After three seasons, two championship teams and a Grand Prix, the IFL is completely changing their format to …
I was a naysayer; a guy who said it wouldn’t work. Why would anyone want to watch a MMA PPV that featured teams? Apparently I would.
It took two years, but finally the IFL got my attention with its team format. While I have yet go out and purchase an IFL PPV, I have watched and taped its television program and considered giving the publicly traded organization my some of my semi-hard earned cash.
Now this: the IFL announced that they would drop the team format in favor of the “camp” format and open the league up to all challengers. While the “opening up to all challengers” makes perfect sense, changing the team concept is puzzling.
By bringing in outside talent, the organization has strayed from its commitment to do what others have not, which is take care of their fighters. The addition of outside talents could mean a shift in focus from the IFL, and, in the long term, fewer fighters under the IFL’s unique contract. *
From the fans perspective, the move allows the league to hire more advanced talent and fill holes created by injures more effectively, which makes better television.
But straying from the previously created teams, and going to real camps, gives the league a character issue. The Militech camp exists without the IFL, the Iowa Silverbacks do not.
The advantage, according to IFL commissioner Kurt Otto, is that fans will really get to see who’s camp is better. A lot of fight teams were simply recruiting fighters from other camps and weren’t true teams.
How is that bad?
On one hand they’re trying to make the league more respectable by insuring teams are truly working together, which benefits the true teams of the IFL. On the other hand, is opening up the league to make it more exciting doesn’t benefit the IFL fighters. Huh?
More importantly, why would an organization that branded a concept be the first to veer away from it? Panic or progress?
Does Kurt Otto know something we don’t? Hopefully.
Having the IFL prosper as an alternative to standard MMA helps the sport as a whole. If the organization falters, it will become a UFC (style) or nothing landscape once again.
Yes, other organizations like Elite XC exist, but those organizations compete with the UFC by offering a similar style. The IFL offers something different.
Maybe I’m panicking; after all, teams will still be a part of the IFL … I think. Kurt Otto and company have a track record of making things work that few thought even had a shadow of a chance, but here’s to hoping the character of the IFL isn’t going to be tarnished by the transformation to IFL v2.0.
PEACE
Brett
* Currently, IFL fighters are paid by salary and are given health benefits. No other organization does that.
CONQUEROR’S NOTE: Does Floyd Mayweather know they allow takedowns and kicks in MMA? The man is either kidding or Mark Cuban is lining up “Crazy Horse” Charles Bennett for $30 million. Hell, the man could be out wrestled by Tank Abbott. Here’s to hoping Mayweather gets taped out in 60 seconds by a one legged Brazilian Ju-Jitsu orange belt.
