International Fight League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| International Fight League | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Commissioner | Jay Larkin |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Most recent champion(s) |
New York Pitbulls |
| TV partner(s) | Fox Sports Net |
| Official website | IFL.tv |
The International Fight League is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion billed as the world's first MMA league. Instead of the established norm for MMA events, where matchups are strictly one-on-one affairs, each IFL card is a showdown between two camps of at least three fighters, each fighter fighting one match against another in the opposing camps. The IFL is currently televised in the United States on Fox Sports Net.
Contents |
[edit] History
The IFL was founded January 7, 2006 by real estate developer Kurt Otto and Wizard magazine founder Gareb Shamus, two well-financed devotees of mixed martial arts who were inspired by the Mark Kerr documentary The Smashing Machine. The IFL was founded to elevate the livelihoods of mixed martial arts fighters, many of them living meagerly, training without steady incomes and only earning small fight purses when they do fight[citation needed]. With the IFL, they intend to create a system not only showcasing mixed martial arts action but also to provide a business plan that will allow fighters to also share more of the profits of the sport. In a marked contrast with the rest of the industry, instead of paying fighters only purses after fights, they are given a salary and health benefits to train and fight. The team concept is also conducive for television, where episodes can be regularly produced in the continuing storyline of an ongoing season.
It has been widely speculated the IFL, with the deep pockets of its founders, television deal and innovative business plan, may become a major circuit for MMA in North America, directly competing with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Already, the UFC and IFL have a hostile relationship, as the UFC have accused the IFL of and sued them for illegally using proprietary information obtained by hiring executives from the UFC organization. [1] The IFL shot back with their own suit claiming the UFC was threatening potential partners to not work with the IFL, including Fox Sports Net (a deal with Fox Sports was later signed before resolution of the suit [2]). The tension between the IFL and the UFC has recently worsened with accusations that the IFL has attempted to buy out several top UFC fighters.
The inaugural event was held on April 29, 2006 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, featuring the Quad City Silverbacks vs the Los Angeles Anacondas and the Seattle Tiger Sharks vs the New York Pitbulls, with a superfight between Jens Pulver and Cole Escovedo.
On August 31, 2006 publicly traded (OTCBB) company, Paligent Inc., principally held by New Jersey developer and real estate industrialist Richard J. Kurtz,[3] authorized a merger agreement that coincided with its acquisition of the IFL. The IFL became the parent entity as Paligent agreed to change its name to International Fight League, Inc. Subsequently, on November 29, 2006, the IFL became a publicly traded company, under the symbol IFLI.[4][5] Their current net worth as of 2006 is around $150 million.[6] In September 2007, Kurtz sold his interest in the IFL.
[edit] Changes in 2008
On December 20, 2007 IFL Commissioner Kurt Otto made an announcement in regards to some major changes for the 2008 season. First and foremost the team concept would be changed to instead focus on distinctive MMA camps. Otto reasoned that many of the teams did not train together, nor did many of them live in the respective cities they represented. Instead the new concept of the IFL will focus on camps and the fighters that already train in those camps. Also changing will be the five on five format to a more simplified three on three format. This will allow more flexibility in matchmaking as the teams will not be confined to pick one fighter in each weight class. Instead the three fighters can be from any weight class or they can all be from the same class. The "team" concept will still be somewhat intact as the camps will compete with each other for points in a final standing. Otto also announced that the IFL will extend an open invitation to any camps not already affiliated with the IFL to participate in "one off" events, where a non-IFL camp can challenge an IFL camp for supremacy. Similarly, any of the title defenses can also involve fighters who are not currently signed with the IFL in a "one off" fight. Otto announced that there will be eight shows in 2008 with no plans for a GP final. [1]
On May 8, 2008, the IFL revealed during a conference call that their August 15, 2008 event would feature the debut of a six-sided cage called "The Hex." [2]
[edit] Television
In 2007, the IFL made a television deal with Fox Sports Net and MyNetworkTV. This made it the first MMA promotion to appear regularly on broadcast TV in the United States.[7]
The premiere of IFL Battleground on March 12, 2007 on MyNetworkTV scored a 0.8 household rating (1.12 million viewers), and gained 250% in all key male demos (0.7 vs. 0.2) versus February. This represented a new MyNetworkTV high for male 18-34, a 17% rise over the previous record of 0.6.[8] However this episode was criticized by MMA journalists and fans, saying it glorified violence and brutality.[9] Kurt Otto apologized to fans, their fighters and coaches, and critics for the content of that show, and that "we made a mistake with some parts of the show, but we will learn from this and grow."[10]
On February 5, 2008 the IFL announced a partnership with the HDNet to air the first three events of their 2008 season Live. [3].
On February 15, 2008 MyNetworkTV cancelled IFL Battleground.[11]
[edit] Camps
The IFL currently consists of nine camps, all owned by the league, and each coached by a veteran MMA fighter. Originally the IFL had teams that were associated with cities but that proved to be a lark as many of the teams did not train in their respective cities nor did all the fighters live in those cities as well. Thus in 2008 the IFL changed the format to revolve around existing camps and their established fighters. The current camps for this current season are as follows:
| Camps for the 2008 season | |
| Camp | Coach |
|---|---|
| Team Tompkins (Was called Xtreme Couture but had to change name due to Randy Couture's law suit with the UFC) formerly known as the Los Angeles Anacondas | Shawn Tompkins |
| Renzo Gracie Academy formerly known as the New York Pitbulls | Renzo Gracie |
| Miletich Fighting Systems (IFL camp) formerly known as the Quad City Silverbacks | Pat Miletich |
| Team Quest (IFL camp) formerly known as the Portland Wolfpack | Matt Lindland |
| Ruas Vale Tudo formerly known as the Southern California Condors | Marco Ruas |
| Lions Den formerly known as the Nevada Lions | Ken Shamrock |
| Midwest Combat formerly known as the Chicago Red Bears | Igor Zinoviev |
| World Class Fight Center² 5 | Mario Sperry |
| Team Bombsquad | Ryan Citolli |
| Team Prodigy | Hector Pena |
| Camp based out of Britain6 | Ian Freeman |
| Former Teams | |
| Team | Coach |
|---|---|
| San Jose Razorclaws7 | Frank Shamrock |
| Toronto Dragons | Carlos Newton |
| Tokyo Sabres | Ken Yasuda |
| Tucson Scorpions | Don Frye |
| Seattle Tiger Sharks | Maurice Smith |
| Camps outside of IFL | |
| Team | Coach |
|---|---|
| American Top Team (IFL camp) | Ricardo Liborio |
1 Antonio Inoki was originally going to be the Tokyo Sabres' coach and mentor but has since been dropped by the IFL. Japanese bodybuilder Ken Yasuda is now the head coach.
- Future teams announced at the IFL event at the MARK of the Quad Cities will be coached by Don Frye (Scorpions) and Marco Ruas (Piranhas) and based in Arizona and Southern California respectively.
- On 11/2/06 the IFL announced two new teams to join the IFL ranks. Recently retired and former UFC superstar Ken Shamrock will coach the Northern California Lions. British MMA legend Ian Freeman was announced as the coach to the British based British Bulldogs.
- 11/06 the IFL announced the 12th and final team of the 2007 season, the Chicago-based Red Bears who will be coached by Russian MMA fighter Igot Zinoviev. The team, though based in Chicago, will be composed mostly of Russian fighters (somewhat similar to the Renzo Gracie-led NY Pitbulls who are composed mostly of Brazilian fighters)
- 11/06 The Southern California Piranhas apparently changed their name to the Orange County Condors as well as the Northern California Lions are now being relocated to Nevada. [4]
² The Bulldogs will participate in a few matches in 2007 but won't start officially for the IFL until the 2008 season. The San Diego, France, South Korea and Brazil teams have yet to have a team logo and name.
- 12/06 The IFL confirmed that four new teams will partake in extra league events during the 2007 season (similar to the British Bulldogs status). One team will be led by BJJ specialist Mario Sperry and be based out of Brazil, a San Diego based team will be led by PRIDE superstar Dan Henderson, K-1 superstar Jerome Le Banner will be leading a French based team and Olympic Judoka Doo B. Park will take the helm of a Korean based team as well. None of the teams have names as of yet.
³ At the 3/17 show in LA, Bas Rutten stepped down from being the coach of the LA Anacondas to become the "face/spokesperson" of the IFL as well as the co-host of the "IFL Battleground" show on MYnetwork TV. Rutten was replaced by assistant coach Shawn Tompkins.
4 On 9/13/07 it was announced by the IFL that Shawn Tompkins was let go from the IFL and removed from his duties as coach for the Los Angeles Anacondas. Reasoning was that Tompkins has "spread himself to thin" between his duties of coaching the Anacondas and becoming a new trainer at the Randy Couture owned gym in Las Vegas. A replacement has yet to be named.[5]
5 On 9/20/07 IFL commissioner Kurt Otto announced in an interview that the IFL will stay at 12 teams in the 2008 season with one or more franchises moving from their current location and at least one of them closing down. To replace the closing team will be a team coached by Mario Sperry based in either Florida or Las Vegas. [6]
6 On 9/25/07 IFL commissioner Kurt Otto reitterated that in the 2008 season there will only be 12 teams in the IFL with TWO new teams emerging. One of them coached by the already mentioned Marrio Sperry and the other by Cage Rage veteran Ian Freeman. [7]
7 On 10/10/07 Frank Shamrock revealed that he and his team, the San Jose Razorclaws, were let go from the IFL. Shamrock thought that Razorclaw Brian Foster might still be offered a stay in the IFL but will join a different team due to his successful 2007 season and his entrance into the 2007 GP. [8]
[edit] IFL World Team Champions
2006(first half)- Quad City Silverbacks
2006(second half)- Quad City Silverbacks
2007- New York Pitbulls
[edit] IFL Individual Champions
| Division | Champion | Camp | Since | Title Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight |  Roy Nelson |
Lions Den | Dec 29, 2007 | 2 |
| Light Heavyweight |  Vladimir Matyushenko |
Midwest Combat | Nov 03, 2007 | 1 |
| Middleweight | Dan Miller |
Renzo Gracie Academy | May 16, 2008 | 0 |
| Welterweight | Jay Hieron |
Team Tompkins | Dec 29, 2007 | 1 |
| Lightweight | Ryan Schultz |
Team Quest (IFL camp) | Dec 29, 2007 | 2 |
| Featherweight |  Wagnney Fabiano |
Renzo Gracie Academy | Dec 29, 2007 | 1 |
[edit] 2007 Standings
[edit] Grand Prix
In order to appease the many MMA critics who felt that the team concept the IFL displayed had no place in the one-on-one sport of MMA, the IFL decided to conduct an end of the year Grand Prix which will take the four best fighters of each weight class to fight it out in a mini tournament that will be conducted over two events. The first event will take place on November 3, 2007 and the second on December 29, 2007. Each Grand Prix winner will be crowned the first IFL champions of their weight class and be awarded titles that they will defend during the 2008 season.
[edit] IFL Schedules/ Seasons
[edit] IFL Draft
As announced on September 25, 2007, the IFL underwent their very first IFL draft to find new talent to fill the ranks of fighters that were cut from their IFL contracts (due to poor records). The draft took place in the three different locations on October 13, 2007. [9]
[edit] Super Fights
Along with the traditional five on five team system matches the IFL also has occasional super fights between various fighters that do not count towards any team system and may include fighters not associated with any IFL team. So far these superfights have occurred along with their results:
- Jens Pulver def Cole Escovedo by KO in 56 seconds of the first round (4/29/06)
- Ben Uker def Travis Doerge by submission (key lock) in 2:10 of the first round (6/03/06)
- Chris Horodecki def Erik Owings by KO in 4 minutes of the first round (6/03/06)
- Jay Hieron def Jake Ellenberger by unanimous decision (6/03/06)
- Jamal Patterson def Alex Schoenauer by submission (guillotine choke) 2:32 in the first round (6/03/06)
- Daniel Gracie def Wes Sims by technical submission (rear naked choke) 2:42 in the first round (6/03/06)
- Matt Lindland def Jeremy Horn by TKO (Strikes) 0:21 in the second round (9/09/06)
- Renzo Gracie def Pat Miletich by submission (guillotine choke) 3:37 in the first round (9/23/06)
- Allan Goes def Daniel Gracie by TKO (Strikes) 1:03 in the second round (11/02/06)
- Mike Whitehead def Mark Kerr by TKO (strikes) 2:40 in the first round (11/02/06)
- Erik Owings def Ed West by decision (unanimous) (12/29/06)
- Andre Gusmao def Brent Beauparlant by decision (unanimous) (12/29/06)
- Reese Andy def Jamal Patterson by TKO (ref stoppage) 3:24 in the second round (12/29/06)
- Daniel Markes def Tyrie Johnson by KO 1:03 in the first round (12/30/06)
- Mike Whitehead def Krysztof Soszynski by decision (unanimous) (12/29/06)
- Renzo Gracie def Carlos Newton by decision (split) (12/29/06)
- Jeremy Horn def Faliniko Vitale by decision (split) (01/19/07)
- Matt Lindland def Carlos Newton by submission (guillotine choke) 1:43 in the second round (2/2/07)
- Robbie Lawler def Eduardo Pamplona by TKO (ref. stoppage) 1:36 in the third round (2/23/07)
- Jeff Curran def Kevin English by submission (guillotine choke) 1:12 in the second round (4/7/07)
- Maurice Smith def Marco Ruas by TKO (Towel) at 3:43 into the fourth round (5/19/07)
- Lyman Good def Mike Dolce by decision (unanimous) (08/02/07)
- Dante Rivera def Nissim Levy by TKO (strikes) at 1:15 of the third round (08/02/07)
[edit] Rules
The IFL follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts established by the New Jersey Athletic Board, with several exceptions. In addition, the IFL is also sanctioned by the *ISCF - International Sport Combat Federation
- Matches consist of three rounds of four minutes instead of the usual five,
- Elbow strikes are not allowed to the face or head,
- If the match is initially scored a draw after three rounds, there will be a three-minute sudden victory round to decide a winner.
[edit] Ring
In contrast with most mixed martial arts promotions in the United States, the IFL stages their fights in a five-roped ring similar to the one used in PRIDE.
On 5/08/08 the IFL announced the unveiling of a new six sided ring that will be used for the IFL. Nicknamed the "hex", the ring was created by Throwdown who is a MMA equipment manufacture. The ring allows more surface area to fight as well as give fans a better view of the action. [10]
[edit] Weight Classes
The IFL currently uses six weight classes:
- Featherweight: (136-145 lb.)
- Lightweight: (146–155 lb.)
- Welterweight: (156–170 lb.)
- Middleweight: (171–185 lb.)
- Light Heavyweight: (186–205 lb.)
- Heavyweight: (206–265 lb.)
There are three other weight classes specified in the Unified Rules which the IFL does not use: flyweight (125 lb. and below), bantamweight (126–135 lb.), and super heavyweight (266 lb. and above).
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ The UFC files case against International Fight League
- ^ IFL Inks Broadcast Deal with Fox Sports Net
- ^ Houston Business Journal, Chemical maker mixes in martial arts, - by Greg Barr, March 2, 2007
- ^ SEC filings
- ^ IFL internal press release
- ^ "Mixed Martial Arts: A New Kind Of Fight", 60 Minutes (web site), 2006-12-10, pp. 3. Retrieved on [[2006-12-11]].
- ^ "International Fight League's Total Impact" Program to debut on March 12th on MyNetworktv. www.ifl.tv (2007-02-01). Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
- ^ "MNT Gains With IFL But Ratings Remain Small". www.broadcastingcable.com (2007-03-13). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
- ^ Pishna, Ken. "IFL BATTLEGROUND PREMIERS TO... 911?!", MMAWeekly.com, 2007-03-13. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
- ^ Pishna, Ken. "IFL COMMISH KURT OTTO APOLOGIZES", MMAWeekly.com, 2007-03-14. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
- ^ Breaking News. The Futon Critic (2008-02-15). Retrieved on 2008-03-07.
[edit] Additional references
- Hunt, Loretta. Introducing the International Fight League. IFC.TV. January 9, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
- Thaler, Jeff. Breaking Down the Match-Up: UFC vs. IFL. Sherdog.com. March 2, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
[edit] External links
- IFL - Official Website
|
|||||||||||||||||
