there are a few reason IMO. First, the caliber of fighters as a whole is not up to par with those of the other organizations. Although there are a few standouts, the organization as a whole does not have any "stars". The team concept is all they have, so they need to stick with it or they won't really have any differentiation. I'm not quite sure how to "spice it up" and make it more interesting but something needs to happen. Third, since they fight in a ring, they should enforce passivity rules so that the action is kept to a maximum given that they could be rest everytime they go to the ropes. As for the elbows and foot stomps... maybe the elbows, but footstomps won't be allowed due to US regulations. I wish they had a better product, but they really need to step it up. I work for MyNetworkTV so I know there's some things that they can do better, but it's on them to do so. I'm a fan of MMA so I watch what I can, but I have to say, I only watch it I'm doing nothing else.
I agree that they should allow elbows to be used. As for the fighters go, they are not high quality fighters, and that is what we need to remember. I love the team concept, deffinently a different spin on things. I like it all in all, I am willing to bet that some of these guys, this is a way for them to step it up to the next level and join in on the elite fighter level. We have to remember that we are watching these guys mature as professional fighters.
The major problem with the IFL is just that it came into alot of media attention really quickly. It's not that the organization is bad, that the team concept is bad or that the rules are bad, it's that they are still in a building phase.
I think that if you give the IFL maybe 5 or 6 years to really get built, give them time to set up 20+ teams, divisions and a four year season instead of the 1 year season that keeps the win and loss count low, then they will be really good.
If they expand (something the IFL has every intention of doing) the right way (which they seem to be doing), then it will give them the opportunity to really bring in some good fighters. I also think that the establishment of a belt system will help establish some stars, though I'm not sure how they'll do it with the guys that will still be on teams.
Frankly, I think there are more than a few really good fighters in the organization, I just don't think that we see them as much as we'd like to, and I think that the modern MMA fan (myself included) is more interested in the individual bout than the team concept. Once we get more teams and localize the sport more, we'll really start to see a change.
There are a few things, though, that'd I'd like to see the IFL do:
A season expansion (I'd perfer a four year season, because I think it would heighten the competitiveness and there would be some change in the teams over the course of a season)
Stadium establishment (it seems pretty important that we get the home vs. away concept establishment, so that there can be more support from a localized fan base, and while this is easy for teams in cities with MMA venues like Chicago, San Jose and Tokyo, I think it's going to be harder in Reno or some of the smaller cities as they start to expand)
Team expansion I'd love the see as many as 32 teams, and if they could do it with credible coaches, it'd be pretty awesome. There are still some good guys that I think they could get to coach, my short list includes
Rickson/Royce/Royler Gracie to provide some contrast to Renzo's east coast BJJ
Nobuhiko Takada/KID Yamamoto [that would be Killer Bee] to add another Japanese team
Russian Top Team/Red Devil Sport Club because I'd like to see 2 or 3 more Russian teams besides Zinoviev, who's team trains in America anyway
Greg Jackson to bring in another quality coach
Peter Aerts/Branko Cikatic/Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic to add another really serious kickboxer besides Maurice Smith
Elvis Sinosic/Anthony Perosh to really provide a great Aussie team, plus they would have some really solid ground game
Ernesto Hoost as a kickboxing legend and a genius, I think he would make a great coach and, along with
Aerts/Cikatic/CroCop possibility I mentioned above, really up the quality of standup, which is really lacking in the IFL
Lil Nogueira/Belfort since Big Nog and A. Silva are in the UFC it's really not an option to get one of them, but I think that a team training out of Blackhouse would really add some quality Brazilian standup
BTT Canada to add another Canadian team, ideally they would fight out of Quebec to contrast with Newton's Toronto based team
There is a long list, but those are the guys I'd really like to see.
The major problem with the IFL is just that it came into alot of media attention really quickly. It's not that the organization is bad, that the team concept is bad or that the rules are bad, it's that they are still in a building phase.
I think that if you give the IFL maybe 5 or 6 years to really get built, give them time to set up 20+ teams, divisions and a four year season instead of the 1 year season that keeps the win and loss count low, then they will be really good.
Good post. I think there is much truth to that. UFC has been around for a long time and only fairly recently has it really exploded by having the right combination. IFL has the advantage of starting up while the iron is hot, so it is only a matter of time to gain traction while remaining competitive in the business. The key is to keep moving forward, from marketing to fighter quality.
5 minute rounds wouldn't hurt either. 4 minute rounds really serve no purpose, I guess it's to keep guys fresher, but it doesn't give guys as much time to work, and I'm sure they can all go the extra three minutes anyways.
It's not a big thing, but rounds ending after 4 minutes just seems so abrupt, like you're missing out on part of the fight.
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I dont actually think the IFL is that bad, I enjoy the fights but think that elbows need to be allowed, I think for the IFL to grow though will take time, I like the idea of teams but think that there biggest problem is that the fighters are unknown as are alot of the coaches in the main stream. I think in 5 years time as we see some name fighters from UFC and Pride start retiring if the IFL is able to attract them as coaches they will have the ability to give a rub to the fighters.
The thing I've noticed about the IFL as I talk to MMA fans in other city's is this: If there is a team in their area, they know the fighters, watch the fights, and keep track of their team.
For me, I don't have a team nearby, so I root more for certain fighters, the way I do with other MMA organizations. If the IFL could expand, I think more fans would buy into the team concept by becoming "local fans" rooting for their area's team.
But thats all a money issue and its not feasible until the IFL becomes more profitable.
What can IFL do to improve, and why does it suck so bad?
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