one of the best. This is pretty much the best thing. Actually old K1 format was fairer. Invite 16 best guys let winners do a 8 man 1 night tourney. K1 had wolrd wide grand pries to quakify the final 16. Or just UFC style have a lot of cards and title fights. There's less roster though in Glory.

In any case this is a banger announcement. Really grueling tourney. HW bangers.

 

[Shadess]

We are now up to the 20 first names.

01. Ionut Iancu
02. Ahmed Krnjic
03. Uku Jürjendal
04. Tariq Osaro
05. Bahram Rajabzadeh
06. Jamal Ben Saddik
07. Rade Opacic
08. Murat Aygün
09. Sofian Laïdouni
10. Benjamin Adegbuyi
11. Nico Pereira Horta
12. Yuri Farcas
13. Oleg Pryimachov
14. Anis Bouzid
15. Asdren Gashi
16. Luigi Gashi
17. Miloš Cvjetićanin
18. Cristian Ristea
19. Colin George
20. Cihad Kepenek

 

[pipilica]

Some potential great signings: Former ONE contender Rade Opacic and COLOSSEUM champion Alin Nechita

Nechita is pronounced "Nekita" and will be the youngest participant at just 21 years old. He was "hijacked" by Glory from K-1. While the colossus "Opacici", who comes from taekwondo, ranks as number 7th heavyweight in the world.

 

[pipilica]

Also signed, "Gladiator" Cristian Ristea, Opacic's most recent opponent. The two produced a super match in Eastern Europe. Ahmed Krnjic, the Bosnian Steel, from ONE too. Milos Cvjeticanin' move to +95kg is also notable.

 

[pipilica]

We are now up to the 20 first names.

01. Ionut Iancu
02. Ahmed Krnjic
03. Uku Jürjendal
04. Tariq Osaro
05. Bahram Rajabzadeh
06. Jamal Ben Saddik
07. Rade Opacic
08. Murat Aygün
09. Sofian Laïdouni
10. Benjamin Adegbuyi
11. Nico Pereira Horta
12. Yuri Farcas
13. Oleg Pryimachov
14. Anis Bouzid
15. Asdren Gashi
16. Luigi Gashi
17. Miloš Cvjetićanin
18. Cristian Ristea
19. Colin George
20. Cihad Kepenek

24 so far, with RUSSIANS BACK!

 

[nonoob]

Anyone that doesn't like this - please turn in your man card !​

Hope @BoxerMaurits will help to cover this awesome event for Sherdog.

 

[BoxerMaurits]

Anyone that doesn't like this - please turn in your man card !​

Hope @BoxerMaurits will help to cover this awesome event for Sherdog.

I will bro, as always !

 

[Shadess]

Nice work Glory!

 

[Snubnoze707]

This is quite ambitious given the state of HW Kickboxing in general. Gonna be some serious bum swing action and hopefully KO's to go with it.

 

[Blazeblack]

This is quite ambitious given the state of HW Kickboxing in general. Gonna be some serious bum swing action and hopefully KO's to go with it.

Yeah, probably a lot of gassing out too.

 

[pipilica]

Yeah, probably a lot of gassing out too.

I don't think so, it's just one fight. Three rounds. They generally come prepared here in Glory and more bonuses are in discussion too. Plus a qualification. Superkombat did this and they built new names.

And the new rule bros! #clinching

 

[Blazeblack]

I don't think so, it's just one fight. Three rounds. They generally come prepared here in Glory and more bonuses are in discussion too. Plus a qualification. Superkombat did this and they built new names.

And the new rule bros! #clinching

Lol, don't mind me dude. I'm just being a d#ck. I'll definitely be tuning in.

So, clinching? Like the old school k-1 rules, or straight muay thai without elbows?

Any chance of you guys sharing talent with K-1 Japan group? It would be cool to see guys like Liu Ce and Ariel Machado fight in this.

 

[Monte Moku]

Lol, don't mind me dude. I'm just being a d#ck. I'll definitely be tuning in.

So, clinching? Like the old school k-1 rules, or straight muay thai without elbows?

Any chance of you guys sharing talent with K-1 Japan group? It would be cool to see guys like Liu Ce and Ariel Machado fight in this.

Here is what Glory put on their website about the rules changing. In short, one strike after clinching and then you must release. They also changed the scoring a bit too

 

[Blazeblack]

Here is what Glory put on their website about the rules changing. In short, one strike after clinching and then you must release. They also changed the scoring a bit too

Thanks man.

 

[Trabaho]

Thus far Ben Sadik and Rade Opacic are the favorites. Rade is to long for Rajabezdah.

 

[Trupsi]

Lol.

 

[pipilica]

Levi Rigters is out with shoulder injury.
Nordine Mahieddine didn't prolong with the organization.
Rico Verhoeven seems to be favored and will not enter the tournament, but he will receive a title match.