In the world of fight sports, cards are structured around a main- and co-main event.
Those fights usually feature the champions, contenders and household names who have the biggest followings and attract the most attention.
At the other end of the bill is the section known as ‘The Undercard’ or ‘The Preliminary Bouts’. It is here that you will find new and developing talent looking to gain wins and experience in the hope of moving on to higher-profile slots.
Usually these fights are not televised but that doesn’t take anything away from them. They are as hard-fought as any other bout of the evening. Sometimes the most intense fights you’ll ever see will take place on an undercard, the fighters being so hungry for victory.
At GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES this coming Saturday, the undercard is stocked with such fighters. Most are from the local area, all are looking to get a win which moves them further up the ladder and one step closer to making their name in the sport.
One example is Ron Cruz. This weekend he faces NAME OPPONENT in what will be one of the last amateur bouts Cruz has before he turns professional. He is a Los Angeles local and wants to put on a show to reward his fans from the area.
“I'm the devil. I come for blood. I consider my fight style fearless, and a mix of counter-punching and constant pressure, but most importantly I am also a smart fighter,” he says.
“I have evolved from a brawler into a technician who will find the opening and capitalize on it. I know that my opponent is currently 9-3 and he is about to be 9-4. I expect a hard fight but am going for the KO.”
Cruz looks at GLORY as the biggest kickboxing show in the world” and says that “being a part of this just feels right and exactly where I'm supposed to be - with the best.”
His sentiments are echoed by fellow undercard fighter Jeffrey Alvarez, who actually comes from Inglewood, Los Angeles. As the venue is also in Inglewood, he will have some very loud and very partisan fans in the arena on fight night.
“This is a big deal for me. Fighting for GLORY in my home town of Inglewood will be an unforgettable experience,” he says.
“Growing up around The Forum arena, it never entered my mind that I would one day be fighting in such a landmark for my city and in one of the biggest events.
“I'm simply lost for words at how to describe the feeling. It is incredible. I don't want to let my fans, family, friends and team down, and I won’t.”
Chris Henry is another fighter who will have plenty of friends and family in the arena on fight night. For him this bout represents a crucial milestone in his life.
At the age of 12, Henry started taking lessons in boxing and fighting from his father and his older brother. Now, fourteen years on, he finds himself on the undercard for the biggest kickboxing event that has ever been staged.
So determined is Henry to make it as a professional kickboxer that nine months ago he left his job in order to pursue full-time training and fighting. It is a huge gamble; there is a lot riding on this Saturday’s fight.
“My pops and my brother started me in the sport when I was 11 or 12 years old, I’m just a born fighter,” he says.
“My style is Muay Thai, I’ve also done a little boxing. I like to counter-punch. My opponent has a lot more fight experience then me but I’ll be ready. I’ve been dreaming of this day for a long time.
“I sacrificed everything for fighting, even my job. It has been my passion and my lifestyle for 14 years now. My career so far has been great and I give all the glory to my Lord Jesus Christ.”
Things move in mysterious ways. Before being selected for the undercard, Henry was already planning to be in The Forum this Saturday night. Then his cell phone rang.
“I was on my way to buy tickets to take my family to see the show. Next thing I get a call offering me and opponent and asking me do I want to fight on the show,” he laughs.
“Well that was a dream come true. I said yes immediately. Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?”
We go back to Cruz for the final summary of what an undercard bout on this card means to a fighter like him.
“I've come a lot further then many people ever thought was possible. I have fought in Las Vegas, Chicago, Arizona, Virginia. My career has been faced with challenges and adversity but I am never afraid to face them,” he says.
“This fight on GLORY means a lot more to me then people realize. It's my chance to prove to everyone - including GLORY - that I'm made for this sport and I'm ready to take that next step into the pros.
“And personally it means so much to me because my fans are all local fans and I can't wait to put on a show for them.”
Two experienced professionals are headlining the undercard. Dustin Jacoby meets Mike Lemaire in an All-American match.
Jacoby won his contract via the light-heavyweight Road To GLORY tournament early in 2013; Lemaire won the middleweight edition.
Following the win, UFC veteran Jacoby found himself fighting A-list kickboxing opposition and has suffered mixed results. Lemaire debuted at GLORY 9 NEW YORK with a loss to Wayne Barrett.
GLORY matchmaker Cor Hemmers believes that, particularly in Jacoby’s case, it was a case of too much, too soon. Jacoby is now down at middleweight and Hemmers believes that he needs to gain experience.
“His star rose a little fast I think, we have to remember he comes from MMA. In every fight we see his kickboxing game in improving and I think it is only fair he gets the chance to gain experience,” he says.
“Lemaire comes from Muay Thai and Wayne Barrett surprised him with an explosive ,aggressive start at GLORY 9. Fights tend to start slow in Muay Thai so Lemaire learned a hard lesson; he won’t make that mistake again.”
GLORY 17 LOS ANGELES takes place at The Forum in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California on Saturday, June 21st.
Tickets are available via ticketmaster.com and fabulousforum.com
Doors open at 3:30 pm, with the first undercard bout beginning at 3:35 pm local time.
