|
|
|
|
The International Fight League is a mixed martial arts promotion
billed as the world's first MMA league. Instead of the establish
norm for MMA events, where matchups are strictly one-on-one
affairs, each IFL card is a showdown between two teams of five
fighters, each fighter fighting one match against another on
the opposing team. The IFL is televised in the on Fox Sports
Net.
|
| History |
|
The IFL was founded in 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 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.
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 with a continuing storyline.
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.
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).
The inaugural event was held on April 29, 2006 at the Trump
Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, featuring Silverbacks
vs Anacondas and Tiger Sharks vs Pitbulls, with a superfight
between Jens Pulver and Cole Escovedo.
|
| Teams |
|
The IFL currently consists of eight teams, all owned by the
league, and each coached by a veteran MMA fighter. Currently,
city names do not refer the 'home arena' of each team, but
rather the city in which they train out of. The current teams
for this current season are as follows:
| International Fight
League |
| Team |
Coach |
| Los Angeles Anacondas |
Bas Rutten |
| Toronto Dragons |
Carlos Newton |
| New York Pitbulls |
Renzo Gracie |
| San Jose Razorclaws |
Frank Shamrock |
| Tokyo Sabres |
Ken Yasuda * |
| Quad City Silverbacks |
Pat Miletich |
| Seattle Tiger Sharks |
Maurice Smith |
| Portland Wolfpack |
Matt Lindland |
|
| Rules |
|
The IFL follows the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts established
by the New Jersey Athletic Board, with several exceptions.
- Rounds consist of three rounds of four minutes instead
of the usual five,
- Elbows 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Weight Classes |
|
The IFL currently uses five weight classes:
- Lightweight: (146-155 lb.)
- Welterweight: (157-170 lb)
- Middleweight: (171-185 lb)
- Light Heavyweight: (186-205 lb)
- Heavyweight: (207-265 lb)
In addition, there are four other weight classes specified
in the Unified Rules which the IFL does not use: Flyweight
(125 lb. and below), Bantamweight (126-135 lb.), Featherweight
(136-145 lb.), and Super Heavyweight (266 lb. and above).
|
|
|
