The NEW International Fight League

I have always been very critical of the IFL and their team style of MMA. They are a fledgling company and have now decided to promote Coach/commentator Bas Rutten to Vice President of "Fighter Operations" and he is delivering on a new IFL. The company changed their logo, and also their approach to the "team" concept. Instead of the "League Teams" such as Quad City Silverbacks and Portland Wolfpack, the teams will represent the true camps and coaches. Pat Miletich's team has been re-named to the Miletich Fighting System, which is the real camp name his fighters have always fought from. Ken Shamrock's team returns to the Lion's Den, Matt Lindland to the world famous Team Quest, Mario Sperry's World Class Fight Center, Randy Couture and Xtreme Couture, Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and soon a camp from Great Britian coached by Ian Freeman.

Yet this is only the beginning. The door has been left open for separate teams from the world of MMA to come in and challenge IFL teams with their own squads for special events. Tito Ortiz and his Team Punishment have already expressed interest and how can proud academies like Chute Boxe, Hammer House, American Top Team, Black House, Greg Jackson, Brazilian Top Team, and perhaps even the notorious Russian Red Devils resist the temptation to battle camp vs camp? I think this is a much better approach to the "team" concept and will allow for more solid teams with more cohesion.

The IFL also goes into 2008 with Champions for each weight class. This allows for title fights pitting the best against the best with that gold that the fans always seem to want to see. Lightweight Champ Ryan Schultz, Welterweight Champ Jay Hieron, Middleweight Champ Matt Horwich, Light Heavyweigth Champ Vladimir Matyushenko, Heavyweight Champ Roy Nelson, and newly created Featherweight Division Champ Wagnney Fabiano will all be defending their respective titles in the coming year. This adds the excitement of the title fight along with the team style battles on the same cards.

Finalized deals with MyNetwork TV and Fox Sports Net along with video releases by Warner Home Video will continue to push the IFL into new markets not to mention they will finally be broadcasting "live" fights instead of taped bouts that people read about on the Internet and don't watch. For you game fanboys, an IFL video game is currently in the works.

This "new" look IFL definately looks vastly improved from the 1st version, though I wouldn't go out and buy their stock just yet. On the other hand, it is awfully cheap for a company making that run at the mainstream of MMA.