Design Sifu
03-08-2006, 01:49 AM
Okay so check it . . . (http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=4051)
Official PR
Mixing the rising popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) with the established team- and season-based approach found in America's most loved sports, today it was announced that the International Fight League (IFL) has been formed. The IFL will feature some of the MMA world's most-recognized and revered names as its coaches and fighters, each competing in live events throughout the year. The new league has been created by Gareb Shamus, founder and chairman of the comics empire Wizard Entertainment Group, and Kurt Otto, a highly successful New Jersey real estate investor and a life-long martial arts participant.
"The IFL's goal, shared by the coaches and fighters, is two-fold: first, to elevate the sport to the elite level it deserves and treat mixed martial arts fighters like professional athletes, and second, to use the team and season-based approach that works so well in the NFL, NBA and MLB. This hasn't been done before in MMA. Fighters have been treated much like they are in the boxing world -- scrounging from fight to fight and promotion to promotion. We are giving the MMA athlete a level of respect they have earned and, frankly, they deserve."
* The events will be held in a ring (not in a cage), believed to be the
most conducive environment for fighters, fans and production.
* As part of the new league's innovative premise, each of the original
teams will have a set annual operating budget, which will include
expense guidelines.
* Day-to-day operations will be determined by the IFL's coaches, who will
serve as managers who hand-pick and assemble their teams.
* They, along with their athletes, will be guaranteed a base income and
health benefits no matter how many times they compete during their
contracted periods, along with a bonus system that will offer
individual and team incentives for performance.
The first event will be taking place in a major live venue in mid-2006. Teams will represent numerous regions of the world, as well as the various disciplines currently highlighted in the sport. There will be teams of five -- consisting of lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. The IFL will launch with four teams in a single elimination tournament. At the first event all four teams will compete, one team will vie against another, with ten fights taking place. The two winning teams will meet approximately six weeks later to see who the Championship team will be.
Gareb Shamus had this to say . . .
"Well, my whole life, I’ve been dealing with superheroes; characters with exceptional abilities above and beyond the usual. When Kurt introduced me to the world of MMA, I immediately recognized these guys have extraordinary skills and abilities they can perform that go beyond those of a typical human. As we went along, I understood exactly who these guys are and why fans admire what they are capable of, which is the ability to do what most people can’t. These fighters are essentially real life superheroes and I “get” why they appeal to others…"
For those who don't know . . . The above mentioned Wizard Entertainment Group publishes, among other magazines, WIZARD (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazines/wizard.cfm)
I wonder if they'll get the competitors to dress up in brightly colored spandex.
Official PR
Mixing the rising popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) with the established team- and season-based approach found in America's most loved sports, today it was announced that the International Fight League (IFL) has been formed. The IFL will feature some of the MMA world's most-recognized and revered names as its coaches and fighters, each competing in live events throughout the year. The new league has been created by Gareb Shamus, founder and chairman of the comics empire Wizard Entertainment Group, and Kurt Otto, a highly successful New Jersey real estate investor and a life-long martial arts participant.
"The IFL's goal, shared by the coaches and fighters, is two-fold: first, to elevate the sport to the elite level it deserves and treat mixed martial arts fighters like professional athletes, and second, to use the team and season-based approach that works so well in the NFL, NBA and MLB. This hasn't been done before in MMA. Fighters have been treated much like they are in the boxing world -- scrounging from fight to fight and promotion to promotion. We are giving the MMA athlete a level of respect they have earned and, frankly, they deserve."
* The events will be held in a ring (not in a cage), believed to be the
most conducive environment for fighters, fans and production.
* As part of the new league's innovative premise, each of the original
teams will have a set annual operating budget, which will include
expense guidelines.
* Day-to-day operations will be determined by the IFL's coaches, who will
serve as managers who hand-pick and assemble their teams.
* They, along with their athletes, will be guaranteed a base income and
health benefits no matter how many times they compete during their
contracted periods, along with a bonus system that will offer
individual and team incentives for performance.
The first event will be taking place in a major live venue in mid-2006. Teams will represent numerous regions of the world, as well as the various disciplines currently highlighted in the sport. There will be teams of five -- consisting of lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. The IFL will launch with four teams in a single elimination tournament. At the first event all four teams will compete, one team will vie against another, with ten fights taking place. The two winning teams will meet approximately six weeks later to see who the Championship team will be.
Gareb Shamus had this to say . . .
"Well, my whole life, I’ve been dealing with superheroes; characters with exceptional abilities above and beyond the usual. When Kurt introduced me to the world of MMA, I immediately recognized these guys have extraordinary skills and abilities they can perform that go beyond those of a typical human. As we went along, I understood exactly who these guys are and why fans admire what they are capable of, which is the ability to do what most people can’t. These fighters are essentially real life superheroes and I “get” why they appeal to others…"
For those who don't know . . . The above mentioned Wizard Entertainment Group publishes, among other magazines, WIZARD (http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazines/wizard.cfm)
I wonder if they'll get the competitors to dress up in brightly colored spandex.