Archive for April, 2007

NEW YORK, April 26, 2007- The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, will bring fans from the Southwest to the Far East as “IFL Battleground,” the series chronicling the league, takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the Tucson Scorpions and their charismatic coach, Don Frye, and the Tokyo Sabres, led by the “Schwarzenegger of Japan,” champion trainer and bodybuilder Ken Yasuda, on Monday, April 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT/MT).. “IFL Battleground” airs every Monday night on MyNetworkTV Read the rest of this entry »

Hey, what’s up, Tito:

First of all, I want to thank you for getting me a part in the movie, The Dog Problem, produced by James Caan’s son, Scott. The fight scene we did was killer, except for the black eye; thanks a lot. We’re still homeys, though.

You showed a lot of heart, as always, against Chuck (Liddell). I kept walking in and out of the room because I couldn’t stand to watch it. I literally mourned your loss; tears were flowing from my eyes. Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK, April 23, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, announced today that it will move its June 16 regular season event from Reno, Nev., to Las Vegas. The event will be held at the Las Vegas Hilton, marking the first time an MMA event will be held at the hotel. Tickets for the event, which range in price from $50 to $200, will go on sale April 28 through the Las Vegas Hilton Box office, Ticketmaster or at www.ifl.tv. Read the rest of this entry »

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization today announced it will bring the world’s most exciting mixed martial arts event straight back to Europe, this time to fight fans in Northern Ireland. Topping off the international lineup of fights will be the middleweight main event clash Rich “Ace” Franklin vs. Denmark’s Martin Kampmann, and the light heavyweight special feature Forrest Griffin vs. Hector Ramirez. UFC 72: VICTORY will take place live from Belfast at the Odyssey Arena Saturday, June 16, 2007.

“We are very excited to bring the UFC to Northern Ireland,” said UFC President Dana White. “We are having our first fight in Manchester this Saturday, and we are ready to come right back and have another blockbuster event in Europe. UFC 72 will be one of many record-setting events — our London office is already working on more fights for 2007, and a regular series of fights for 2008. Our goal is to bring the best fights with the best fighters to all of our UFC fans, whether they are based in Nevada or Northern Ireland.” Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK, April 19, 2007- The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, will take fans into the camps of both the Seattle Tiger Sharks, coached by kickboxing and MMA legend Maurice Smith, and the Southern Calif. Condors, coached by Brazilian world champion Marco Ruas, Monday, April 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. CT/MT). “IFL Battleground,” the series chronicling the league, airs every Monday night on MyNetworkTV. Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK, April 17, 2007- The International Fight League’s (OTC.BB: IFLI), Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Gareb Shamus was selected as one of Brandweek Magazine’s 10 “Marketers of the Next Generation,” as revealed in the magazine’s current issue.

Shamus, who co-founded the league with partner Kurt Otto, is the only one on the select list currently involved in a sports entity. The IFL, the world’s first professional mixed martial arts league, will celebrate the one-year anniversary of its first event on April 29. Since that event at Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the league, its 12 teams led by 12 world champion coaches and its over 60 world class athletes, has forged a number of key partnerships to establish itself as a fast-growing sports brand. Included on the list is a home video deal with Warner Home Video, television deals with MyNetworkTV and FSN, sponsorship deals with Sandals Resorts, Microsoft Xbox and other companies, and partnerships with the William Morris Agency, the Alfred Haber Company, Getty Images and most recently with USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body of amateur wrestling in the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

UNCASVILLE, Conn., April 13, 2007 – The Dragons and Pitbulls made big statements in the push for the International Fight League playoffs, earning victories at the IFL event before 6,131 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The Dragons, coached by Carlos “The Ronin” Newton and based in Toronto, topped Don Frye’s Scorpions, based in Tucson, by a 4-1 count. The Pitbulls, led by Carlos Newton and based in New York, got by the Portland-based Wolfpack, trained by Matt Lindland and tonight led by substitute coach Kevin Jackson of USA Wrestling, by a 3-2 margin. Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK and COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., April 12, 2007 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI), the world’s first team-based professional mixed martial arts league, and USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body for wrestling in the United States, today announced a strategic partnership between the two organizations aimed at increasing the awareness level and creating unique grassroots programs and branding opportunities for both groups.

“This is a great day for the IFL and for the sports of Mixed Martial Arts and wrestling,” said IFL Commissioner and Co-Founder Kurt Otto. “This partnership will give us the platform to reach a very passionate demo with one of the most respected National Governing Bodies. This cooperative program will help us further our mission to expose these great IFL athletes to a larger audience and show how they can use their wrestling skills as part of MMA.” Read the rest of this entry »

NEW YORK, April 11, 2007- Fox Sports Net will provide same-night, tape-delayed coverage of Friday’s International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) matchup between two of the league’s unbeaten teams, the New York-based Pitbulls and the Portland-based Wolfpack, from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The two-hour program begins at 11 p.m. in most markets. The “Best Damn Sports Show” themed show marks the first time FSN has broadcasted same-day coverage of IFL action.

Friday’s show features five bouts, including the league’s first rematch between light heavyweights Matt Horwich of the Wolfpack and Jamal Patterson of the Pitbulls, as well as an intriguing welterweight bout between Portland’s Mike Dolce and Delson Heleno, termed by Pitbulls coach Renzo Gracie as his “secret weapon.” The card also features the following bouts: Read the rest of this entry »

MOLINE, Ill., April 7, 2007 – The Tiger Sharks and Silverbacks kept their respective International Fight League playoff hopes alive with victories at the IFL regular season event at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Ill., tonight before 5,308 spirited fans. The Tiger Sharks, based in Seattle and coached by Maurice Smith, dispatched the Red Bears, based in Chicago and coached by Igor Zinoviev, 4-1, while the hometown Quad-Cities-based Silverbacks, mentored by Pat Miletich, took care of the Nevada-based Lions, led by Ken Shamrock by the same 4-1 count.

The results leave the Tiger Sharks, Pitbulls and Lions with 1-1 team records, while the Red Bears fell to 0-2. With identical 6-4 individual marks, the Tiger Sharks and Silverbacks are tied for fifth place in the overall standings, ahead of the Condors (5-5) and Lions (4-6). The top four teams at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs. Read the rest of this entry »