Ifl

[Spirit]

Has anyone seen the IFL or been to one of their events...
what do you think?

I've watched it twice so far and I'm not at all intrested in it. it is a 2 hour show and it could be easly cut down to 30 minutes
to much talk between each match and way to much standing up clinching
kicks, if even thrown, are poor at best often head kicks end up with the kicker falling down

[SHIHAN MERCADO]

I agree the IFL is similar to the WWE. The MMA thing is popular right now but it will soon die a slow death because these guys have little or no talent at all with poor training if any.

[kyofighter]

...are you saying that MMA will die or IFL ?
Because MMA it's just starting now : breaking news - Pride has been sold to Zuffa (they own UFC).
I think MMA will develop into a worldwide sport.

[Spirit]

YES, MMA will develope into a world sport, infact it already has...
But just as boxing was a world sport, it is seen its hay days, many years ago.
Their was a time in my area that there was several boxing clubs in all the surrounding city's, now you have to go far and wide to find one.
Boxing was in all the YMCA's, Boy's clubs etc now nothing.

I strongly feel that MMA will go the same way.SADLY!!!

Money will kill the sport (as it did boxing), as the MMA grows and fighters wish to get paid more and more money as well the propmoters and owners wish the same they will price themselves out of the pocket of the average person. Example NFL< NHL< NBA < MLB all are doing the same thing pricing themselves out and their numbers and attendance is falling.
So will the schools that are now (and will start) teaching MMA. Many Mcdojo's are now offering MMA training or BJJ training and are guys who own dojo's looking for addtional income. They go and get "certifided" at a weekend event and then sell classes at their dojo for big $$$. YES their are many strong and true MMA, BJJ dojo's clubs around and they will be hurt from the McMMA's, just as the Mcdojo's did Karate...
This will slowly erode the MMA intrest. As the sport continues to grow, fighters will be needed and a big influx of poor fighters will hurt the sport too. IFL is proof of this already happening.....

I hate to see it happen!!!

[Kurisu]

I watched one episode of IFL and it was pretty weak. Reminds me of WWF in the early days. The quality of the fighters is pretty low.

BTW, jap man, attendance for MLB has been steadily rising for the past few years. In 2006, MLB drew a total of 76 million, up about 1.6 million from the previous year.

Go Angels!

[SHIHAN MERCADO]

I can make a statement like this because I am familiar with the MMA and BJJ world. In this sport they push people for tournament with as little as 2 months of training. Would any of you go into full contact kyokushin with only 2 months of training? Of course not! So what do you expect of the IFL and MMA in general. That is why most of the new fighters fighting pro in MMA have a little over a year experience. Did any of you get a sho dan in one year? Of course not! That is why the quality of the average will never be at a high level.

[powerof0ne]

Originally Posted by Kurisu

I watched one episode of IFL and it was pretty weak. Reminds me of WWF in the early days. The quality of the fighters is pretty low.

BTW, jap man, attendance for MLB has been steadily rising for the past few years. In 2006, MLB drew a total of 76 million, up about 1.6 million from the previous year.

Go Angels!

No offense, but I don't think you know of many of the fighters to make this comment. However, I'm not a huge fan of the IFL nor it's team scoring, but that's just me.
If I was still in WA state I would be training with the tiger sharks team right now. My sparring partner before I relocated to NC is currently training with them.
For example, Dennis Hallman(who I was supposed to fight in a MT fight before) used to be on the Tiger Sharks and he's a formidable grappler, I mean, he has beat Matt Hughes twice. Eric Dhalberg, a gracie barra black belt is now on the tiger sharks. Allan Goes, need I say more?
I'm not even talking about the quality fighters on Renzo's team, this is just Maurice's team.

[Spirit]

Their are many talented fighters in the IFL as their are in all the MMA type events... Though growth explosion does hurt the sport and so does the new fighting rulles (which I don't like).
I geuss it is assumed when knock something that the talented fighters are not included in "trash talk" that would be a little foolish, but then again so is trash talk... and you have made a good point powerofone....

[smoothsake]

Originally Posted by Kurisu

Go Angels!

I hope to see my Dodger Blue and those (L.A.?) Angels in the World Series.

Regarding MMA and its rise and proposed fall... I hope to see MMA continue to rise in popularity, eventually tapering off, but remaining at the world stage of competitive sports. Fact of the matter is that any publicity for MA is good publicity. Here in the West there are still millions who are oblivious to the contributions of MA from the East. If it takes some "ground & pound" on cable TV to open their eyes, so be it. Surely this is not only good for BJJ and MT dojos, but also for traditional MA dojos. I have no exact stats, but I bet participation in the traditional MA dojos have increased since the popularity of promotion companies like UFC, Pride, K-1, etc.

...I for one was reinvigorated to continue karate after the MMA and kickboxing boom on TV.