IFL – News, Roster & Erster Event

[Nefercheperur]

Vor einigen Wochen machte eine neue MMA Promotion mit einem voellig neuen Konzept im Mixed Martial Arts auf sich Aufmerksam, die IFL, die International Fight League. Die IFL wird promotet von Gareb Shamus und Kurt Otto, das Konzept der Promotion ist Season und Team Orientiert, aehnlich wie bei der NFL, NBA oder MLB. Gareb Shamus meinte hierzu:
“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.”

Der erste IFL Event wird am 29 April 2006 im Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey stattfinden. Vier Teams werden beim ersten Event antretten, jedes Team besteht aus Fightern von den 5 Gewichtsklassen sowie einem Head Coach. Die 4 Teams und Head Coaches sind: The Silverbacks (Pat Miletich), The Pitbulls (Renzo Gracie), The Anacondas (Bas Rutten), und The Tiger Sharks (Maurice Smith). Jeweils zwei Teams werden in 10 Fights aufeinander treffen, die zwei Siegerteams werden dann 6 Wochen spaeter aufeinander treffen.

Weitere Details der IFL sind, das alle Fights in einem Ring stattfinden werden. Die 4 Coaches werden sich ihre Fighter im Team aussuchen duerfen (siehe unten). Alle Fighter bekommen zudem Garantievertraege, und Bonusbetraege fuer die Fights. Momentan verhandelt die IFL auch ueber einen Free TV Deal in Nordamerika mit ESPN und Fox Sports, jedoch gibt es noch kein Ergebniss hierzu. Wer mehr ueber die IFL erfahren moechte, der kann sich auf der Homepage der Promotion weiter informieren:
http://www.IFL.tv

Gestern gab zudem die IFL die Roster und das Lineup der ersten IFL Show bekannt. Die UFC konnte etablierte Fighter wie Travis Wuiff, Ben Rothwell, Gustavo Machado und Dennis Hallman verpflichten. Die IFL gab auch bekannt das man Ivan Salaverry verpflichtet hat, jedoch laufen die Verhandlungen noch laut Ivan und es sind noch keine Vertraege unterschrieben worden. Die zwei ueberraschendsten und wohl auch besten Namen im IFL Roster sind Mike Pyle und Urijah Faber. Pyle gilt als einer der besten Nachwuchs Welterweight Fighter der Welt und trainiert mit Randy Couture. Urijah Faber dagegen ist auch ein junger aufstrebender Lightweight Fighter bei dem man eigentlich dachte das die UFC ihn verpflichten wuerde. Folgend der IFL Roster und die Card fuer die erste IFL Show:


IFL Roster

Silverbacks (Coach: Pat Miletich)
LW – Bart Palaszewski
WW – Rory Markham
MW – Ryan McGivern
LHW – Travis Wiuff
HW – Ben Rothwell

Anacondas (Coach: Bas Rutten)
LW – Urijah Faber
WW – Mike Pyle
MW – Amir Rahnavardi
LHW – Alex Schoenauer
HW – Krzysztof Soszynski

Pit Bulls (Coach: Renzo Gracie)
LW – Eric Owens
WW – Gustavo Machado
MW – Fabio Leopoldo
LHW – Jamal Patterson
HW – Carlos Klein

Tiger Sharks (Coach: Maurice Smith)
LW – Chanti Johnson
WW – Eric Dahalberg
MW – Dennis Hallman
LHW – Ivan Salaverry (???)
HW – Devin Cole


IFL Card
29 April 2006
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Trump Taj Mahal

Silverbacks vs Anacondas

LW: Bart Palaszewski vs Urijah Faber
WW: Rory Markham vs Mike Pyle
MW: Ryan McGivern vs Amir Rahnavardi
LHW: Travis Wiuff vs Alex Schoenauer
HW: Ben Rothwell vs Krysztof Soszynski

Pit Bulls vs Tigersharks

LW: Eric Owens vs Chanti Johnson
WW: Gustavo Machado vs Eric Dahlberg
MW: Fabio Leopoldo vs Dennis Hallman
LHW: Jamal Patterson vs Ivan Salaverry ( ???)
HW: Carlos Kline vs Devin Cole

[Nefercheperur]

Das Konzept der IFL finde ich ziemlich gut, und auch die Coaches und die Fighter lassen auf gute Shows schliessen. Nun kommt es darauf an ob man einen Free TV Deal bekommt, und wie man das Konzept umsetzt. Es ist klar das noch weitere Teams dazu kommen muessen, und vielleicht die Teams auch nicht nur ein Fighter pro Gewichtsklasse haben sondern vielleicht 2-3. Ich hoffe mal das die IFL den Free TV Deal bekommt, denn dann kann man auch einiges mehr machen.

[Souljacker]

Whooo … das klingt ja mal richtig gut ! Hätte allerdings eher gedacht, das man Rutten, Gracie oder Miletich eher mal für eine weitere TUF-Season verpflichten würde.
Aber stimmt schon, die Tatsache, das man pro Gewichtsklasse nur einen einzigen Fighter hat, könnte mal irgendwann zum Problem werden.

… der einzige Jammer: In Deutschland werden wir es wohl wieder mal nicht zu sehen kriegen…

[Nefercheperur]

Die IFL gab gestern beim WEC Event bekannt das der Superfight am 29 April der ist zwischen Jens “Little Evil” Pulver und Cole “Apache Kid” Escovedo.

[Nefercheperur]

Die IFL hat nun den ehemaligen Pride FC Kommentator Stephen Quadros unter Vertrag genommen. Eine naechste gute Verpflichtung der IFL, die die Promotion noch interessanter macht.

[Shakazulu]

Ich hab gerade gelesen das die IFL einen TV Deal mit Fox Sports abgschlossen hat!

[Nefercheperur]

International Fight League Rules & Reference Guide

The IFL is committed to providing fight fans of all ages the opportunity to experience the non-stop action only found in mixed martial arts, the most exciting sport on the planet! Our televised programming will leave you on the edge of your seat, and our thundering LIVE events will bring you to your feet and keep you there! IFL – "Pure Sport"

RULES

IFL Competitive Weight Divisions

Lightweight 145 lbs. to 155 lbs.

Welterweight 155 lbs. to 170 lbs.

Middleweight 170 lbs. to 185 lbs.

Light Heavyweight 185 lbs. to 205 lbs.

Heavyweight 205 lbs. to 265 lbs.

Teams

A team will consist of 5 fighters (1 from each weight division)

IFL Round System and Bout Duration

All non-championship bouts are a maximum of three rounds Rounds are four minutes in duration A one-minute rest period between each round

IFL Approved Ring, Uniform and Equipment

Fighting area

(a) The fighting area will be done in a standard boxing ring. The fighting area canvas shall be padded in a manner as approved by the Commissioner, with at least one inch layer of foam padding. Padding shall extend beyond the fighting area and over the edge of the platform. The canvas will be a cloth based material.

(b) The ring consist of five ropes, wrapped in soft material. The lowest ring rope is 9 inches above the ring floor.

© There is no obstruction or object on any part of the ring floor.

Mouth Pieces

(a) All contestants are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The mouthpiece shall be subject to examination and approved official.

(b) The round will begin once mouthpiece in place.

© If the mouthpiece is involuntarily dislodged during competition, the referee shall call time, clean the mouthpiece and reinsert the mouthpiece at the first opportune moment, without interfering with the immediate action.

Protective equipment

(a) Male mixed martial artists shall wear a groin protector of their own selection, of a type approved by the Commission.

Gloves

(a) The gloves shall be new for all events.

(b) All contestants shall wear either four, five or six ounce gloves, supplied by the promoter and approved by the commission.

Apparel

(a) Each contestant shall wear mixed martial arts shorts, biking type shorts, or kick-boxing shorts.

(b) Gi’s or shirts are prohibited during competition.

© Shoes are prohibited during competition.

Actions Constituting Fouls in the IFL

(a) The following are fouls and will result in penalties if committed:

1. Butting with the head;

2. Eye gouging of any kind;

3. Biting or spitting at an opponent;

4. Hair pulling;

5. Fish hooking;

6. Groin attacks of any kind;

7. Intentionally placing a finger in any opponent’s orifice;

8. Downward pointing of elbow strikes;

9. Elbows to the face or head;

10. Small joint manipulation;

11. Strikes to the spine or back of the head;

12. Heel kicks to the kidney;

13. Throat strikes of any kind;

14. Clawing, pinching, twisting the flesh or grabbing the clavicle;

15. Kicking the head of a grounded fighter;

16. Kneeing the head of a grounded fighter;

17. Stomping the head of a grounded fighter;

18. The use of abusive language in fighting area;

19. Any unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to opponent;

20. Attacking an opponent on or during the break;

21. Attacking an opponent who is under the referee’s care;

22. Stalling (avoiding contact, or consistent dropping of mouthpiece, or faking an injury);

23. Interference from a mixed martial artist corners;

24. Throwing an opponent out of the fighting area;

25. Flagrant disregard of the referee’s instructions;

26. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his or her head or neck.

(b) Disqualification occurs after any combination of three or the fouls listed in (a) above or after a referee determines that a foul was intentional and flagrant.

© Fouls will result in a point being deducted by the official scorekeeper from the offending mixed martial artist’s score.

(d) Only a referee can assess a foul. If the referee does not call the foul, judges shall not make that assessment on their own and cannot factor such into their scoring calculations.

(e) A fouled fighter has up to five minutes to recuperate.

(f) If a foul is committed, the referee shall:

1. call time;

2. check the fouled mixed martial artist’s condition and safety; and

3. assess the foul to the offending contestant, deduct points, and notify each corner’s seconds, judges and the official scorekeeper.

a) If a bottom contestant commits a foul, unless the top contestant is injured, the fight shall continue, so as not to jeopardize the top contestant’s superior positioning at the time.

1. The referee shall verbally notify the bottom contestant of the foul.

2. When the round is over, the referee shall assess the foul and notify both corners’ seconds, the judges and the official scorekeeper.

3. The referee may terminate a bout based on the severity of a foul. For such a flagrant foul, a contestant shall lose by disqualification.

Ways to Win in the IFL

Teams win by winning 3 out of 5 fights.

Fighters win by:

1. Submission:

i. Tap Out: When a contestant physically uses his hand to indicate that he no longer wishes to continue; or

ii. Verbal tap out: When a contestant verbally announces to the referee that he does not wish to continue;

2. Technical knockout:

i. Referee stops bout;

ii. Ringside physician stops bout; or

iii. When an injury as a result of a legal maneuver is severe enough to terminate a bout;

3. Knockout by failure to rise from the canvas;

4. Decision via score cards:

i. Unanimous: When all three judges score the bout for the same contestant;

ii. Split Decision: When two judges score the bout for one contestant andone judge scores for the opponent; or

iii. Majority Decision: When two judges score the bout for the same contestant and one judge scores a draw;

5. Draws:

i. Unanimous - When all three judges score the bout a draw;

ii. Majority - When two judges score the bout a draw; or

iii. Split - When all three judges score differently and the score total results in a draw;

6. Disqualification: When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul is severe enough to terminate the contest;

7. Forfeit: When a contestant fails to begin competition or prematurely ends the contest for reasons other than injury or by indicating a tap out;

8. Technical Draw: When an injury sustained during competition as a result of an intentional foul causes the injured contestant to be unable to continue and the injured contestant is even or behind on the score cards at the time of stoppage;

9. Technical Decision: When the bout is prematurely stopped due to injury and a contestant is leading on the score cards; and

10. No Contest: When a contest is prematurely stopped due to accidental injury and a sufficient number of rounds have not been completed to render a decision via the score cards.

Restarts, Stand Ups and Pausing Time-clock by IFL Referee

If the fighters reach a stalemate on the ground and do not work to improve position or finish the fight, IFL referees have the authority to stand both fighters up and resume the round without stopping the clock. As long as one of the athletes is actively pursuing submission attempts and/or trying to end the fight, the action will continue without a stand up. IFL referees are well-versed in a multitude of art forms traditionally taking place on the ground and can interpret the action as skilled professionals.

If the fighters reach a stalemate while in the clinch from the stand up position, IFL referees have the authority to separate the fighters and resume the round without stopping the clock.

An IFL referee has the authority to issue a penalty (at his or her sole discretion) to one fighter or both fighters for stalemates. Penalties may include, but are not limited to a verbal warning or a deduction of a point or points for repeated offenses.

An IFL referee has the authority to temporarily pause the action (and the time clock) in order to have a ringside physician check an injury to one of the fighters. If fighter is deemed able to continue the referee will reposition combatants how they were before pausing the action and call for a restart of the clock.