The following is a recap of a conference call held by the IFL (International Fight League) on Tuesday September 19, 2006.
The IFL will return to Fox Sports Net on Sunday September 24 at 6 pm EST for a 10 episode season. The IFL has incorporated a team concept into MMA. The FSN show will chronicle the IFL World Team Championship, as 8 teams compete against each other for the top prize. Each team consists of 5 fighters, one from each of the 5 competitive weight divisions featured in IFL. Each team features an all-star coach.
We are welcomed to the conference call by IFL CEO Gareb Shamus, along with Commissioner Kurt Otto. Also taking questions will be Silverbacks Welterweight Rory Markham and Dragons coach, and MMA legend, Carlos Newton.
Rory Markham is up first, as he has to leave early for training. Markham is asked about his Silverbacks coach Pat Miletich. Markham says that Miletich runs one of the most intense camps in MMA. Markham says having an entire team in a gym training at the same time has been an unusual experience. He says there are so many people in the gym that they are constantly stepping over each other. Markham says it reminds him of his streetfighting days in Chicago.
Rory Markham is asked how he is training for Renzo Gracie's Pitbulls team. Markham says he has always been a dominant striker, so for the Pitbulls, he has been training a lot on the ground, with a focus on defensive fighting. Markham says he is not worried, because he started doing full contact karate at the age of 14. In full contact karate, only head punches are prohibited. Markham says he got his first KO at the age of 14, against a 26 year-old, with a head kick. Markham says he is working heavily on his sprawl, taking his ground game up several notches. Markham says he doesn't know a lot about his opponents in IFL, but he is in shape, so there is nothing to worry about.
Rory Markham is asked what it is like training with Pat Miletich while Miletich is himself getting ready for a fight. Markham says it is different than other times he has trained under Miletich, because Miletich is now a peer. Markham says he is now getting to roll all-out with Miletich. He says Miletich being in fight shape makes for more of a workout. Markham says they are able to pick up the pace to create different scramble scenarios. He says Miletich currently has 20/20 fight vision. Markham says people are underestimating Pat Miletich, since he hasn't fought in over four years, and on September 23, Miletich is going to surprise people.
Carlos Newton is proud to be a part of the IFL. Newton says that he is currently only coaching in the IFL, but that he wants to fight in the future. Newton is excited to be coaching against fellow MMA legend Frank Shamrock. Newton says it is great to be in a gym with a team. He says the IFL team concept is the future of MMA.
When asked why he chose to go to the IFL over other MMA organizations, Carlos Newton said he did so based on the recommendations of his peers. Newton says he is familiar with a lot of the IFL staff. Newton says he has great confidence in the vision of Kurt Otto and Gareb Shamus.
Carlos Newton, holding MMA victories over both Renzo Gracie and Pat Miletich, is asked about the upcoming Gracie vs. Miletich IFL match. Newton says he has great respect for both fighters. He says that because he looks up to them, it is hard to critique them. Newton cannot make a prediction as to who will win.
Next, IFL Commissioner Kurt Otto fields questions. Otto says the IFL has become an immediate success in the United States. When asked about international tours, Otto says they may run internationally in 2007, but definitely will by 2008. When asked if the IFL would consider PPVs, Otto says that their business model is for the IFL to air on free television. He says they might consider special event PPVs sometime in the future, but that it would depend on what their network wanted.
Kurt Otto says the IFL could possibly return to Atlantic City in November 2006. He says they want to cover as much of the United States as possible with their live events. Otto says they are using the IFL World Team Championship tournament to get fighters and fans acclimated to the brand.
Kurt Otto says the last IFL show, in Portland, gave life to the vision he and Shamus had for the IFL. He says the crowd was very into the show, with 3/4 of the audience cheering for the Wolfpack team and the other 1/4 rooting for the Tiger Sharks team. Otto says this made him believe that any doubters will soon be sold on the team concept. Otto says the IFL is able to book superfights that other promotions have not been able to make happen. Otto says there are too many egos in other MMA promotions, which haven't allowed for some of these superfights to happen.
Kurt Otto says ticket sales for the IFL have been great. He says patience is required, as the company is only one year old. Otto says the IFL drew over 5,000 fans in attendance at their Portland show. Otto says they are expecting 8,000 or more for their show on September 23 in Moline, IL.
Kurt Otto was asked about Brian Ebersole, who had been in the IFL and was scheduled for the Moline show, but is currently under investigation by the California State Athletic Commission on charges that his recent fight with Shannon Ritch in the FCP promotion was fixed. Otto says the Illinois commission overseeing the event has asked that Ebersole not fight on the card, and the IFL has complied. Otto says that if Ebersole is innocent, he will be back in the IFL, but if the fight was rigged, he will not be back.
Kurt Otto is asked about the possibility that MMA could get sanctioned in the state of New York. Otto says that MMA is currently the fastest growing sport, and being able to run shows in New York City would be huge for the IFL, and could change the entire sport.
There will be 10 hours of IFL coverage running this fall on FSN Sunday nights, starting September 24 at 6 pm EST. There will be a two-hour IFL special on The Best Damn Sports Show Period on Monday night October 2. The IFL World Team Championship tournament is scheduled to conclude on FSN on November 26.
