Fight League struggles for recognition
Arena attendance small, and 'it’s kind of hard to tell who is who'
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In Roman times they were called Centurions because 100 soldiers of elite fighting ability were trained to protect the emperor. Today a mixed martial arts organization has its own version of New Centurions called the International Fight League.
They’re protecting their right to fight.
“We have about 100 fighters on contract,” said Kurt Otto, commissioner of the IFL. “The level of our athletes is the best in the world.”
Now near the end of its second season, the IFL is entering the playoff phase of a truly international mixed martial arts league with teams that come from Tokyo, Toronto and points throughout the United States.
The semifinals take place on Aug. 2, 2007 in East Rutherford, New Jersey at the Continental Airlines Arena.
You may not recognize most of the IFL participants but the coaches are icons in MMA such as Frank Shamrock, Matt Lindland, Marco Ruas and Ken Shamrock to name a few of the 12 extraordinary coaches.
Though the coaches can fight for other organizations, the players are under exclusive contracts and cannot fight outside the IFL. Fighter’s salaries range between $50,000 on average to over six figures.
Plus one or two other small matters: “They’re (fighters) getting an enormous amount of ring time,” said Otto, who is based in New York City. “They are already getting huge notoriety and seen on television by millions of fans each week.”
But not everything is as smooth as a Roman cape. Arena attendance has not reached the level of other MMA organizations.
“It’s kind of hard to tell who is who,” said Don Leonard, an MMA enthusiast who regularly attends events including IFL events in Los Angeles. “They have some good fighters but not everyone knows who they are.”
Recognition does not come easy.
“I think the way we conformed what has normally been an individual combat sport and turning it into a team versus team sport, that’s been the biggest challenge,” says Otto, adding that two television networks air their fights and profiles on individual fighters. “But in a short period of time we’ve been able to convince some people.”
One difference has come with rules forbidding use of the elbow. Another is targeting toward cities big and small.
“We simply went to cities where other organizations would dare not go,” he said. “We went to cities like Portland and had overwhelming response.”
The IFL is a publicly traded company.
IFL semifinals
Currently the league consists of 12 teams and four have made it to the semi-finals including the Tokyo Sabres, New York Pitbulls, Los Angeles Anacondas and last year’s champion the Quad Cities Silverbacks.
The number one seeded team Anacondas are set to play the number four seed Silverbacks at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. The winners of the semi-finals will meet at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida on Sept. 16.
Coaching the first place Los Angeles team is Shawn Tompkins the renowned coach from Temecula’s Team Quest.
“Shawn Tomkins is the personal coach of Dan Henderson,” said Otto, adding that Henderson is the welterweight and middleweight Pride FC world champion.
Pat Miletich coaches the Silverback team.
“Lots of great fighters come out of Miletich Fighting Systems in Iowa,” said Leonard. “They must be doing something right over there.”
Another team in the semifinals comes will be the New York Pitbulls coached by Renzo Gracie. Facing that team will be the Tokyo Sabres coached by Ken Yasuda.
Off to a solid start, the IFL hopes the team approach to MMA catches on.
“We’re trying to map out a future,” said Otto, adding that a World Grand Prix is planned following the championship where individual all-star recognition will take place in tournament fashion. “If you’re an MMA fan come and see us. You will see the best MMA show in your life.”
The IFL can be seen on Mondays from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on My Network (formally UPN) television and on Fox Sports Net each Friday at 11 p.m.
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